2010 DB9 rear leather panel removal
Discussion
Hi all - I know there are lots of posts on here about tackling rattles, but I’m looking for a bit of help. The panel highlighted in the photo isn’t fitted very snuggly and I’m sure is the source of one of my few remaining annoying noises. The equivalent panel on the passenger side seems really tightly fitted - this one on the driver’s side is not.
Specific question is - can anyone help me work out how to remove it without doing damage? I’m happy to have a go myself, and to post pics of the job as I do it to add to the resources here for other forum members to benefit from.
Thanks in advance
First remove the rear seat backs and basses to protect them
Then
The side panel is just held on with 'fir tree' clips
It'll pull off with a good yank.
The smaller panel just slides onto the side panel
This pic is from an ebay listing, you can see the 3 clip holders
You will probably need new clips after removal
Then
The side panel is just held on with 'fir tree' clips
It'll pull off with a good yank.
The smaller panel just slides onto the side panel
This pic is from an ebay listing, you can see the 3 clip holders
You will probably need new clips after removal
Hutch525 said:
First remove the rear seat backs and basses to protect them
Yep - got it
Then
The side panel is just held on with 'fir tree' clips
It'll pull off with a good yank.
Do you mean the panel immediately below the shoulder support of the seat back here?? The one above the seat belt button.
The smaller panel just slides onto the side panel
and is this referring to the panel alongside the seat base - the one below the seat belt button on my pic?
This pic is from an ebay listing, you can see the 3 clip holders
You will probably need new clips after removal
I can't quite work out which panel on my pic this eBay listing is of
Sorry for all the follow-up Qs - I've had the entire passenger side dash off to sort one rattle but I suspect I'm coming across as a bit of an idiot here!Yep - got it
Then
The side panel is just held on with 'fir tree' clips
It'll pull off with a good yank.
Do you mean the panel immediately below the shoulder support of the seat back here?? The one above the seat belt button.
The smaller panel just slides onto the side panel
and is this referring to the panel alongside the seat base - the one below the seat belt button on my pic?
This pic is from an ebay listing, you can see the 3 clip holders
You will probably need new clips after removal
I can't quite work out which panel on my pic this eBay listing is of
Yeah, I thought that from the eBay pics. Looking at the tabs on the rear it looks like it lifts up off its fixings (rather than pull out/fir tree) and panels that do that often have screws too.
Will take some photos when I pull mine apart and post here in case they are helpful to others.
Will take some photos when I pull mine apart and post here in case they are helpful to others.
I suspect the issue with mine which is causing the rattle is that someone has taken it off before (I can see some felt tape has been added between the panels) and then either not got those clips to re-seat properly or they were damaged when it was taken off and then not replaced. The one on the passenger side is perfect, so I know what can be achieved.
I expect I'll end up doing a similar job to what you did - get all those rear leather panels off and give them a good clean and condition and then methodically replace them all making sure they are clipped back in properly, adding padding and felt tape as needed. I really want to work my way through the whole lot as the rear glass also needs cleaning behind the panels which surround the brake light! May be a job to start today...
I expect I'll end up doing a similar job to what you did - get all those rear leather panels off and give them a good clean and condition and then methodically replace them all making sure they are clipped back in properly, adding padding and felt tape as needed. I really want to work my way through the whole lot as the rear glass also needs cleaning behind the panels which surround the brake light! May be a job to start today...
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|https://thumbsnap.com/nMAuMveq[/url][url]
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|https://thumbsnap.com/FvrPTQmr[/url]So I decided to have a go at removing the interior panel yesterday - massive thanks to Hutch for the removal tips. All the fir tree clips were in a pretty terrible state and one of the mounting points for the fir tree was itself broken (3rd pic). I've got some replacement clips on order, so will use the time whilst the speaker and wires are exposed to tie those all up neatly and clip to the car body, in case it's the wires rather than the panel causing the vibration/rattle.
It may well end up with me taking all the rear panels off right up to the brake light so I can give all the leather a good clean and condition and clean the rear glass properly...more pics to follow as the job progresses.
As expected, I lost most of yesterday chasing this £$#@&& rattle...and still haven't found it!
