Door panel fabric

[Cletonius]

Because not everyone, including me, has access to a sewing machine or the know how on how to do it properly without it looking like hammered dog shit, lol.

I get that but there have been some solutions mentioned that would be more difficult to execute IMHO. Fabricating custom panels, relocating the handle, crazy shit with metal and fiberglass...

You can make vinyl/fabric panels on a $20 sewing machine. The vinyl skin is glued to the panel with contact cement.

When you're sewing up panels (or anything really) and you can't hold it the way you'd like, you can use a stapler to hold everything in position while you sew. Just be careful not to sew a staple or you could break a needle. Remove the staples after you're done sewing the first pass.

If you guys are set on making panels, use panel board instead of plywood. It's a thick (maybe 1/8" max) sturdy cardboard. It's very stiff and if screwed in like Luke suggested it should be more than strong and thin enough.

[StereoInstaller1]

Seems like you guys are reinventing the wheel. Why not just sew the insert into the vinyl like they did originally?

LOL...OK, good luck on yours!

[StereoInstaller1]

Why not just reinforce the thin spot with either fiberglass or a thin pieces of metal epoxied into place. Seems like a lot less work than moving things around.

There is only about 1/8" between the outside of the trim ring and the bulge. If you spaced the hadle out, that would regain the thickness of the trim ring, but thats only like 1/4" max. Unless it were made of metal and somehow bonded to the skin, it would just be too weak there.

However, 30 seconds per door and I could tin-snip that hole 1/2" lower and spacing the handle out would not be that tough, might be as easy as putting the handle itself outside the door skin instead of inside it, dunno for sure, but I am going to look soon. Justins car is coming along, but before it goes full race I will poke around some. I want to have a plan in pace before my next E30 comes along, the inserts I did for that E34 look much nicer than stock in my eyes and I have always wanted them on my E30. Both of the other E34s I have will get inserts, they look incredible.

Its a good time to put an LED in the door handle too, just a little background glow really helps.

Seems like you guys are reinventing the wheel. Why not just sew the insert into the vinyl like they did originally?

Are you referring to the standard cloth inserts? As far as I know, none of them are sewn at all, that is stitching molded into the vinyl. The upholstery process is not in any way similar to normal, they bond a sheet of vinyl in a hot press, padding, cloth and all. To attempt to make a panel that would cover the entire door with a perfectly shaped cloth insert sewn in place and then installed on the door perfectly flat and straight and proper would be just about impossible...and I have built hundreds of door panels in my life, it certainly would not be lack of skill or experience...but I wouldn't even try it.

Besides, that does not address the idea of a generally nice-condition door panel that is delaminating, as every single E30 I have seen in the last 5 years has lost adhesion where the outer part transitions to the recessed area. It is just about impossible to buy vinyl of the caliber used by BMW. I spend roughly 10 hours a month buying materials in upholstery supply stores that say "WHOLESALE ONLY" on their doors and I have done so for 30 years. When I say that the quality of vinyl used by BMW is simply not available to us mortals, I am not kidding. The BMW stuff is triple the thickness of aftermarket. If the rest of the panel looks great, these make them into show-stoppers.

Making those panels is not tough, re-gluing the panel is fairly easy once you cut it up and the insert looks just awesome to me. All in all, I think it is a great idea for anyone who wants to make a really stunning interior. The insert clamps the re-glued area too, so it should stay perfect for a very long time.

Moving the handle is a great idea, I am gonna check this out!

Luke

[dlmrun2002]

Luke is "spot on" in detailing the dynamics of redoing the e30 door panel. BMW vinyl is as good as it gets but it will rip just like anything else. I do think that you can stitch fabric to the new vinyl as long as you now what you are doing with the sewing machine. I plan on sewing into the fake seams once I find some nice fabric. Wish I could find some nice Mtech fabric but that shit is like liquid gold. I've been looking everywhere, England, Germany,Denmark,..Next stop is China. They seem to copy everything ever made in the world for 1/4 the price.
dlm ny country
••••••••••••hit me up if you have some fabric so I can cover my door panels•••••••••••••

[StereoInstaller1]

Luke is "spot on" in detailing the dynamics of redoing the e30 door panel. BMW vinyl is as good as it gets but it will rip just like anything else. I do think that you can stitch fabric to the new vinyl as long as you now what you are doing with the sewing machine. I plan on sewing into the fake seams once I find some nice fabric. Wish I could find some nice Mtech fabric but that shit is like liquid gold. I've been looking everywhere, England, Germany,Denmark,..Next stop is China. They seem to copy everything ever made in the world for 1/4 the price.
dlm ny country
••••••••••••hit me up if you have some fabric so I can cover my door panels•••••••••••••

Actually, I know a guy in NY that has some, oddly enough.