Just thought that you might want to see some refinished door switch panels. My 1997 drivers' side panel has a spot where the original film coating is scraped and exposed the color underneath. Instead of painting it I decided to wrap it with 3M DI-NOC "carbon fiber" vinyl. The color I used was "graphite."
Before - you can see the bare spot on the original vinyl by the mirror switch:
Pic of the panel "stripped"
The panel after the 3M vinyl was applied:
Panel back in the door:
Different view showing the new panel; sorry for the blur but the pic was taken w/o flash because the flash washed out the texture of the film.
I did the passenger side first because it is simpler - just the power window switch. Then I did the driver's side.
1. remove door panel
2. remove the switch panel (four gold screws on two retention brackets underneath)
3. strip the original vinyl film using a regular paint stripper (Strypeze)
4. apply the vinyl film, working it using a heat gun. Used 3M 94 primer on the edges and crevices to improve adhesion.
Before - you can see the bare spot on the original vinyl by the mirror switch:
Pic of the panel "stripped"
The panel after the 3M vinyl was applied:
Panel back in the door:
Different view showing the new panel; sorry for the blur but the pic was taken w/o flash because the flash washed out the texture of the film.
I did the passenger side first because it is simpler - just the power window switch. Then I did the driver's side.
1. remove door panel
2. remove the switch panel (four gold screws on two retention brackets underneath)
3. strip the original vinyl film using a regular paint stripper (Strypeze)
4. apply the vinyl film, working it using a heat gun. Used 3M 94 primer on the edges and crevices to improve adhesion.
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