Door handles

[Guest]

This is a cry (plea ?) for help.

My originally black door handles (and, come to that, my ignition switch face plate), have faded to a not very pretty shade of grey, and patchy at that.

So, I would like to know if there is any way of restoring the black, without removing them, and without buying a new set (although I could go for some nice, colour-coded 993 handles, it seems, but at what expense ?). Failing this, is there a way to re-paint (re-anodise ?) them, assuming that I can remove/replace them.
Are they easy to remove/replace, on the basis that I have a set of tools, but not necessarily the patience to use them ?

Ta in advance

 

[Guest]

John,

I cant comment on restoring the finish, but I have removed the door handles. You will need a bit of patience to do this, but it is pretty easy.

If you dont have 101 projects or the bentley manual then there is a tech article on Pelican parts web site on this.
http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/bob_tindel/911_door_panel_remove.htm
basically you remove the door panel, to gain access to the back of the door handle. The door handles is held on by 2 nuts, quite small, you will need a good small socket set with extension to get to these. You have to disconnect the microswitch for the central locking from the handle as you pull it out. Take the opportunity to replace the door handle gaskets (they are cheap) and check that the door drain holes are clear.

There should also be a plastic sheet between the door panel and the actual door, these rarely go back on again, a new one is about £15 for an official part and about £6 for an aftermarket. Otherthings to watch out for are, make sure you label the wires on the electic windows, and be gentle when taking the screw of the door bins out, these can be tricky, none of it needs forcing, they are pricey to replace.

If you need any more info, give me a shout.

edited to add hyperlink

 

[Jamie Summers]

John,
Probably no the ideal solution but I' ve got some amazing green goo in a bottle made by Raceglaze that goes on anything plastic or metal inside or outside the car (even tyres !) It makes the dash and all associated ' black bits' look great and doesn' t leave it feeling sticky or oily. It certainly does the trick of making faded black plastic look like it should. A rather cheaper way round the problem than replacing everything but maybe not as full-time solution as you' re after !

Jamie

 

[Guest]

Jamie - this does sound a quick solution as mine are looking a little " tired" , Could you tell where I could get this Raceglaze product from please.


Steve
' 87 Carrera Coupe

 

[Jamie Summers]

http://www.raceglaze.co.uk/

There isn' t really a website there but at least there' s an email link and I' m sure they can send you a catalogue - sadly I can' t remember what the product is called off the top of my head but there can' t be too many snot-green plastic cleaners / colour restorers in their range !

Jamie

 

[Guest]

Raceglaze can be contacted at the following
tel 08707 572243
fax 01789 450394
email enquiries@raceglaze.co.uk
Admington Lane
Admington Ind Est
Shipston on Stour
Warks CV36 4JJ

 

[Guest]

Thanks all

I have emailed them, asking for a catalogue (and a date for their web site completion, if that is sooner). When I try the green gunk, I will let you all know. I must admit, a permanent solution would be nice, but if I have to do it every time that I wash the car, then that will be no problem.

 

[steh]

hi john,just looking at the old post and see you needed help to recolour your door handles. well if you have not yet done them i have just done mine and they look very good. after removing them from the car i rubbed them down with wet and dry used wet with a lot of soap then primed them two with two coats, once dryed i rubbed them down again with 1200 paper and again primed them followed by another rubbing down when dryed. i used a paint made by tatrysol satin black again a couple of coats and rubbing down gently inbetween each dry coat.once all when dryed i polised gebtly with rubbing compound and then used p21s paint clensner, the look is fantastic and i did it all over a couple of days this week as i am putting the car in street councours this weekend at eynsham so i did rush them at bit.

steve

 

[Guest]

Steve

Funnily enough, I have just come back from Eynsham, where I ended up talking about the state of my door handles (still ' grey' ) ! Mind you, I had some fun watching the concours people spending all day today (and some time yesterday) polishing bits that I didn' t even know existed on my car (everything dirty, grungy colour in the engine area tends to mean nothing sticks out).

Assuming that I can remove the old handles, I will try your idea - I had thought of doing something like that, but didn' t know if it would look any good.

So, ta.

 

[ClubSport 911]

I kid you not, I can see your concours experience and raise you.

I saw one person polishing the tools in the toolkit with Zymol, and then buffing up....followed by the same person waxing the dial on the gauge on the compressor on the tyre inflator....

He then proceeded to dust the entire area for a good 2 minutes with a Turkey feather brush.

I admire this - sincerely... but do not understand it at all.

Congratulations to all the entrants this weekend, your cars looked simply " better than new" []. I returned to my car in the line up and thought: " oh dear..."

 

[oilyrag]

I will always return to my car and think ....... " Yes, now there' s a car thats driven"
Which for me is just how it should be, since it was not designed simply to look at! []

 

[Guest]

since it was not designed simply to look at!

I know, I don' t like perfect cars - too frightened to make them un-perfect.
But, my grey handles just annoy me, when I clean/polish the car - the colour just clashes with the dark blue/black of the rest of the car !

 

[steh]

hi again john,
i had my car on the street concours on saturday and got top marks for the handles. if you looked at any of the handles on the cars mine was the A reg chiffon white 911 parked inbetween the black turbo and red 911(964).

steve

 

[Guest]

Hi Steh,
Saw your car, very nice, also nice to see that your car " wasn' t" being polish[]

 

[Guest]

ORIGINAL: steh

I had my car on the street concours on saturday and got top marks for the handles

Doesn' t that just show how silly ' Street' concours is getting! - no offence steve

Roy

 

[steh]

thanks for the compliment on the car neil.i give the car a quick polish on the saturday morning after driving it from the camping area and that was it really. i thought that street concours was about that, cars that get used on a daily basis. i will carry on trying to get a better postion in future events by improving the car but maybe i will put it on the register stand if not.

steve

 

[Alan_Armstrong]

John,

Been on holiday for a while (missed Eynsham...or could have manned the stand!!)
Had the same problem with door handles, managed to mask them up with 1/4" masking tape, rubbed down and resprayed...but in matt black not satin!!

Have resolved this now by polishing with t-cut which puts the sheen back on!

 

[supersport]

Was that door or fork handles Geoff?

Mine are in a similar condition.