DIY: How to wrap your side control panel in Carbon Fiber Vinyl.
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Many of you fellow members have asked on how to wrap the side panels of your doors where your windows switches are. Well wait no further, here is the do-it-yourselfer that anyone can do.
(Materials needed)
1. Carbon Fiber Vinyl (You can order it on ebay, here is one of the dudes auctions: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...category=35593)
2. Scissors
3. Sharp Razor Blade or Exacto Knife (You could buy a box of 100 razor blades for a few bucks at Home Depot)
4. Hairdryer or Heat Gun (You don’t need much heat to make this vinyl loose/workable, so go with a Hairdryer)
5. Philips Screw Driver & Flathead Screw Driver
6. Pen
Step 1:
First you must release the little cover over the screw as shown *IMAGE* (Use a Flathead screwdriver with a small tip). Using a Philips screwdriver remove the one screw inside the door handle *IMAGE* . With some force pull gently up from the top of the control panel, while pulling downward *IMAGE* . Unplug the plug from the control module *IMAGE* .
Step 2:
Now find yourself a quiet place to work. Once you have gotten both the driver and passenger side panels off, look at the back of both. There should be control modules that have 3 small screws (Driver) and 2 small screws (Passenger) holding them down *IMAGE* . With your Philips again go ahead and remove the screws from the module (Best to do one side at a time, so driver side panel first then move to your passenger side panel).
Step 3:
After removing the module go ahead and remove the surrounding rubber molding of the side control panel *IMAGE* . There should be two screws holding it together, once you have gotten both screws off, slowly pull the rubber molding away from the rest of the panel.
Step 4:
It’s now time to clean the area that you are going to wrap in carbon fiber vinyl. With some rubbing alcohol clean the area well and let dry. Now get ready to make the cut-out of the switches. As shown in these pictures of how you should go about in cutting out the patterns. I found it easy to start off with the little bar thing between the driver and passenger window switch for the Driver Side control panel *IMAGE* . Then the top area as shown here *IMAGE* (Be sure to make it a bit longer so when you cut around the opening, it will be a clean cut that will look flawless around the edges). Then the sides are next as shown here *IMAGE* (Use the same technique as how you would do the top area). From there I went about and cover the whole piece with the carbon fiber vinyl and tucked it on the sides *IMAGE* . You'll want to cut around the edges where the opening is for the window switches with that shape razor blaze now (Going straight around and leave some left for the bottom portion of the opening). Now here is the tricky part, you know the switch for the Window Lock? Well this is where the pen comes in handy. Use the Hairdryer/Blow-dryer and heat up the area where the hole is as shown here *IMAGE* . Now going from the front of the panel use the top part of the pen (NOT THE BALLPOINT END) to slowly stretch the vinyl so you can make a clean wrap (you will understand once you get to this point). With some left over vinyl, tape the folds down so it does not come loose on the back. Now put everything back in reverse and you are finished with the driver side panel. From here forth it become self-explanatory on how to do the Passenger Side control panel. But if you have any questions don’t hesitate to ask.
Sorry about linking the images, I did not want to slow down the page when loading.
(Materials needed)
1. Carbon Fiber Vinyl (You can order it on ebay, here is one of the dudes auctions: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...category=35593)
2. Scissors
3. Sharp Razor Blade or Exacto Knife (You could buy a box of 100 razor blades for a few bucks at Home Depot)
4. Hairdryer or Heat Gun (You don’t need much heat to make this vinyl loose/workable, so go with a Hairdryer)
5. Philips Screw Driver & Flathead Screw Driver
6. Pen
Step 1:
First you must release the little cover over the screw as shown *IMAGE* (Use a Flathead screwdriver with a small tip). Using a Philips screwdriver remove the one screw inside the door handle *IMAGE* . With some force pull gently up from the top of the control panel, while pulling downward *IMAGE* . Unplug the plug from the control module *IMAGE* .
Step 2:
Now find yourself a quiet place to work. Once you have gotten both the driver and passenger side panels off, look at the back of both. There should be control modules that have 3 small screws (Driver) and 2 small screws (Passenger) holding them down *IMAGE* . With your Philips again go ahead and remove the screws from the module (Best to do one side at a time, so driver side panel first then move to your passenger side panel).
Step 3:
After removing the module go ahead and remove the surrounding rubber molding of the side control panel *IMAGE* . There should be two screws holding it together, once you have gotten both screws off, slowly pull the rubber molding away from the rest of the panel.
Step 4:
It’s now time to clean the area that you are going to wrap in carbon fiber vinyl. With some rubbing alcohol clean the area well and let dry. Now get ready to make the cut-out of the switches. As shown in these pictures of how you should go about in cutting out the patterns. I found it easy to start off with the little bar thing between the driver and passenger window switch for the Driver Side control panel *IMAGE* . Then the top area as shown here *IMAGE* (Be sure to make it a bit longer so when you cut around the opening, it will be a clean cut that will look flawless around the edges). Then the sides are next as shown here *IMAGE* (Use the same technique as how you would do the top area). From there I went about and cover the whole piece with the carbon fiber vinyl and tucked it on the sides *IMAGE* . You'll want to cut around the edges where the opening is for the window switches with that shape razor blaze now (Going straight around and leave some left for the bottom portion of the opening). Now here is the tricky part, you know the switch for the Window Lock? Well this is where the pen comes in handy. Use the Hairdryer/Blow-dryer and heat up the area where the hole is as shown here *IMAGE* . Now going from the front of the panel use the top part of the pen (NOT THE BALLPOINT END) to slowly stretch the vinyl so you can make a clean wrap (you will understand once you get to this point). With some left over vinyl, tape the folds down so it does not come loose on the back. Now put everything back in reverse and you are finished with the driver side panel. From here forth it become self-explanatory on how to do the Passenger Side control panel. But if you have any questions don’t hesitate to ask.
Sorry about linking the images, I did not want to slow down the page when loading.
The Rizing Sun
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YES! is this one dedicated to me eni9ma? XD
**** btw. did u use the 2x CF trim, or the regular small one? i hope i can find the small one on ebay, the 2x is too big for my tastes.
**** btw. did u use the 2x CF trim, or the regular small one? i hope i can find the small one on ebay, the 2x is too big for my tastes.
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Originally Posted by drinksOy
YES! is this one dedicated to me eni9ma? XD
**** btw. did u use the 2x CF trim, or the regular small one? i hope i can find the small one on ebay, the 2x is too big for my tastes.
**** btw. did u use the 2x CF trim, or the regular small one? i hope i can find the small one on ebay, the 2x is too big for my tastes.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...category=35593
I believe it's the regular small one, usally they are all over the place on ebay. Good luck
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