The plastic trim piecee around the window switches is worn from what looks like finger nail scratches. There are a number of threads on now to replace the trim piece but I'd rather hold off on this assuming at some point ill have to replace the window regulator, already did this for t(e rear window. So my question, has anyone used a plastic filler or something equivalent and then a respray by taping off the necessary areas? It seems like this could work. Any feedback would be appreciated

Bob

 

in my experience, since the paint is unique there’s really no touch up solution - and if you’re going to spray the whole thing the proper way to make sure it doesn’t scratch very easily would be to sand, prime, a couple coats and a clear coat with enough time for everything off gas so your whole car doesn’t smell like fumes. SEP has high quality interior paints

 

Since your interior is black, if you use Easy Off oven cleaner, it will remove the soft-touch surface coating from that part and leave the hard black plastic underneath, which may look fine - the defects on yours are probably limited to the soft touch coating. It looks like a woman with long nails owned or drove that car as the leather just above that piece is pretty scratched up too. I'm not sure what the oven cleaner is going to do if it gets on the leather.

 

Take it to a good wrap shop. I did all of the silver around my seats and you cannot tell it has been wrapped.

 

The oven cleaner option is interesting but thought I’d start with alcohol which really good. The question now is what color does Porsche use for interior trim? I’d like to see if I can paint the area first and see how that comes out. My interior is black/stone gray but the black is likely different for plastic trim.

 

Sem Brand satin black trim paint is awfully close. I did my wife’s Boxster’s sills a bit ago and they are holding up quite well. If I were rich and had the inclination I would cover in leather

 

Thanks, this helps a lot. If I ever end up removing the door card in the future, I’ll likely cover it in leather

​​​​​​​Bob

 

Taking the door cards off is actually quite easy to do, so if the scratches bother you I would not wait until the window regulator goes bad.

 

I would recommend to replace it with leather wrapped bezel as well, so you'd only have to do it once. Note that you should replace the trim with a new part, as the old part is plastic welded onto the door card and it will get mangled once taken off. Here is what mine, from exclusive options, looks like.

 

That looks really nice, do you have a picture of the backside showing how you attached and where did you secure the leather cover?

Thanks

Bob

 

Why not just take the finish off- looks like it is working well and then apply some of that semi permanent "back to black" stuff, you know the stuff people use for the cowl and outside black trim pieces, for now anyway.

 

I worked on removing the remaining finish and it just didn't work. I cleaned it up as best it can for now but a new project on the way for this fall, maybe earlier, by removing the door panel and replacing the plastic piece, may use leather, depending on cost, but Speedracerf4i panel looks fantastic.

Bob

 

Does the door need to come off to replace the door card with a OEM piece? Can you please direct me to threads that show the removal and install process? Thank you!

 

Are you talking about the piece that holds the window switches? If so, that's called a door spear, and yes, the interior door panel has to come off and that piece is plastic welded into place from the backside of the door. Once you remove the old ones using a soldering iron, you can either remelt the new one the same way the original was installed or clip of the new posts so they're about 1mm short of where they protrude through and use screws, which is the method I prefer as it lets you adjust the tension at all the attachment points for a perfect fit.

The 997 DIY index sticky at the top of the forum page should have a thread on interior door panel removal as well as about 40 more DIY threads.

 

I believe so. This is the part.