Vantage - how to remove trim panels

Vantage - how to remove trim panels

Author
Discussion

johnnyBv8

Original Poster:

2,417 posts

190 months

Wednesday 18th July 2012
quotequote all
In a fit of OCD I've bought a replacement leather panel to replace the one that runs across the back of the car behind the seats, as it had an inch-long scuff which annoyed me (see thumbnail!). Has anyone removed the interior panels...I realise I'll need to remove the aluminum strut pieces which must be bolted in at the top beneath the roof trim. Does the alacantra roof panel just pull off? I'll also need to remove the panel with the rear speakers in it.

Would normally just investigate and work it out as I go along, but on the Vantage would rather know for certain before I start prizing!




X7LDA

940 posts

203 months

Wednesday 18th July 2012
quotequote all
To get that bit out it's a complete faff, albeit relatively easy... I've removed almost every panel of my Vantage so will help as much as I can.

Start on the headliner trip at the top right of the photo. About 8 inches from the back there is a small circle cover about 1cm in diameter. Flat head screwdriver - pop it out. Screw underneath it, unscrew and then pull the trim back. You could remove the whole panel all the way down to the window, but you dont want to as need to take some of the dash out. You should be able to pull it back enough to reach the bolts for the strut. Obviously remove these next.

Next put the seats all the way forward and fold them forward for access. Pull the long parcel shelf cover out and put outside the car (the piece that lies flat that covers the battery and tool box etc).

Now you need to remove the panel in the bottom right of the photo (to give you access to the panel that has the speaker covers on it). You'll see one screw at the bottom of the panel - remove. Now the panel, at the top left closest to the strut, slides down and out (with some force) of a clip into the panel holding the speaker. Once that's down you'll be able to work along towards the door and slide out all the way. You don't need to remove it completely IIRC, just enough to get access to the bottom left of the panel holding the speaker. There is one screw that holds it in on that corner, remove and you should be able to pull it back to get enough access to the back panel now.

Might be small steps i've missed as it's been a few months since I took the back out but that's it in a nutshell.

Don't be scared to use some force to pull panels back, they are quite flexible. And use vaseline to put it all back in again - helps if you ever need to remove it in the future!

johnnyBv8

Original Poster:

2,417 posts

190 months

Thursday 19th July 2012
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That's brilliant - thanks!

Murph7355

37,649 posts

255 months

Thursday 19th July 2012
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Out of interest, where did you get the replacement panel from, and how much was it?

Gibberish

568 posts

142 months

Thursday 19th July 2012
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johnnyBv8 said:
In a fit of OCD I've bought a replacement leather panel to replace the one that runs across the back of the car behind the seats, as it had an inch-long scuff which annoyed me (see thumbnail!)
That scuff must have been much worse than it looks in the picture, did you consider an automotive leather restorer before going down the replacement route?

johnnyBv8

Original Poster:

2,417 posts

190 months

Thursday 19th July 2012
quotequote all
Gibberish said:
That scuff must have been much worse than it looks in the picture, did you consider an automotive leather restorer before going down the replacement route?
To be honest it's probably not as bad as it looks in the picture! It was just that I got a used one for a good price (less than getting it re-covered). Will stick my old one up on eBay too, to offset the cost of its replacement.


Edited by johnnyBv8 on Thursday 19th July 11:00

Gibberish

568 posts

142 months

Thursday 19th July 2012
quotequote all
johnnyBv8 said:
To be honest it's probably not as bad as it looks in the picture! It was just that I got a used one for a good price (less than getting it re-covered).
If that’s the case, a recover wouldn’t have been necessary. It may well have disappeared, with just the usual smooth and re-dye treatment.

But I fully understand you wanting it mint; just looks a faff changing the panels.

If you had ordered a trim panel from Aston Martin, I believe they would have looked back to your build spec and matched the leather grain and colour/grade exactly (all at a price!), so you’ve been lucky to find an exact match.

johnnyBv8

Original Poster:

2,417 posts

190 months

Thursday 19th July 2012
quotequote all
Gibberish said:
If thats the case, a recover wouldnt have been necessary. It may well have disappeared, with just the usual smooth and re-dye treatment.

But I fully understand you wanting it mint; just looks a faff changing the panels.

If you had ordered a trim panel from Aston Martin, I believe they would have looked back to your build spec and matched the leather grain and colour/grade exactly (all at a price!), so youve been lucky to find an exact match.
To be fair, I haven't seen the replacement yet - so if the grain looks different I may yet end up going to see if I can get mine fixed and just resell the one I've bought.

