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NB2 Door panel insert replacement- choose your color!
15 Attachment(s)
Do you ever think of changing the door panel insert color on your 01+? Well, i just did. It's rather easy, but by no means a "bolt-in" affair. Since i have never seen anyone do this, i figured i'd do a little write-up/how-to on getting this done. Mazda offers several colors for these inserts... black,tan,saddle brown,blue and red. My 02 SE came with the Saddle Brown interior. As much as i love the color, i wanted to put a pair of 10AE seats. But you know, the brown door panel inserts just don't flow with the blue seats. So i went to Mazda and ordered a set of blue inserts for a 03 Shinsen. Here is what i did....
After removing the door panel from the car, i flipped it over to find that the insert is 'melted' to the door panel. This can be seen in the next few steps. https://www.miataforumz.com/attachme...ine=1312317096 I found using a small flat head screw driver, i could push down and turn and 'dig out' some of the plastic. I'd recommend this rather then a drill to reduce any chance of damaging the door panel. The plastic is farly soft. This is fairly similar to removing pop-rivets. https://www.miataforumz.com/attachme...ine=1312317096 After digging out some of the plactic, use a pair of cutters to cut the head of the plastic off. https://www.miataforumz.com/attachme...ine=1312317096 2 of the plastic 'rivets' are hidden under some styrofoam padding. Placing the new inser over the back can give you an idea where they are. I used a razor to dig away some of the styrofoam. https://www.miataforumz.com/attachme...ine=1312317096 Almost out! https://www.miataforumz.com/attachme...ine=1312317096 https://www.miataforumz.com/attachme...ine=1312317096 Done! https://www.miataforumz.com/attachme...ine=1312317096 You can see the old inserts are a one time use only item. Don't expect to sell them. Either find a creative use for them or throw them away. No wonder they cost about $15! https://www.miataforumz.com/attachme...ine=1312317096 Now, here comes the fun part. Get a towel or other plush object to sit under the door panel. This will keep some pressure under everything so you can attach the new insert. https://www.miataforumz.com/attachme...ine=1312317096 https://www.miataforumz.com/attachme...ine=1312317096 I just happened to have a small heating element handy to melt the new plastic 'rivets'. This step can be done a few ways, a hot glue gun probably being one of them. The tool i used came i na vinyl/leather repair kit made by Pyrmatex and found at most auto parts stores. https://www.miataforumz.com/attachme...ine=1312317096 It takes about 30-45 seconds of moderate pressure to melt the plastic all the way down to the door panels. Be careful, this tool gets VERY hot! https://www.miataforumz.com/attachme...ine=1312317096 Once you get to the bottom, hold it for ~5 seconds and 'scrape' it off to one side. This pushes the melted plastic into place and keeps it in place. https://www.miataforumz.com/attachme...ine=1312317096 All the plastic studs are now melted into what resemble plastic rivets. https://www.miataforumz.com/attachme...ine=1312317096 https://www.miataforumz.com/attachme...ine=1312317096 All done!!! http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l2...G/IMG_4062.jpg |
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