So, when I reglue the door panels for the third time, how do I MAKE THEM STAY???

[TheNorthWaves]

I love my E36 and I know what's wrong with it. It's the same thing that's wrong with every other 1995 E36. The interior door panels are falling off. I mean, the entire panel detached from the plastic structure, most of which is still attached to the metal. I don't even care to address the bubbling in this thread.

50k miles @ 10 yrs old, they came off. I took everything off, and reglued everything with epoxy. It was too hard, it detached within a year.

60k miles, reglued it all with a softer more flexible glue that has held up until 100k miles...
now there's a horrible rattle from the passenger door, and the entire driver's side door panel is coming off entirely.

I am not even going to waste my time with this repair unless someone has come up with a way to make the panels stay attached for more than a year or two... IS THERE A WAY?? or shall this just be the curse of the E36 such as my never-ending SRS light...

(edit: I really do love my car).

bump - is there a good glue? am I doing something wrong?

[choffa]

Sand off the old epoxy & other glue. Scuff door panel surface to remove the smooth coating & use Gorilla glue. Did mine 8 years ago, holding tight.

Buy a dozen spring clamps and protect the leather with paint stirring sticks so the clamps don't dig in. Note that the Gorilla glue will expand out so don't run it too close to the visible area

[RADI0ACTIV3M4N]

Door clips? They are like 10 cents at the dealer I think

[karlow]

I used Gorilla snot, but it has only been about a year. AKA 3m weather striping adhesive.
KP

[CoolJoe]

Thanks to BSW for the link. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GghftCXKaDA

You can use hot glue or gorilla glue. Gorilla glue foams up as it dries so be extra careful around the edges. Make sure to align the back panels & pockets to the door panels properly because once it cures it's a real royal pain in the ass to remove. Good luck!

[Big Empty]

Did you not replace the white plastic clips? thats what did it for me, plus a little glue. however its only 6,000kms so far...

[RNeil]

Mine did not have clips. I could not get glue to work, so I used pop rivets.

[twastheglow]

It's funny I just found this thread. I was JUST looking at my door panles yesterday and they're both very loose (the passenger is worse). Come spring I'm going to have to order new plastic clips and try to get everything to fit much more securely.

[amcink]

RIVETS????? How is the aesthetics of the panels? I'm very curious

post some pics

[SS Ball3r]

i am in the process of redoing my door panels as we speak. I did it with rivets oece and painted them black. I tihnk it looked good, especially with my color scheme at the time(black w/red inserts) but the vynal i used didnt mold very well and peeled. So now i am having an aphoulsterer recover the inserts for me in black headliner material.

[soulrebel]

Haha I just bought like 40 clips from AZAUTOHAUS i think they were like 10cents each or something. But ripped off each panel and put new clips in each slot. Holds good for now.

[SS Ball3r]

i need to order new clips too so i can put it all back together in a timely manner...

[spugeddy]

The problem is not the clips in my car it is the map pockets and the inside plastic bits, that the panel is glued to....

I have tried hot glue like in the youtube, and it didn't work for sh*t.

I have tried extra strength adhesive (caulk tube style) didn't hold

My latest is epoxy (two months old and starting to separate)

Damn.

[CoolJoe]

Use gorilla glue, not the cleanest, but I assure you it won't become loose. Careful as it will foam as it dries.

[CivetaDei]

try JB weld quick dry

[spugeddy]

i think i will try to gorilla glue next...

[Hova]

i think i will try to gorilla glue next...

bad glue man, shit foams up and expands. you dont want expanding glue like that on the door panels.

[spugeddy]

what do you recommend?

[SS Ball3r]

actually, JB qwik weld(no, i didnt missplell that) might work pretty good. I have some at home and i just might give that a try.

[angeleus]

Mine did not have clips. I could not get glue to work, so I used pop rivets.
you used pop rivets? damn, that's a great idea but, I want to be able to remove my door without destroying it when I work my audio. This is for my Daily Driver.

My door was falling apart literally with pieces of fiberglass breaking inside of it because of audio work I was doing on it. So what I did was:

1.) Remove all the clips
2.) First use 3MM extra strength paint on glue on to the pieces that came apart and let it cure for about 4 hours with clamping.
3.) Then on top of that I used a hot glue gun, like the video suggested to glue the plastic storage containers down. (thanks for the video link)
4.) Then for added measure, I laid down 2 layers of fiberglass to reinforce the backing of the panel, all the while avoiding the holes where the clips go into.
5.) Place new clips into holes.
6.) Pop the door back into place. Done!

I'm going to remove my door panels again probably this weekend or next weekend so I can re-line my interior with carbon fiber fabric. I'm just looking for an offsetting color to use on the door handle piece.

[amcink]

angeleus
Did you ever did the interior with the carbon fiber fabric
Can you post pics? Please

[ttkid06]

^^check the eurodyne thread in the GB, tons of pics, angeleus did a nice job

[angeleus]

ya thanks, I'm working on my headliner and rear interior panels right now. It is really hard because of the concave curves >.<

[amcink]

TTKid06
Would you please add the link that you refer to.
Thank you

[exodus454]

ya thanks, I'm working on my headliner and rear interior panels right now. It is really hard because of the concave curves >.<

The concaves are a PITA, just make sure you start with the deepest areas first and work out from there.

I used liquid nails and it's holding up sofar. On my old panels I took the insert out of the panel and sent some screws through the strip that has the clips in it. Once you put the insert back in, the screws disappear. :redspot

[odium]

with silicone sealant adhesive your panels wont come out again ..

[amcink]

is this silicone the one you used?

http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/3MAutomotive/Aftermarket/Products/Product-Catalog/?PC_7_RJH9U5230GE3E02LECFTDQCEK3_nid=GS44G92HYMbeQ 5D2V4SCM0gl

[odium]

is this silicone the one you used?

http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/3MAutomotive/Aftermarket/Products/Product-Catalog/?PC_7_RJH9U5230GE3E02LECFTDQCEK3_nid=GS44G92HYMbeQ 5D2V4SCM0gl


i've not exactly used that brand, but basically yes, your panels will shit their pants with that one :)