Difficulty: Easy
Time: 2Hrs tops
Tools: Scraper, Something to spread glue with, Scissors/Blade, Phillips-head Screwdriver, small pair of pliers or small flat-head screwdriver
Materials: .5L Good contact adhesive in a tin (bunnings), 1mx2m black vinyl (spotlight)
http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/1470/01032009019.jpg

Instructions:
1. Remove door trims and take out inserts. The little clips on the back are very fragile but pry them open using your small flathead
2. Pull off old trim, give the plastic insert a bit of a clean up
http://img194.imageshack.us/img194/8595/28022009002.jpg

3. Lay out and cut to size vinyl leaving enough room around edge to pull over
http://img194.imageshack.us/img194/1205/28022009001.jpg

http://img194.imageshack.us/img194/6615/28022009.jpg

4. Splash plenty of contact adhesive on, leave for a minute if you wish then press vinyl onto door insert and turn over
http://img194.imageshack.us/img194/9488/28022009003.jpg

5. Cut around edge as seen in pic, stretch vinyl over the edge of the insert and give it some more glue on the back, then press down until it bonds. Heat gun/hair dryer can be used to speed up glue heating
http://img194.imageshack.us/img194/1870/28022009005.jpg

http://img194.imageshack.us/img194/2871/28022009006.jpg

If you are careful, the little plastic clips can be used to pull the vinyl over to keep it in place
http://img194.imageshack.us/img194/5509/28022009007.jpg

6. Cut a slit where the handle goes and wrap around from the inside out. Be patient and use lots of glue and your hairdryer/heat gun and it will eventually stick
NOTE: The little corner that faces the front of the front two inserts is very tricky to get correct, think about which way you are folding the vinyl so you don't end up with a bad fold visible
http://img194.imageshack.us/img194/2218/28022009008.jpg

Tadaaa!!!! That was easy now wasn't it!
http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/7010/28022009009.jpg

Finished product:
http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/9458/01032009004.jpg

I also did my gear selector surround...... came up great!
http://img194.imageshack.us/img194/6404/28022009011.jpg

http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/3565/01032009001.jpg

dude the ones in the doors look amazing, still undecided about the gear selector - top stuff :)

dude the ones in the doors look amazing, still undecided about the gear selector - top stuff :)

Thanks, wonbat recently got his done for $120 so for some people it might be easier to just get it done somewhere but this is a super easy mod to do if you are bored one weekend.

Vinyl cost about $15 and the contact adhesive $10

No offense but the gear selector looks stupid lol

Door cards came up alright!

No offense but the gear selector looks stupid lol

Door cards came up alright!

haha I don't mind it..... I found a leather boot for it today, I might try and fit that, see if it works with the auto stick and whether or not it will look better.

Awesome guide! If I wasnt already getting some door inserts I would seriously consider making some like this!

Me like gear selector!! <<insert silly cat/kitten pic here>>

the inserts look good mate. Top job!
if i wanted to put a bit of foam between the door card and the vinyl, would the contact adhesive bond properly to the foam?
And also, would the vinyl bond to the foam good?

the inserts look good mate. Top job!
if i wanted to put a bit of foam between the door card and the vinyl, would the contact adhesive bond properly to the foam?
And also, would the vinyl bond to the foam good?

Not sure, I don't know if it would bond to the foam very well but if you use enough glue on the back you could probably make it work. Perhaps you could even use shallow fastening staples to 'tack' the vinyl around the back. I wouldn't put more than 5-10mm of foam for fear of it coming off though.

the inserts look good mate. Top job!
if i wanted to put a bit of foam between the door card and the vinyl, would the contact adhesive bond properly to the foam?
And also, would the vinyl bond to the foam good?

The place that did mine put foam between the vinyl and card, not sure on the process they used to do it but, this guide kinda makes me wish i did it myself but meh, too late now.

I know it's each to their own and I do like your car pete caus I have one too but not sure on those inserts dude. Your car is coming along nicely tho. I finally completed the rear light mod too. Looks good
Hey, I am looking for a front grille the same as yours (mine is different & not sure why) do you know if anyone has one spare

Not sure, I don't know if it would bond to the foam very well but if you use enough glue on the back you could probably make it work. Perhaps you could even use shallow fastening staples to 'tack' the vinyl around the back. I wouldn't put more than 5-10mm of foam for fear of it coming off though.

I wouldnt be putting anything more than 5-10mm foam. The reason for the foam is for a better feel to the door cards. With your door cards they wouldnt really have a 'soft' feel to it would they? coz they vinyl's only thin.


The place that did mine put foam between the vinyl and card, not sure on the process they used to do it but, this guide kinda makes me wish i did it myself but meh, too late now.
Any idea wat thickness the foam was? doubt it would be any more than 10mm.

I wouldnt be putting anything more than 5-10mm foam. The reason for the foam is for a better feel to the door cards. With your door cards they wouldnt really have a 'soft' feel to it would they? coz they vinyl's only thin.

The 2nd gen ones only have like 5mm of foam behind them to begin with, and it was like a powder when I took the old ones off. They are VERY different to the 3rd gen inserts and the standard ones do have a very hard feel.

Any idea wat thickness the foam was? doubt it would be any more than 10mm.

Its not very thick, probably 5mm, feels nice and soft though.

Its not very thick, probably 5mm, feels nice and soft though.

Hmmmmmm I should have done it to mine.... Next time. I was worried about the glue losing contact, and since your trimmer would have used trimming staples into the back of the plastic they wouldn't have that problem.


PS lol did anyone else notice the ride-on with a boat attached to it in the 'finished product' pic

The 2nd gen ones only have like 5mm of foam behind them to begin with, and it was like a powder when I took the old ones off. They are VERY different to the 3rd gen inserts and the standard ones do have a very hard feel.

When you say they are different, do you mean the foam at the back or the actual insert itself?

When you say they are different, do you mean the foam at the back or the actual insert itself?

The 3rd gen ones I have felt have been much nicer than my original ones were..... maybe mine were just so cactus they felt solid! I havn't had 3rd gen ones off......

The 3rd gen ones I have felt have been much nicer than my original ones were..... maybe mine were just so cactus they felt solid! I havn't had 3rd gen ones off......

lol fair enuf....i'll prob have a go at it this weekend and let ya know!

Hmmmmmm I should have done it to mine.... Next time. I was worried about the glue losing contact, and since your trimmer would have used trimming staples into the back of the plastic they wouldn't have that problem.


PS lol did anyone else notice the ride-on with a boat attached to it in the 'finished product' pic

They didn't use staples on it, its just glued down.

Hmmmmm, well you should be fine to go ahead and add foam!!!

the ride on boat u talk about...is that in the pic with the window?

i added a thin foam for nice touch underneath the fabric... then i used a glue in a spray can from clark rubber as i didnt want glue bleeding through and this stuff is made expecially for joining pieces of foam together so as good as superglue and dries almost instantly... m3 brand i think it was, alot less mess and very strong glue. but from memory it was like 30 dollars a can.