Suggestions for Door Panel Modification

k.toyoda said:

extra layers of clear coat.

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k.toyoda get a life or grow up. either way your corolla "shine" is no match. LOL

Add color LED's underneath the arm rests?

mmasse said:

Add color LED's underneath the arm rests?

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We have arm rests? I don't recall seeing such devices in our Corolla.

joeylgarcia said:

my 09 corolla S door panels are just plain black so with the fabric seat covers. it just looks so dull to me. inside it just looks so dark and plain.

i was thinking if anything can be done to modify the door panel colors to make it in contrast with the seat covers. i am afraid to buy those cheap seat covers because i was told by my toyota sales representative that the front seats have airbags. if i put on aftermarket seat covers it might interfere with the airbag deployment. besides i am not really a fan of seat covers. so the choice is to alter the color of the door panels.

any suggestions? thanks in advance.

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I dont know what kinda of corolla you have but my front seats dont have air bags I have everything in my car torn apart and there never a site of a air bag in my front seats.

My XRS has side airbags on both front seats. They're inside the left bolster on the driver seat and the right bolster on the passenger seat. They even have a little tag that says SRS Side Airbag on them.

trunks9_us said:

I dont know what kinda of corolla you have but my front seats dont have air bags I have everything in my car torn apart and there never a site of a air bag in my front seats.

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yes my canadian corolla has side airbags on the left of the driver seat and the right of the passenger front seat.

mmasse said:

Add color LED's underneath the arm rests?

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LEDs would be a nice addition to the door panel armrests but i would only be visible at night. i am thinking of something that would be seen even at day. something like a different color of the door panels to contrast the black seat covers? maybe tan or beige? hmmmmmm

My LE have 2 tones on dash and door panels. Maybe you should take yours out and paint them.

cabur said:

My LE have 2 tones on dash and door panels. Maybe you should take yours out and paint them.

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yeah 2 tones is a good idea. i think i have found a good paint that will give the hard plastic door panels a softer, rubbery, velvety feeling. i just sent an email to the paint manufacturer to ask about their velvety paint. i want to hear from them how good the adhesion to plastic will be. and also instances of peeling off or cracking later on. so i will be waiting for their reply.


thanks to all suggestions.

other models have two-tone tan/beige instead of black. i bet you could trade somebody for pieces or get them at a junkyard. i've already seen a few totalled 09's out there

side airbags are standard equipment on all the 09 corollas

yes curtain side airbags are standard and there are also front seat side airbags on some canadian corolla models but im not sure about the canadian CE model.

I would suggest NOT painting any textured plastic or any plastic that is not solid and smooth. You will regret it later on.

Maybe look into some of the interior trim/dash kits on ebay and the internet. I have seen several Carbon Fiber, woodgrain, and "aluminum" look kits available.

That'd probably look better than painting or putting other fabrics, as said kits are typically lined with adhesive tape on the backside for easy installation, and also, not making them "permanent". Actually, come to think of it, I think there also might be some "blank" ones out there that you can paint to match.

Might be worth checking out...

i try to stay away from dash adhesives due to my experience with our US version 1996 honda accord EX that peeled off even before it reached its 10th year. and now all is gone and so bare. besides i want to change the black plastic panels on the doors and not just the armrests. the stick ons on ebay just decorate the door armrests and not the plastic parts of the door panels.

but thanks for the suggestion.