I've removed the seat base, seat back and the panel I was originally asking about in this thread. I've secured every single loose speaker cable I could find and gone for a test drive at each step - the rattle resolutely remains.
I'm still sure it's coming from this corner of the interior, so the next suspect is that panel which houses the reading light. I have already removed the light itself, and it wasn't that or its wires, so perhaps it's the panel itself rubbing down near the window?
I'm going to have the world's largest leather jigsaw to complete byt the time I'm done, but at least I can clean and condition each panel properly whilst they are out of the car.
I've removed the seat base, seat back and the panel I was originally asking about in this thread. I've secured every single loose speaker cable I could find and gone for a test drive at each step - the rattle resolutely remains.
I'm still sure it's coming from this corner of the interior, so the next suspect is that panel which houses the reading light. I have already removed the light itself, and it wasn't that or its wires, so perhaps it's the panel itself rubbing down near the window?
I'm going to have the world's largest leather jigsaw to complete byt the time I'm done, but at least I can clean and condition each panel properly whilst they are out of the car.
Rappa said:
Good luck!
Lots of photos along the way may help.
If you drive the car without the panels there does it still rattle?
It does indeed! That’s exactly what I’m doing - remove a panel, go for a test drive. Repeat…repeat…repeat!Lots of photos along the way may help.
If you drive the car without the panels there does it still rattle?
I plan to document it all in here once I’m done, as a thank you to those who have offered suggestions/guidance and hopefully as a helpful resource to anyone who needs to do similar.
Are you sure it's not the seatbelt retractor? There's a little "cup and ball" system to detect vehicle deceleration, plus a little centrifugal bob-weight system that detects rapid belt extraction. They have been known to make a little rattle-type noise - I have it on my Vantage.
Sadly, if it is, it can be difficult, if not impossible to fix, as the noise can travel along the seatbelt route and exit through the bezel into the cabin. You need to be very, very careful if you're thinking of adding sound insulation
Sadly, if it is, it can be difficult, if not impossible to fix, as the noise can travel along the seatbelt route and exit through the bezel into the cabin. You need to be very, very careful if you're thinking of adding sound insulation
sirmarcus said:
It may well be that - that's certainly the right sort of area. Any tips on how I would diagnose for sure??
Well, if you have the trim out and you can see the retractor all I can suggest is to get something like thick, closed-cell foam or thick cloth and wrap it round the retractor, than take the car for a drive and see if it's gone or changed. As long as you don't make the seatbelt slack then the restraint system should still work OK - obviously, all at your own risk, etc, etc. Or you could try unbolting the retractor, but then you'd have to drive without a seatbelt.As far as I know it was an airborne noise, not transmitted through the structure. I don't think there's a fix; I don't think every retractor had the problem, but a new retractor could have the same issue. If the foam works then you could try making up a small foam box to wrap around the retractor, but you'd have to leave a gap for the belt to move through, and this is where the noise would also likely come through. If you are going to try this then remember a small rattle is less fatal than an ineffective restraint system.
As an aside, I had a Volvo V70 with the same issue - the noise came up the B-pillar trim and out of the bezel slot, but it initially appeared to be coming from behind me. I must have put a kilo of sound deadening into the rear door and the pillar trim until I worked out what it was, then learned to live with it. Good luck.
edited to add
The first thing to check is that the seatbelt retractor is actually bolted down tight. Easy to check - see if you can move it. If it is loose it's an old UNF thread sized bolt - I think 7/16"
Edited by LTP on Monday 10th January 15:50
It's not the seatbelt - I got someone else to drive the car while I folded myself into the rear to have a better listen! It's coming from the c-pillar area. I suspect it could be the parcel shelf itself rubbing on something - that is, the actual shelf, not the leather panels.
Anyone know how to remove the shelf, or at least loosen it so it can be moved around a little? Is it just a case of removing the 4 bolts which are exposed when the seat backs are removed, or are there additional fixings?
Anyone know how to remove the shelf, or at least loosen it so it can be moved around a little? Is it just a case of removing the 4 bolts which are exposed when the seat backs are removed, or are there additional fixings?
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