MR2 Door Replacement

[51mon]

Hi guys,

I'm just wandering if anyone on here has ever replaced a door on a mk2 MR2 (or any other car for that matter.....), and could give me a few pointers on what to look out for? Is it likely to be a major pain in the ass or relatively straight forward?

Basically, theres quite a bit of rust on the drivers door on my car and it looks quite a bit cheaper to get a replcement door from a breakers and swap all the bits over rather than having mine repaired and re-sprayed. I realise that the colour match may not be perfect, but the car has had paint before so theres a few other bits which aren't quite 100% anyway..... Obviosly, I'd get the whole lot buffed when I'd fitted it which may help a little.

Also, anyone know if there any differences between doors on the mk2's, my car is a 1995 N, and the door I've seen is off a 1992 car?

Any tips much appreciated....!

[Riknos]

I had a door on my Celica GT4 swapped for a rust free one, same situation as yourself. I used a mechanic friend of a friend who charged me 2 hours labour to do it, and he didn't even finish it as he said it was a right pain in the arse (he didn't get round to wiring the wing mirrors) and said it would be another hour to finish off, so that could be a good benchmark for you, as I imagine the two are very similar..

[Ug_lee]

I'd pay the going rate of about £50/60 for a complete door with all the innards still in it, making sure it's the correct tint glass, the same options for the wing mirrors (retractable or not)

Case of a few bolts door off and hang new door run door loom into chassis loom plug in footwell. May be a case of changing your door card for your own, but it's a 5 min job.

All in you should be done in less than 20mins.

Edit-I'd try and get a door from the same year approximately. Your door will have colour coded sidestrips and more than likely side impact bars. The 92 door won't have these. Also tints of the windows can vary so make sure you've got the right one. With the amount of Mk2's been broken for spares unless you have an odd colour you can afford to be picky and get the right one for your car

Edited by Ug_lee on Wednesday 2nd May 10:38

[Tib]

Ug_lee said:

I'd pay the going rate of about £50/60 for a complete door with all the innards still in it, making sure it's the correct tint glass, the same options for the wing mirrors (retractable or not)

Case of a few bolts door off and hang new door run door loom into chassis loom plug in footwell. May be a case of changing your door card for your own, but it's a 5 min job.

All in you should be done in less than 20mins.

Edit-I'd try and get a door from the same year approximately. Your door will have colour coded sidestrips and more than likely side impact bars. The 92 door won't have these. Also tints of the windows can vary so make sure you've got the right one. With the amount of Mk2's been broken for spares unless you have an odd colour you can afford to be picky and get the right one for your car

Edited by Ug_lee on Wednesday 2nd May 10:38

Smart advice this. Might even be a case that a similar age door will have a similar condition paint too.

[Agent57]

I agree. Sounds like you need a rev 3 door.

If the car is red, matching the shade (fade) could be tricky.

[Red Devil]

Agent57 said:

I agree. Sounds like you need a rev 3 door.

If the car is red, matching the shade (fade) could be tricky.

Super Red (paint code 3E5) can be a to match.
I got my door taken out by a dozy who wasn't paying attention.
In the end I decided to get the whole car done. Her contribution amounted to a useful discount!

[Baryonyx]

A friend of mine who has restored many an MR2 reckons about 30 minutes for the job at the most, maybe a little longer if you need to wire the mirror in. Not a big task. The idea of a garage wanting three hours labour to complete the job sounds like a joke!

[thetapeworm]

This might help:

http://www.megaboost.co.uk/bgb/door.html

Be aware that the MK2 came in a couple of shades of red that evolve into their own shades with time so a match might not be as easy as it should be.

[51mon]

Thanks for all the replies guys, can always count on PH! It's not mega urgent, so I'll keep an eye on ebay, and ask some local breakers / specialists to keep an eye out and let me know if they get anything suitable in.

I know exactly what you mean about the red paint, mines had a new wing at some point, no matter how much I t-cut and polish it, it still looks orange in the wrong light....

[Red Devil]

thetapeworm said:

Be aware that the MK2 came in a couple of shades of red that evolve into their own shades with time so a match might not be as easy as it should be.

Crimson Red (paint code 3J6) - sometimes referrred to as Burgundy
Super Red (paint code 3E5)
You won't find a Crimson Red Mk2 Rev3 - that colour had been discontinued long before then.
I have only ever seen it on Rev1s.

[hygt2]

Is your door too far gone to repair?

It will be very, very hard to find a door even in the same year and colour code to match the rest of your existing colour so you may have to blow over the wings to blend the colour in. Hence if you have to respray anyway, it maybe cheaper to keep the existing door if it is repairable rather than buying an extra door ...

[Red Devil]

hygt2 said:

It will be very, very hard to find a door even in the same year and colour code to match the rest of your existing colour so you may have to blow over the wings to blend the colour in.

Not quite as hard as you suggest. That's where owners clubs come in handy. Check out IMOC & MR2OC.