What to do “while I’m in there” updating door panels

I’m gathering parts to upgrade my interior to (mostly) the full leather package. The first stage is the door cards, pull handles and cubby door. I’m currently experimenting with some paint schemes/options on a junkyard door panel, but was wondering what the collective thinks would be good stuff to service/replace while I have it open? Thoughts are: •door micro switch •door latch mechanism •speaker? (Although I’m fine with the audio quality, currently) •flimsy plastic key lock thingy? (But never use the key - only the fob). Anyway, just curious about tapping the collective wisdom on this.

If you have the "Sound Package Plus" instead of the Bose of the Burmeister, those speakers SUUUUUUUCK. Total trash. If so, I'd definitely upgrade them "while you're in there". I put Focal Integrations in my wife's Cayman , and it made a MASSIVE difference in sound quality. I wouldn't mess with the door latches or anything like that unless they are actually broken. But one thing you may want to seriously consider: add some sound deadener to the doors, both on the inside of the door skins and also to the inner panel as well.

I’m not a huge audio nerd, so do you have a recommended model number for those speakers? And I do have the Bose system (silver badge on the door + the sub at the passenger footwell). Does that change your recommendation for a speaker upgrade?

Since you aren't an audio nerd, and you do have the Blows I mean Bose (lol), just ride with what you got. I'd still do the sound deadener though.

If you worked in Mirafiori building Fiats, you might somehow find the time to paint a beautiful stunning mural inside the door that some mechanic in NY would later find doing a window regulator. Crazy day..

Something like this?

Haha no joke? It was a stunning painting, so good it made me feel bad for the guy that is trapped in some big building, making fiats instead of velvet paintings for the gas station.

Unfortunately, I’m better at turning wrenches than paint brushes…. I’ll leave that advice for the more artistically inclined .

I’ve n never applied sound damping before, but have looked into it enough to know that select strategic locations are the most effective. A smallish patch (~12” square?) in the center of the door skin seems l like a good idea, but what would you recommend for the door card? Any other locations?

Take a good hard look at the window regulator. They do wear out, particularly the plastic pulleys, and replacement requires the full door panel disassembly.

white lithium grease the window pull line (see below) sound absorbing closed cell foam on 80% of the inside surface depending on age/mileage/budget, replace the door latches. The plastic rotating knob that triggers the window to stay open tends to wear out. replace the door stay/checks if they are starting to creak a lot. Made opening/closing my doors so much smoother and enjoyable. Requires a triple square bit. I put the white lithium on the opening the cable runs through, then turned the window up and down with pliers to get the grease all over the cable.

Thanks for the clear suggestions! I’ll get some foam. My door checks seem happy, so I’ll just make sure they are greased, much like the window mechanism.

Convert the inside door handles to straps that match your custom interior!

Looking for opinions on this one. I’m experimenting with adding a little color to the fairly monochrome stone grey interior (which I don’t mind at all). Inspired by the body color center console option, I am considering leaning into that with body colored door spears and matching dash belt like trim. I’ve made a test sample, but unfortunately only have a less than amazing picture due to not having great light at home when not at work It is supposed to be Atlas Grey, but I think it is leaning more purple than the actual body color of the car. Having said that - opinions? I kind of like it, but am not over the moon. 100% stone grey is a safe choice, for sure.

I'm not sure what a door spear is, but if you're aiming to coordinate with the trim pieces on the console and dashboard, then I suggest limiting the paint to just the narrow strip that runs horizontally below the door handle. More than that would over-weight the accent color.

What I am calling the door spear in the plastic piece that the door handle and window switches sit in - the thing that was painted in the picture above . I see what you are saying about overwhelming in an accent color, and this would be an example that starts getting into that territory: but honestly doesn’t really bother me. Looking at different examples, it seems like the amount of contrast is a major factor of that. I’d also counter that just a lone high contrast center console can look isolated and out of place. What’s interesting (to me) in the image above is if you zoom out, it makes more sense However, color theory is NOT this engineers strong suit, so it is good to bounce thoughts around to help firm up opinions.

Also, if you want to have fun with it, beyond a single paint color, you can do decals or hydro dip the trim pieces. I printed my own decals to go with the tie-dye door straps. I'm playing with more subdued ideas for my Boxster 😂

Sir, I applaud your vibes.

I have also dabbled with painting some of my interior parts (see below). For the parts I wasn't certain whether I was going too far or not I started with a layer of plastidip before spraying the color. That way if I decided i was going too far I could just peel it of. The top color is a regular Krylon spray paint and well over 12 months on it still looks as fresh as the day I applied it. Cheers, Julian (not me in the photo

That’s a really creative method! I wouldn’t have thought of that. Did the plasti-dip just stick to the rubberized paint or did you do some sort of surface prep in advance? Was the thickness buildup of the plasti-dip an issue anywhere?

I removed/dismantled everything I wanted to spray. the only exception being the HVAC panel, I sprayed over those buttons as an experiment. Was easy enough to just peel off although a little finicky. No issues with coating thickness at all.

If it ain't broke...

Well, some things are known to break (or wear out), so…