S3 coupe Door frame trim pieces

[JASPER_40]

Hi,

Does anyone have any experience of replacing the trim pieces on the door frame. I am quite sure that both the pieces arrowed on the pictire are unobtainable but was wondering if there are any alternative solutions ?.

Firstly, the yellow arrow identifies a small finishing trim piece that covers the join between the window surround and the door skin. How this piece is secured and does anyone have a pic of what it looks like when removed ?. My intent is to 3D print a replacement, if practical, as mine is very tatty and draws the eye so I need to effect a solution here.
I am reluctant to remove the door card etc to investigate as I seem to have broken too much just recently in the course of finding out how things work.

Secondly, The red arrow identifies a thin plastic cover that sits beneath the metal strip that holds the rubber weather strip. Is there anything available the would substitute ?

Cheers,

Steve

[SanRemo78]

There may be photographs of these bits on my "And So It Begins" thread...

The small trim clips will require the removal of the painted stainless trims from the door surround. Before you do that I'd recommend that you have a spare set to hand in case you damage them. Personally I would try to glue them down with a bit of Sikaflex first. I had a few of these little bits of plastic left over and I took these down to Marks last open day and left them there but he may not be able to find them. I can't guarantee that they are usable!

The plastic saddle part protects the steel underneath from scratches from the top trim, I'm not aware of a replacement other than from a donor car.

Guy

[JASPER_40]

Thanks Guy,

The clips just look as though they should pull out from between the window frame and the door but clearly they dont so was curious as to how they are held in?
The PO had clearly tried to lever them out and damaged them in the process.

If, as you say, there is a  risk of damaging the frame then I may try to make a simple capping type thing to neaten up this finishing clip. It would obviously be slightly more proud but maybe it won't be noticable. I need to do something as they are ruined and look bad.

As for the plastic saddle under the trim, I wonder if it is actually reversable ? Not hopeful as the outer side has an upturned lip. It is this lip which is damaged making the edge a bit ragged. I could trim the lip off but perfer not to.

Cheers,

Steve

[SanRemo78]

The end trims have a simple return edge that slots under the steel trim. Any attempt to remove it is just going to tear it to pieces. The only way to replace the part is by removing the steel trim entirely. And the refitting of that can also be the cause of damage and once creased/bent it'll never be right again.

Guy

[JASPER_40]

Hi Guy,

Thanks for the good info...upon closer examination, i can see exactly what you are saying and I agree it is way to risky to pry off the frame finishing strip. I am going to 3d print something to neaten it all up.

Cheers,

Steve

[JASPER_40]

Knocked up a 3D printed cap to cover the tatty door frame trim. the result looks better despite being slightly larger in order to fit over the remnant of the original.

The black paint on the door frame was really not very good and had been badly painted by the PO. I started to scrape away at the paint to find that the stainless steel underneath was really nice.

I suspect the door is  seemingly not original and so had stainelss frame cappings and it does seem that the rest of the car is the same.

Do I go all in and clean the paint from all the window frames or stay with black ? I am not entirely sure which cars for which markets had what colour frames. Mine is a 1982 Australian delivered carb model.

Steve

[SanRemo78]

Later cars had the stainless trim painted black. Once you start repainting one bit you'll end up doing the lot I suspect! The stainless trims may have been etched so the paint would adhere, maybe even brushed? It'll take a lot of polishing to get the mirror finish of the earlier cars.

[peteracs]

Hi

Nice work, I would be interested in getting some of those capping pieces for my HPE being restored. I am also considering getting a 3D printer……

Peter

[JASPER_40]

Hi

Nice work, I would be interested in getting some of those capping pieces for my HPE being restored. I am also considering getting a 3D printer……

Peter

Hi Peter,

PM Me your address and email and I will send you some of these caps.  I live in Western Australia but have my sis from the UK visiting next week and can send some things back with her to post onto you.

Cheers,

Steve

[peteracs]

Hi Steve

That is very generous of you, I will PM you now.

Peter

[Ferrit]

Me too!  Only kidding but not really :-)  Send a few with Peter and we can donate to the forum.  Sorry cheeky of me.

My car was originally with black trim now polished, you can still find some in places.  Funny I would quite like black :-)

[SanRemo78]

Found one!
As you can see they are handed, can't tell you (immediately) if this one is for the right or left door but it is the back one.
Anyone who wants it please feel free to shout out and I'll post it off to you.

Guy

[JASPER_40]

Nice one Guy,

Yep, I can see that this would be a nightmare to fit and risk damaging the cover trim for the window frame during fitment.

The 3d printed capping is a reasonable compromise therefore ?

Steve

[squiglyzigly]

I like the 3d printed idea a lot and would be interested in buying them if someone goes to the trouble of replicating them. There is of course another at the front of the frame just ahead of the mirror.
I think the sleeve part that sits between the chrome/black trim and the door frame serves a purpose to stop chaffing of the sharp trim edge and prevent corrosion. But this would be easy to protect with some kind of pvc/plastic tape rather than trying to make it with 3d printing.

Cheers
Ian

[JASPER_40]

Hi Ian,

I will send a bunch of the cappings to Peteracs at the end of this month and hopefully he can distribute at Royal mail costs to you as opposed to me sending them from OZ at the cost of a kidney.

They are not direct replacements but simply a cap to glue on top of the existing to make everything look netater at least. Would look even better if lightly sanded and sprayed with texturising plastic spray for a near perfect OE look. (what I do for all my parts...but not always necessary)

Didnt realise there was another similar trim piece ahead of the door mirror...Not one on mine but there again, there is so much that was missing. Anyone got a pic so I can knock this up on the printer aswell ?

You are right about the "sleeve" as you call it and just not worth printing. I have been experimenting with wide black Gaffer tape which I folded back on itself (sticky side to sticky side) to create a more substantial plastic strip to do the job....Just an idea as yet.

Cheers,

Steve
 

[SanRemo78]

There isn't one on the vertical part behind the mirror but there is one on the forward end of the door frame. I haven't got one of those spare sadly!

Guy