Approximate installation time: 1.5 hours/s.
Necessary tools: Drill, 3 or 3.5mm drill bit, star screwdriver, 8mm socket or fixed socket + allen key.
Installation difficulty: Easy (basic mechanical knowledge)
As you will see, the installation is quite simple, but it requires some patience and checking that everything is in place to ensure that everything is as it should. Don't rush and make sure you follow the steps. A correct installation always guarantees a better result.
The first thing we must do is identify the screws and "hardware".
For the front panels:
x6 spacer bushings.
x2 strap pullers.
x2 moldings.
x18 short self tapping screws.
x6 long self tapping screws.
x4 allen screws
x4 washers.
x4 nuts.
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For the back panels:
x14 short self tapping screws.
The first step will be to remove our oem panel from the car. Once we have the area uncovered, the first thing we have to make is a hole in the center of the door opening handle (see photo, yellow circle) since there we will later insert one of the spacer bushings that will make our handle it is at the height of the panel itself and is not too hidden (IMPORTANT! In the image the lever has been removed so that the position of the central screw-hole can be seen more clearly. For its installation, it is not necessary to remove it)
Once we have the hole made, we can remove the lever by removing the screw (usually TORX) that the car comes from the factory. (Here, depending on the year of manufacture, the rod that opens the door can go outside the door, or inside it. Regardless of its position, if it goes inside, all we have to do is bend it slightly towards us so that when we place the spacers on the lever, the rod moves freely. It is easy to bend with our bare hands and can be returned to its place if we put the standard panels back in the future. In case we have the rod for outside, we won't have to perform this step.)
Here we install the bushings as follows with the longest self-tapping screws and we take advantage of the one that is furthest back (original anchor point) to fix the strap . We will place the handle strap so that it hangs from above (see photo, green circle) since if we put it in another position, it will rub excessively against the panel molding.
At this point, we will place the moldings on the panel using the Allen screws with their respective washer (placed behind the panel) and nut.
We take the panels to the car, and center them with the opening handle , checking that when pulling and releasing it, it does not rub against the molding itself and works freely.
We mark the holes on the door, using the ones that are already made on the panel as a reference and from there, we remove the panel again and make the holes.
Here it is important that you have the window up, because if your drill bit is long and you have the glass down, you risk hitting it when drilling the hole. Raise the glass, and avoid risks.
Return the panel to the door, remove the strap through the slot in the molding and start screwing the sheet metal screws, taking into account that the front one (just below the rearview mirror) has a bushing and is installed with the other long sheet metal screw that we have left. This bushing is used so that when tightening the screw, it serves as a stop and does not deform the panel. (View photo)
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To assemble the rear ones , you will only need to use the short sheet metal threads, but it is very important that both front seat belt straps (if you maintain it) go over the panel, because if we leave any of them hidden below the panel, we run the risk of it stopping and not working freely.
To do this, place the panel, mark the holes on the body and make the holes. Before screwing, remove the belt, position the panel and thread the belt back through the hole in the panel to free up the "spool" space. In this way both straps are above the panel. Screw the belt back into place and you are ready to screw the panel into the holes you have previously made.
Remember that if you do not intend to keep the OEM front seatbelt, you can indicate in the order that we do not make said hole, so when you install them you will not have an empty hole as in the following image:
