DIY door molding install (bodyshop secrets revealed!)

[2deepn2dubs]

I know this has been covered millions of times but i just wanted to share my technique that ive developed over the last 10 years of working in bodyshops

heres what you need...


ive found it more difficult to get the tape to adhere to the molding not so much to the clean paint on the car, GM adhesion promoter makes the bond from the tape to the molding almost permanent, here is the part nmbr avail at any gm dealer...

ive found the easiest and fastest way to remove the old tape has been this technique...

clean really good with acetone and apply adhesion promoter to molding only, NOT to car, it just makes a mess and isnt neccesary as the 3m tape sticks very well to clean paint...

apply tape...

clean the old tape/glue from the car if any, and make sure its a clean...

a few other hints make sur you install the door moldings back far enough to clear the panel in front when the door opens or it will catch and pull your molding off!

...and your done!

[tomorrowtomorrow]

nice write up, thats exactly how I used to do it as well when I worked in a body shop. I see tons of sagging and missing moldings on mk3s, hopefully some people read this haha

[sc_rufctr]

Great write up... Thanks

[2deepn2dubs]

haha thanks, thats exactly why i did, every mk3 i see has at least one missing!

[MrMook]

I just picked up a full set of smoothie moldings from the JY, so this will come in handy.
Any tips on painting them? The one's I grabbed were Sequoia green, but some of them are going on a black Golf. I was thinking of just grabbing some of that Fusion stuff in the rattle cans.

[Da_Mount]

Nice write up.

[mac504tx]

so just go to any GM dealer and they should have that adhesive?

[Vortexpert]

nice!

[2deepn2dubs]

Quote, originally posted by mac504tx »

so just go to any GM dealer and they should have that adhesive?

the adhesion promoter in the can is gm, the tape can be bought at any automotive paint supply store

[Vortexpert]

i think the the guy that painted this was color blind...

[redskinsboy326]

Quote, originally posted by 2deepn2dubs »

, every mk3 i see has at least one missing!

[2deepn2dubs]

Quote, originally posted by Vortexpert »

i think the the guy that painted this was color blind...

...you mean the robots at the factory were color blind?

[MYK]

You also have to pull them tight or stretch them ever so slightly sometimes as they end up short. I need to do all the moldings on the jetta I just picked up. The PO fixed a couple with what looks like liquid nails and made a mess in the process

[Sven850]

wait..what?? why would you tape it like that?? just replace these ... with new ones...

[mj23afs]

^ Not all of the mk3's came with snap on moldings. Many (if not all) of the smoothed/painted molding were a flexible rubbery material that was glued/adhered to the car from the factory.

[Sven850]

Quote, originally posted by mj23afs »

^ Not all of the mk3's came with snap on moldings. Many (if not all) of the smoothed/painted molding were a flexible rubbery material that was glued/adhered to the car from the factory.

could be, I just never saw it attached that way, maybe it's oem thing only, dont know

[Ghetto-8v]

Only early Mk3's and european models had snap ins.

[2deepn2dubs]

ya pretty much all the factory textured moldings have clips and painted ones are taped

[bodybagged]

Just did this, followed this DIY and worked out great. I think my door skins will come off before my moldings will now.

[wampa]

Quote, originally posted by bodybagged »

Just did this, followed this DIY and worked out great. I think my door skins will come off before my moldings will now.

How much was it for the adhesion promoter at the GM dealership?

[steve188]

I used 3M Adhesive Remover, a credit card, and some paper towels and did my 2.0l moldings (wish i could do them to my vr but they have shrunk.) But your method is just as effective and probably takes less time

Modified by steve188 at 2:47 PM 11-20-2008

[SgregVanliewC]

i used the same tape, didint use any promoter.. just cleaned everything really good and wiped it down with rubbing alc. and heated both surfaces with the heat gun...and they are damn solid now

[Dub Inspiring]

*watched*

[wampa]

I went to the GM dealer and they wanted $31 for the adhesion promoter .

I'll just use the tape for now, and make sure I clean the surfaces really well

[Pf3il]

bent razor blade trick i usually spray the old tape with the 3m adhesive remover shown above and let it soak for 10 minutes. then the razor blade takes it off like a hot knife through butter.

[Anarchy]

...now wash your hands. lol

Good info

[chrismkay3]

i use a razor blade for this but never thought of bending it, beer for you

[2deepn2dubs]

[ZenoSama]

Gonna use my day off to do this one.

[marnzow]