E82 door card falling apart

elmatias · 02-14-2025, 11:40 AM

09 128i N51. The leather trim on my door card is unsticking, all over the interior. How can I reglue it in a way that it looks perfect once again? Any recommendations for removing the old glue and replacing with what kind of glue?

Thanks!

Wazowski · 02-14-2025, 12:40 PM

I thought I took pictures of work in process, but apparently didn’t. I did this repair on both doors about six years ago and took the following approach.
I used a clear plastic painters drop cloth and laid it loosely over the whole interior of the car (note I have a convertible so that task wasn’t that difficult). I then cut slots at the door panels and used painters tape to carefully outline the full perimeter of the door cards (where the glue had released). Without taking the door cards off, I rubbed all the glue off the door and the backside of the door cards, up to the door handle and only the perimeter of the speaker. I then used 3M Spray 77 cement on the back of the door cards and the door panel itself. Cleanup was a breeze by just picking up the plastic that had all the glue fragments and overspray from the spray cement. Today pictures attached.

elmatias · 02-14-2025, 05:56 PM

Looks good, though I notice some small bump looking areas? Was this just glue that was stubborn to remove?

Wazowski · 02-15-2025, 07:20 AM

Tough crowd😬 Yes regarding the bumps. An imperfection I am fine with.
In contrast, my drivers seat had two small wear holes which were driving me crazy, so I had both front sport seats completely recovered by an upholsterer in town (heated/ bladders/ power). Huge leap of faith!

Wazowski · 02-15-2025, 07:21 AM

Wrong picks

elmatias · 02-17-2025, 09:50 AM

That interior looks great! Nice job by the upholstery company. Thanks for your replies to this thread

yukstah · 07-20-2025, 06:51 PM

This looks really good! Any tips on how you got the glue off? Living in Charlotte -- Is it safe to assume that this car has had plenty of time baking in the sun and the 3M adhesive hasn't softened or come off?

cjb762 · 07-20-2025, 10:00 PM

Mine had the same issue. I took it to a local automotive upholstery shop, and he ended up just gluing the edges of the leather into the grooves rather than going the time consuming (and expensive if a shop does it) route of pulling the panels off, cleaning all the old glue off, and re-gluing. Honestly, it turned out perfectly - it looks great, and I don't have any issues at all.

02-14-2025, 11:40 AM	#1
elmatias new owner 3 Rep 16 Posts Drives: 2009 128i N51 Join Date: Sep 2024 Location: Miami iTrader: (0)	E82 door card falling apart 09 128i N51. The leather trim on my door card is unsticking, all over the interior. How can I reglue it in a way that it looks perfect once again? Any recommendations for removing the old glue and replacing with what kind of glue? Thanks! Attached Images
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02-14-2025, 12:40 PM	#2
Wazowski Private 216 Rep 93 Posts Drives: 08 135 6MT vert Join Date: May 2019 Location: Charlotte, NC iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 E88 135 [10.00]	I thought I took pictures of work in process, but apparently didn’t. I did this repair on both doors about six years ago and took the following approach. I used a clear plastic painters drop cloth and laid it loosely over the whole interior of the car (note I have a convertible so that task wasn’t that difficult). I then cut slots at the door panels and used painters tape to carefully outline the full perimeter of the door cards (where the glue had released). Without taking the door cards off, I rubbed all the glue off the door and the backside of the door cards, up to the door handle and only the perimeter of the speaker. I then used 3M Spray 77 cement on the back of the door cards and the door panel itself. Cleanup was a breeze by just picking up the plastic that had all the glue fragments and overspray from the spray cement. Today pictures attached. Attached Images
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02-14-2025, 05:56 PM	#3
elmatias new owner 3 Rep 16 Posts Drives: 2009 128i N51 Join Date: Sep 2024 Location: Miami iTrader: (0)	Looks good, though I notice some small bump looking areas? Was this just glue that was stubborn to remove?
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02-15-2025, 07:20 AM	#4
Wazowski Private 216 Rep 93 Posts Drives: 08 135 6MT vert Join Date: May 2019 Location: Charlotte, NC iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 E88 135 [10.00]	Tough crowd😬 Yes regarding the bumps. An imperfection I am fine with. In contrast, my drivers seat had two small wear holes which were driving me crazy, so I had both front sport seats completely recovered by an upholsterer in town (heated/ bladders/ power). Huge leap of faith! Attached Images
	Appreciate 2 ZHPizza322.00 cerealwars687.50 Quote

02-15-2025, 07:21 AM	#5
Wazowski Private 216 Rep 93 Posts Drives: 08 135 6MT vert Join Date: May 2019 Location: Charlotte, NC iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 E88 135 [10.00]	Wrong picks Attached Images
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02-17-2025, 09:50 AM	#6
elmatias new owner 3 Rep 16 Posts Drives: 2009 128i N51 Join Date: Sep 2024 Location: Miami iTrader: (0)	That interior looks great! Nice job by the upholstery company. Thanks for your replies to this thread
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07-20-2025, 06:51 PM	#7
yukstah New Member 0 Rep 6 Posts Drives: 335XI Coupe Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Boston iTrader: (0)	This looks really good! Any tips on how you got the glue off? Living in Charlotte -- Is it safe to assume that this car has had plenty of time baking in the sun and the 3M adhesive hasn't softened or come off?
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07-20-2025, 10:00 PM	#8
cjb762 Major 1245 Rep 1,236 Posts Drives: 2013 135is, MG 6MT Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: NOVA iTrader: (1)	Mine had the same issue. I took it to a local automotive upholstery shop, and he ended up just gluing the edges of the leather into the grooves rather than going the time consuming (and expensive if a shop does it) route of pulling the panels off, cleaning all the old glue off, and re-gluing. Honestly, it turned out perfectly - it looks great, and I don't have any issues at all.
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