Searching for suggestions on replacing and or repairing the insert on the door panels where the vinyl has lifted from the molding. If a new panel is the only option are there any sources for purchasing other than a Volvo dealer? Thank you!

VoluParts and Volvo Dissasembly in Atlanta will have anything you ever need for a volvo... they both have websites too..

KlausK,

Thank you. By chance have you had the three piece panel replacement made? If so do you know if the repair shop made a template that could be re-used.

Much appreciated,

mlpmo1

KlausK,

Thank you. By chance have you had the three piece panel replacement made? If so do you know if the repair shop made a template that could be re-used.

Much appreciated,

mlpmo1

KlausK,

Thank you. By chance have you had the three piece panel replacement made? If so do you know if the repair shop made a template that could be re-used.

Much appreciated,

mlpmo1

KlausK,

Thank you. By chance have you had the three piece panel replacement made? If so do you know if the repair shop made a template that could be re-used.

Much appreciated,

mlpmo1

KlausK,

Thank you. By chance have you had the three piece panel replacement made? If so do you know if the repair shop made a template that could be re-used.

Much appreciated,

mlpmo1

KlausK,

Thank you. By chance have you had the three piece panel replacement made? If so do you know if the repair shop made a template that could be re-used.

Much appreciated,

mlpmo1

I did my wife's '98 S70 over 4 years ago and they still look great. I took all 4 panels off, heated the inner trim perimeter with a heat gun and removed the cardboard center sections. I used a 3M "Clean & Strip" brush, on a slow speed die grinder, to clean off all glue from cardboard. I went to an upholstry shop, bought a couple yards of a very heavy tweed cloth (it stretches). I also bought a pint of upholstry glue from him (apply it like contact cement). One at a time, I coated inside cloth and cardboard, left it sit 5-10 minutes, then glued material to cardboard, carefully stretching material into pocket curves. Trimmed excess after dry, trimmed switch openings, etc. I used a Lord Fusor 2 part adhesive to glue center cardboard panels to trim panels, clamped and allowed to cure. I spent less than $50.00 on materials and about 4 hours of my time. Every time I get in her car I think how "factory" the inserts look!

Fantastic, I would like to see the results if you can post a picture. Your post is the first one I have ever read here of someone who actually repaired the bubbling panels or used a substitute material. All other posts always had a line like, "An upholstery shop can do it easily."

I'll be glad to take some pictures. I'm not sure how or where to upload them to the site. If you provide me your email address, I'll send you the pictures. Phil pkenter2@aol.com

Send some pics to MLMPMO1, just click on the small envelope next to his handle to initiate email. Those "claiming to be" cannot be emailed because they are not members of the board.
Thanks,
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My name is Klaus and I am a Volvoholic.

Thank You Klause for the simple directions. I will get some pics this evening, after she's home, and email them. Let me know how to post them, so they can be viewed by others. Thanks again, Phil

Hello Phil,

If you have any pictures of the finished door panel I would like to see them before taking this project on. It's hard to imagine that the material lays flat. You can post pics like Klaus did or send them to me at mlpmo1@sbcglobal.net.

Thank you,

Mike

Thanks for the email, but I only got the top 1 inch of your pic. Perhaps it was a little too big?
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My name is Klaus and I am a Volvoholic.

Posting is "fairly" easy. Go to the dropdown list under GALLERY and find the small blue script that says add an exhibit.
Or go here:
http://www.brickboard.com/GALLERY/form.htm?&pix_type=TECHNICAL

Remember, the picturs have to be small. Jarrod doesn't have a lot of storage space on the server. So create a smaller picture on your PC, save as, then copy it across.


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My name is Klaus and I am a Volvoholic.

I no longer have a Volvo :( and my 1998 R had leather panels instead of vinyl. No templates are needed, it is very simple for a vinyl shop to recover the panel - IF you take it out first.

Do the rear doors first, they are the easiest.
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My name is Klaus and I am a Volvoholic.

Your best option is an upholstery shop, where the vinyl is replaced with a 3 piece sewn together. But, you need to pull off the door panels, take out the insert and then let them do their magic, otherwise the labor charge gets too high.
The problem with the Volvo junk is the glue between the vinyl and its backing material. Getting new from Volvo will not help, it just pulls out again.
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My name is Klaus and I am a Volvoholic.

The Volvo dealers in my area send the repair out to an upholstery shop. I went directly to that upholstery shop for the repairs and saved a few bucks by not going through the dealer. The panel inserts are available from Volvo. The time consuming part is scraping off the old glue to create a smooth surface for new inserts, while not damaging other parts of the door panel. I think the total bill was about $300 but that was 6 or 7 years ago.