FL D2 plastic door handle inserts: 2 part or 1 part?
 

D2 FL cars came with two types of internal door handle inserts:
1. fake wood 2. plastic.
I have fake wood ones, but wanted to shift to plastic.

Do I understand correctly that plastic handle inserts from late FL D2 cars are made of two parts?

Here is an example of 2 part set: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/132008422603
However this set comes from 1998 car.
Are the facelift ones different?

Well those are being sold by our sponsor so give them a call and ask, they will DEFINITELY know.

That said, I don't understand the question, those look like normal door inserts to me and I thought they were all the same (apart from painted vs fake veneer as noted). :Confused:

Finally the set linked too looks a bit flaky on the front passenger switch panel.

What exactly do you want, I have several spare bits of that type in beige plastic that could be repainted? I definitely have the switch panels and probably the bottom shells too.

Edit: Ah, I see what you mean now! :o Just looked at the listing again. :cool:

The ones I have, which are from a VERY LATE FL D2 have a single top section/moulding for both the switch surround and grab handle hole. Then you just have the bottom piece that feeds up and joins it, so 2 parts per door, not 3!

Thanks Andrew,

Yes, I basically looking for all-plastic inserts from very late D2s (or Final Edition), which, as you just confirmed, are single-top-section design.

Is anyone selling?

Cheers.

Me? But will beige do? If so I'll dig them out and post some photos.

What colour wood / plastic do you have now? I'd happily swap black plastic for maple on black, although mine would need painting to bring them up to your standards...

I plan to paint them, so colour is not important.

Pictures how they actually look like would be great.
I haven't seen these plastic handles.

Can't find them on ETKA either. Found only fake wood handles there.

I looked at more pictures on internet and it looks like FL D2 plastic handles with single top section design are not paintable since just like fake wood handles they consist of upper and lower elements which are non separateable for professional painting? Can someone who have those handles confirm this please?

It's been a while since I looked at the purple ones that mine had from the factory. I did look at having them refinished before opting to go for the fake wood, but the specialist I spoke to suggested the finish he could achieve on that type of surface would be no more hard wearing than the lower handle shells (which I've personally found are good for about 6 months before scratches appear, even if you're very careful)

Your best bet might be to go for black plastic as the base - I think it's the OEM finish on most of the plastic parts that causes the issue, as it doesn't store well.

Cheers Adrian.

I will repaint them satin black and will probably get myself two kits. One for paint and one for the car.

I now tend to get the pre-facelift handles, with two part top section design.
Those can be painted since there is no problem with non-removable top section according to pictures I found on internet...

No idea though if they will fit my car.

I can't see any issues, but let me dig mine out and post some photos.

The big problem I foresee would be the old paint which is a rather thick soft almost rubbery material and would probably need removing.

Edit: Just had a look at the drivers one (the most complex) and it's one single moulding for the top section and it extends down about 4cm into the grab handle hole to meet the lower shell section that clips onto it from below. From above it looks like it may be in 2 parts due to a thin line, but it isn't.
The switches all come out easily enough, the only additional bit of painting would be the markings around the mirror folding switch.
There are 4 metal spring retaining clips on the drivers unit (outer edge) and these appear to have been sprayed the same colour as the rest.