One More Bit of Aggravation

[reggiegsd]

Hi Everyone,

I may as well get all of this years posts done in one day.

Has anyone come up with a workable solution the deterioration of the drivers door panel due to your arm sitting and sweating on it for 200K miles?

Mine has begun to crack and I have seen some that are torn to pieces.

I can't be the only one that is aggravated by this. Anyone find a fix?

Reggiegsd

[Infinitiguy19]

Cleaning it with lexol works. As preventative maintenance
Modified by ppastos at 7:50 PM 10/3/2008

[Kiven422]

Mine has also started to crack. I just plan on replacing the whole panel.

[maxnix]

Wear longsleeved shirts or jackets.

[jimbyjimb]

Make sure to take your door panels to the dry cleaners at least once every six months.

[qship96]

Mine has also started to crack. I just plan on replacing the whole panel.

Might want to sit down for this one....door panel is aprox. $1000 each from Joe!!!

[Q45denver]

Never had an issue but the ones on my 1990 and 1995 are leather. Is it just the surface dye cracking? If leather, you may be able to strip off the old dye and refinish. I know someone with a 1995 who had vinyl panels (latter manufacturer date) and tryed to redoing them with vinyl. Looked like hell. Curves are hard to recover unless you know what you are doing.

[qship96]

Never had an issue but the ones on my 1990 and 1995 are leather. Is it just the surface dye cracking? If leather, you may be able to strip off the old dye and refinish. I know someone with a 1995 who had vinyl panels (latter manufacturer date) and tryed to redoing them with vinyl. Looked like hell. Curves are hard to recover unless you know what you are doing.

I believe all 90-96Q used imitation leather on upper door panels-none had genuine leather.

[Q45denver]

No, the ones on my 1990 and 1995 are definitely leather. I have actually taken the panels apart and looked at and smelled the backs of the leather panels. The only other car I've seen with leather door panels is my 1969 280 SEC Mercedes which was $12K new.

[Peterofdevon]

Its best to buy a panel. I think I paid $70 including shipping for one last year for the 94. Put it in this year---looks great. I've been nursing the left bolstor on my seat with color natched paint and clear coat-- it saved it from tearing. But I'm about ready to have a recover job-- just need to patch it along.

Peter

[northt]

Junk yard or have them both recovered at a trim shop. Junker couple of months ago $30. Looks better than my other one. I believe that they are leather but very cheap and thin leather. Cover with vinyl at a trim shop can get a pretty close match. If you are a stickler have them both done. Bout a hundred bucks each.
Modified by northt at 9:51 AM 10/5/2008

[maxnix]

AZHitman said his 1995 were Leatherette, a synthetic leather. Leather exposed directly to the sun would go brittle in a few years.

I believe there is a fabric like backing.

[qship96]

Its best to buy a panel. I think I paid $70 including shipping for one last year for the 94. Put it in this year---looks great. I've been nursing the left bolstor on my seat with color natched paint and clear coat-- it saved it from tearing. But I'm about ready to have a recover job-- just need to patch it along.

Peter

Where did you get a door panel for $70???? I assume you are talking used junker parts, as new from Joe is $1000

[Q451990]

90 was genuine leather... even the insert on the front of the glove box is leather. I'm not sure when they changed to "pleather" but I would suspect in the '94 revision.

To answer the OP's question... I would find a good upholstry shop. They can do wonders and it won't cost that much.

Heath

[Peterofdevon]

Where did you get a door panel for $70???? I assume you are talking used junker parts, as new from Joe is $1000

It was a part out from ebay. Gosh.. $1,000 for an inside panel. wow.

Peter

[jamesmost]

i removed mine and brought to Interior shop , recovered for $40 or so