74-76 door card chrome strip vs Aluminum door cards. Advice?

[Dudeland]

Hey folks.  I got the seats and carpet in.  The carpet is temporary as the RX8 transmission will likely dictate a new carpet, as well as the seat mounts (that is a thing that future Dudeland will have to deal with).

 

My door panels are butchered with speakers and have generally turned to pudding from the door handle down. 

 

I am debating going with aluminum door panels like the ones below, but I feel that I am giving up on OEM door panels. 

 

Is there anywhere where I can get the whole new panel?  World upholstery doesn't supply the chrome strip.  I know others have used mylar tape to recover their strip, but my strips are cut due to the stupid speaker install. 

 

I am not a big fan of the look, but I have limited options.   Any help would be appreciated. 

 

Regards

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BMW 2002 FULL REPLACEMENT Aluminum Door Panels - FRONT AND REAR

THETURTLELAB.COM

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Shown in a wrinkle black finish, this was for product images and we do not currently offer this finish. The flat black powder coat option is a matte black finish without no texture.  This listing is for a pair of FRONT and REAR BMW 2002 (E10 chassis) door cards that are intended to replace...

 

[Stevenc22]

Literally on sale today on WN for $250 shipped are 1973 door cards.

 

BMW 1502 - 2002 turbo - Current - Daily offer - Offers | Wallothesch

WWW.WALLOTHNESCH.COM

 

For such a good price, it might be worth using the earlier style door card.

 

 

 

 

[Stevenc22]

1974-1976 style are $650 from World Upholstery and its a DIY kit you have to assemble your self. 

 

I think getting the $250 73 style door panels is the move. 

[Mike Nance]

@DudelandI purcahsed my complete door panels from the link below. Although the manufacturer is in Turkey I received them within 5 days. Great to work with. Easy to install all you will need to purchase additionally are the green clips.

 

For BMW E10 2002 1966-1977 Interior Door Panel With Chrome Trims Black 2pcs

Edited July 29 by Mike Nance

[OldRoller]

3 minutes ago, Mike Nance said:

manufacturer is in Turkey

Good price for a pair... black, blue or tobacco. 

[Conserv]

Those aluminum door cards look pretty darned un-inviting. You may be driving alone…. 🙄

 

Regards,

 

Steve

 

[Charles in PA]

Just a thought, but if you go with the OEM panels, I would recommend covering the backside of the panel with a clear coat of polyurethane to keep the board stable even if it gets wet.  I had this done to my original door cards when I had them redone last year, came out great. 

[Dudeland]

3 hours ago, Mike Nance said:

@DudelandI purcahsed my complete door panels from the link below. Although the manufacturer is in Turkey I received them within 5 days. Great to work with. Easy to install all you will need to purchase additionally are the green clips.

 

For BMW E10 2002 1966-1977 Interior Door Panel With Chrome Trims Black 2pcs

 

4 hours ago, Stevenc22 said:

1974-1976 style are $650 from World Upholstery and its a DIY kit you have to assemble your self. 

 

I think getting the $250 73 style door panels is the move. 

 

Those look nice, but the 74-76 are different than the 67-74. It is one of the only rare things about a 74-76. 

 

They look like the one below (bottom pic). The chrome trim is butchered on mine, and it is NLA.  See Part # 2 below 

 

If I can go with the OEM look, I was thinking something completely different. 

 

#SadPuddingDoorCards  LOL 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[TobyB]

I think you are overthinking this.

 

Get some 6mm plywood, cut out the shape, upholster it however you like, and put a good vapor barrier on the door.

I tend to use exposed fasteners, and make sure they look intentional.  That makes things that much easier for mounting.

 

$150 in materials, a weekend of easy craft project, and move on.  When you decide exactly what you want, and 

find it, then you can sell your homemade ones here for $200 US and make a few dollars for the weekend.

 

Because the original door cards were a DM50 solution cribbed from VW and not executed all that well.

(it got worse- I still have Jim's 318ti, and THOSE door cards must have been coped from a Ferrari, they're so bad)

 

Aluminum is not for a street car- every flat, reflective surface will make noise a lot more annoying....

 

t

DIY and done.

[Highnote1]

3 hours ago, Dudeland said:

 

 

Those look nice, but the 74-76 are different than the 67-74. It is one of the only rare things about a 74-76. 

 

They look like the one below (bottom pic). The chrome trim is butchered on mine, and it is NLA.  See Part # 2 below 

 

If I can go with the OEM look, I was thinking something completely different. 

 

#SadPuddingDoorCards  LOL 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Part number 2 is available new btw. Just bought a set from WN. I think they are MVP. They look great!

[Dudeland]

22 minutes ago, Highnote1 said:

Part number 2 is available new btw. Just bought a set from WN. I think they are MVP. They look great!

OOOOooooooooo.  Do you have a part number?  That would be awesome, and I can ditch the crap speakers. 

 

[Dudeland]

4 hours ago, TobyB said:

I think you are overthinking this.

 

Get some 6mm plywood, cut out the shape, upholster it however you like, and put a good vapor barrier on the door.

I tend to use exposed fasteners, and make sure they look intentional.  That makes things that much easier for mounting.

 

$150 in materials, a weekend of easy craft project, and move on.  When you decide exactly what you want, and 

find it, then you can sell your homemade ones here for $200 US and make a few dollars for the weekend.

 

Because the original door cards were a DM50 solution cribbed from VW and not executed all that well.

(it got worse- I still have Jim's 318ti, and THOSE door cards must have been coped from a Ferrari, they're so bad)

 

Aluminum is not for a street car- every flat, reflective surface will make noise a lot more annoying....

 

t

DIY and done.

I did the same thing with my VW panels, and they were okay.

 

Right now, I am getting pretty worn out with this project, and sometimes, you want to buy a solution. 

 

I am down to bleeding the brakes and removing the A/C compressor, then nut and bolt it before I get it certified. 

 

#exhausted. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Highnote1]

Here the WN link for the full set. You can fish around and get the individual fronts too. Max has em too. 
 

Set of inner door panel trim line front and rear (4 pcs.) original BMW with perfect surface and chrome quality for 1600-2, 1600 ti, 1600 convertible, 1602, 1802, 2002, 2002 ti, 2002 tii and 2002 turbo for all years of production you need 1 for 1 car

WWW.WALLOTHNESCH.COM

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Set of inner door panel trim line front and rear (4 pcs.) original BMW with perfect surface and chrome quality...

 

[Howardpowered]

id pass on the aluminum panel. possibly it would look at home in a cybertruck, but the oem interior door panel is such a critical style element for the car that i would spring for the closest reprod avail. i love looking in through the windscreen and seeing those classic door card details inviting me to take a ride.

 

however, now that i know they can go on significant discount at wn, i wont be buying them unless they are. 

[JohnS]

Our brothers in Taiwan got you covered...