It's actually not quite as it looks in that picture - it's still black but the scuff is raised...made up of lots of little cuts (hard to describe!), so it catches the light whenever I turn round to reverse.

Edited to add: slightly dubious as to whether AM would really do anything other than match colour as unless a pressed 'pattern' then the grain varies from hide to hide and according to where on the hide the piece comes from - and can't easily be categorised. Without saying too much, I do have some very relevant previous employment history in this area! I also have the build spec for my car and it only states 'obsidian black' for each of the component groups, with no further detail. We shall see though....



Edited by johnnyBv8 on Thursday 19th July 12:16

X7LDA

940 posts

203 months

Thursday 19th July 2012
quotequote all
Gibberish said:
johnnyBv8 said:
If you had ordered a trim panel from Aston Martin, I believe they would have looked back to your build spec and matched the leather grain and colour/grade exactly (all at a price!), so you’ve been lucky to find an exact match.
Sorry but don't think that's true. Have never been asked grain or grade, just the colour.

And i'm sure everyone understands that unless the rest of the leather is brand new then the piece you receive will always be a slightly different colour anyway as it's had zero sun exposure.

johnnyBv8

Original Poster:

2,417 posts

190 months

Thursday 19th July 2012
quotequote all
X7LDA said:
Sorry but don't think that's true. Have never been asked grain or grade, just the colour.

And i'm sure everyone understands that unless the rest of the leather is brand new then the piece you receive will always be a slightly different colour anyway as it's had zero sun exposure.
I agree.....though you seem to have sort of quoted me saying what Gibberish said!

However, if I were cynical I would say that you may well be able to pay for a grain, grade and colour matching service from AM as Gibberish says, even though what you really receive is a basic colour match!


Edited by johnnyBv8 on Thursday 19th July 13:51

X7LDA

940 posts

203 months

Thursday 19th July 2012
quotequote all
johnnyBv8 said:
I agree.....though you seem to have sort of quoted me saying what Gibberish said!

However, if I were cynical I would say that you may well be able to pay for a grain, grade and colour matching service from AM as Gibberish says, even though what you really receive is a basic colour match!


Edited by johnnyBv8 on Thursday 19th July 13:51
Just noticed that.... Don't know how it happened!

W1111AM

942 posts

128 months

Sunday 20th April 2014
quotequote all
X7LDA said:
To get that bit out it's a complete faff, albeit relatively easy... I've removed almost every panel of my Vantage so will help as much as I can.

Start on the headliner trip at the top right of the photo. About 8 inches from the back there is a small circle cover about 1cm in diameter. Flat head screwdriver - pop it out. Screw underneath it, unscrew and then pull the trim back. You could remove the whole panel all the way down to the window, but you dont want to as need to take some of the dash out. You should be able to pull it back enough to reach the bolts for the strut. Obviously remove these next.

Next put the seats all the way forward and fold them forward for access. Pull the long parcel shelf cover out and put outside the car (the piece that lies flat that covers the battery and tool box etc).

Now you need to remove the panel in the bottom right of the photo (to give you access to the panel that has the speaker covers on it). You'll see one screw at the bottom of the panel - remove. Now the panel, at the top left closest to the strut, slides down and out (with some force) of a clip into the panel holding the speaker. Once that's down you'll be able to work along towards the door and slide out all the way. You don't need to remove it completely IIRC, just enough to get access to the bottom left of the panel holding the speaker. There is one screw that holds it in on that corner, remove and you should be able to pull it back to get enough access to the back panel now.

Might be small steps i've missed as it's been a few months since I took the back out but that's it in a nutshell.

Don't be scared to use some force to pull panels back, they are quite flexible. And use vaseline to put it all back in again - helps if you ever need to remove it in the future!
Hi, I am following your instructions thanks, I have removed the screw from the lower "right" panel. How and which direction do I pull the panel out - it feels very tight and I am nervous not to break it? Are their spring clips or similar behind?

Shinjuku79

141 posts

106 months

Sunday 7th February 2016
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Resurrecting this one, can anyone give a bit more guidance on how to remove to trim in the right hand corner of the pic in the op.

Specifically I would like to remove the panel around the speaker and the panel below that. I have a rattle coming from in there and would like to tighten whatever is making the noise.


Shinjuku79

141 posts

106 months

Friday 12th February 2016
quotequote all
A bump for this one. Does anyone know how to do this.