DIY-Replacing Door Carpet with Leather

[TimAustinW]

Originally Posted by RandallNeighbour

Timothy, you've inspired me to action.

Found the 3M adhesive spray at Home Depot this afternoon and did three interior pieces... the plastic and vinyl bits to the left and right of the cubby holes below the radio, and the oddments tray lid.

It was easy!

I already feel like the interior of my old boxster got an upgrade. Next, I'll tackle a door.

BTW, I didn't take pix, but I will say that I removed the vinyl so I wouldn't have "fat" pieces that didn't fit well. As one removes the vinyl, it's important to leave as much of the foam on the plastic piece so the leather has some padding on it. My vinyl was so old that it came off the foam nicely.

Good deal! Yeah, I just did those pieces on the sides of the upper center console myself. I also did the triangular carpeted pieces that fit just under and behind those as well as the two vinyl oval shapes on the lower center console on each side of the shift knob. My goal is the get the carpet back to the floorboard and leather from the floor up. It'll take some time. I'm considering getting a sewing machine so I can do some strategic stitched seams.

[angman]

Very nice DIY. The project looks excellent once completed. I was worried at first that the top and bottom don't match. You have inspired me and I will tackle this tomorow. Hopefully I can find a leather supplier locally first.

Thanks for the detailed write up. I have been looking for good instructions for awhile now as I have been afraid to rip up my door panels.

[RandallNeighbour]

Well, last night I ruined my passenger side door panel. I cut the leather to size and it really looked like it would go down smoothly without wrinkles or bunching, but the sculpted parts of the door where it jutts out for the handle made it impossible.

I now have a door panel with dried, nasty glue all over it. I will attempt to remove the glue with goo-gone or something else, but I think I've messed up the vinyl to the point with all the solvents that I'll have to replace the panel.

So much for this DIY. The bottom part that you did, Tim, is a straight shot though and that would have been no problem. I tried to do the top part, leaving the carpet below.

Grrr.

[angman]

That's bad news. I take it you're not going to tackle the dash now? I have been too afraid to do the dash msyelf.

[RandallNeighbour]

You know, the dash doesn't scare me. It's far flatter and doesn't have the contours the upper part of the door panel has.

I plan to unbolt it in a few months (during the fall when it's not so hot to work in my garage for hours on end) and have a good look at it from a "that'll bunch the leather" view, which I have now.

[angman]

I am a procarsitnator and finally tackled this project today. I am half done and I must say the removal of the carpet fibers is a major PITA. Instead of a spoon though I did used one of those razor scrapers for paints/tiles and it made it much easier.

[Tieniber]

I've had this one on my list for a while, and got inspired when I saw seningen's boxster for sale. He had a red interior with black leather to replace the door carpet. Just finished the driver's side tonight. I'm loving the red/black contrast!