You realise just how good this site is when you try to search Quattroworld - it's rubbish! :(

the trick is to just search through google
rubber paint site:http://forums.quattroworld.com/a8/

http://forums.quattroworld.com/a8/msgs/17504.phtml

what I really wanted to do is to separate the plastic part and get someone to cast or machine it from aluminium. But its just too much work and probably expensive. It would look really good though.

Looked at quattroworld link and not impressed with quality since a strip of platinum colour is still visible between wood and black.

I still think that without removing 'wood' it is impossible to paint it properly.

I would make an assumption that wood is not glued. If this is correct I would take Dremel, use cutting disc and will shave off securing points/rivets or whatever is used. If it can be separated I would then paint and glue to slicone or other gentle glue so it'll be possible to disassemble in future again.

If my assumption is wrong and the thing is actually glued, then I think it is impossible to separate them without damaging structurally.

I've got a few spare door inserts that I bought to play with. The 'wood' trim is almost impossible to remove without damaging it, but if you were painting the insert the same colour, it might work. I'll give it a try on the spare inserts first!

maybe the wood can be carefully separated with a sharp razor?

It's metal, not wood. But I'moff to see an interior trim specialist tomorrow, so I'll report back then

Here's a few photos to show how the 'wood' is attached and why it's not practical to remove it.

The first 3 photos show the underside of the 'wood' (actually a thin, tin-like metal) illustrating the attachment method of folding over the edge of the 'wood' plate. You can also see that, to remove it, you have to prise the folded edge upwards on at least one long side.

The fourth photo is an attempt to show the damage that this does to the 'wood' side. It doesn't show up in the photo, but there are small cracks introduced into the 'wood' at right angles to the edge.

The last two photos show the underside of the 'wood' panel and the top of the plastic door pull beneath to illustrate that there's not much glue used at all.

I've not attempted to refit a 'wood' panel, but I'd expect that to cause even more cracking to the wood effect.

Do a Google search for 'rubber paint'

I stumbled upon this yesterday while looking for paint for my garage roof.

think u may be able to get paint mixed to your exact spec/colour

I'll get fully plastic bits then (without wood at all) and just paint them properly. With this approach they will last forever.

I think there is too much wood anyway even without those wooden handles.

Also, wood on handles doesn't match all other wood anyway.

I'm for minimalism :) :) :)

Well, we are all different! :)

The story so far is this:

I already have plain platinum door inserts that I assume were standard on the car. And they're in reasonably good condition. But I do like the 'dark myrtle' trim, so I was on the lookout for ages for 'myrtle on platinum' door inserts (Neil beat me too the first set that came up!).

So, I eventually found a set from A8 Parts, but the platinum 'rubber paint' is in fairly poor condition. Hence me wanting a fix!

What I have discovered through this is that, as you rightly point out, Sergey, the 'wood' on the door inserts often (if not always?) doesn't match the rest of the 'wood' trim. David (David's8) noticed this on his car and presumed the door inserts had been added at a later date - but perhaps not. Did they come from the factory with 'collar and cuffs' (so to speak ;)) not matching? Pretty shabby on a car the price of an '8 if that is the case.

My FE also doesn't have Alcantara in the door cards.....


....I wonder if I'll ever finish this car to my satisfaction? :o