How to repair door panels, Is there an article?

[Kibokojoe]

I have started cleaning up my 535i. The door panels need some attention. I have noticed that the drivers side is in the worst shape and the covering is cracked, split and is shrinking. The panels seem be be some kind of foam rubber that was made to look like leather. Also the seal on the door frame has deteriorated to the point that it is smashed flat in some areas and has turned to a black goop that sticks to the door panel and has pulled off sections of the panel. Is this common? Or is this a botched RTV silicone repair? Its almost the consistency of road tar. what a mess. Does anyone have any suggestions? Can the door panels be recovered with vinyl? Has anyone had any success doing this?

[shogun]

You are the man to do it.
Make a nice write up for all.

[Dave M]

It sounds as though yours are really tired. Photos would be good in order to assess the level of difficulty. Most upholsterers I took my panels to for advice said they wouldn't re-cover them due to all the contours. I had one very nice upholsterer staple the majority of my vinyl back in place (free ). The whole fix is in my old rear door panel fix thread.

Try these search results for "door panel fix". Surf through those for other ideas. Also try searching some other key words to increase hits .

Good luck, post some pics if you can.

Dave M

[Kibokojoe]

Shogun
Didn't you have an article where you repaired door seals? I thought I saw an article where you took flat sheets of rubber and rolled them up and inserted them into the hollow rubber tubing on the door frames. Then you glued new sections of tubing. Wasn't this you?

[shogun]

Yes, it is on my website below, scroll down to the link to TAKE (almost at the bottom of my site), that is my japanese wrenching buddy, it's all in Japanese, but he has many pics about that, so no need to understand Japanese.
I also did that on one rear door side, and on the other rear door side I used a spare seal from my parts car. Actually no big difference in appearance.

[Kibokojoe]

Your site link did not show

Yes, it is on my website below, scroll down to the link to TAKE (almost at the bottom of my site), that is my japanese wrenching buddy, it's all in Japanese, but he has many pics about that, so no need to understand Japanese.
I also did that on one rear door side, and on the other rear door side I used a spare seal from my parts car. Actually no big difference in appearance.

[Kibokojoe]

I could have sworn I saw this in english. What is the glue he is using?

[shogun]

I only have it in Japanese, or use altavista babelfish translation, then you have it in English
http://babelfish.altavista.com/

http://infinitier.ddo.jp/e32/page/mainte/mainte_051.htm
http://infinitier.ddo.jp/e32/page/mainte/mainte_052.htm

What is the glue he is using?

That is a japanese made product, so it won't help to tell you the name. Just use a glue which is suitable for rubber.

[632 Regal]

I READ A LOT OF PEOPLE USING (WHAT A TARD) ok... gorilla glue with a length of 2x4 and a flat peice of plywood to hold it flat.

I could have sworn I saw this in english. What is the glue he is using?

[Kibokojoe]

Shogun
This is the first paragraph translated. Still haven't figured out what "being poverty ill-smelling to be visible" means :-)

The body of E32 has the benz W140 system of that time and the firm shell which stretches the reservoir. Being sufficient with also just this body, is, but it meaning that the extensive double glass is equipped in 750 of the latter terms, it does when travelling very and it is quiet and is the comfortable car. If it is quiet, a certain extent little wind cutting sound becomes matter of concern, usually it is difficult to become aware, but when powerful wind pressure for the waterdrop throwing spent with the self car washing machine and the like, the sound where "バフォー" and the wind leak was heard from リアクウォーターガラス top. When you look at around the door, the weatherstrip has floated, as for this floating being able to designate the opening as interior of pillar top considered as inside of car of car, being poverty ill-smelling to be visible, we would like to cancel this simultaneously.

I only have it in Japanese, or use altavista babelfish translation, then you have it in English
http://babelfish.altavista.com/

http://infinitier.ddo.jp/e32/page/mainte/mainte_051.htm
http://infinitier.ddo.jp/e32/page/mainte/mainte_052.htm



That is a japanese made product, so it won't help to tell you the name. Just use a glue which is suitable for rubber.