Recoloring Fuzzy Trim Around Doors
 

The fuzzy blue trim around the door openings is faded and sun bleached, but otherwise in good shape. Can these be dyed without wrecking them?

I would also like to know.

I would try SEM classic coat - it is made for carpets among other things, so I don't see why it wouldn't work on fabric. Only problem would be application. You'd either have to mask and spry on with a trigger spray bottle or airbrush, or else just brush in with a stiff brush.

The trim pulls off pretty easily. I just didn't want to soak it in anything like standard clothing dye. I'll check out the SEM product.

I recolored this trim that I pulled off a junker ( the trim was in good shape ) and installed on my 300SD. I was doing the fabric spray paint thing. The main problem I had doing this was the fabric wanted to separate from the rubber backing and I ended up having to get some trim spray cement and tack the fabric onto the rubber. But it worked. If I had the chance to mask it off on the car and spray it there without removing, I would do that. Just my $.02 worth...

The vinyl spray paint on the other trim worked fantastic, however. People were blown away when they saw the new look of my old grey interior.

That sounds good. What brand was the spray?

I really don't remember the brand. If I do recall correctly, I got the fabric spray paing at Advance Auto Parts and the Vinyl Spray Paint from Wal-Mart. I'm sure it's available at most auto parts stores - it just comes in a standard spray can, with a pretty good variety of colors.

Should deteriorate at all. How do you think vinyl and leather are colored originally? They find a navy blue cow?

No, dye is used.

In a later post it was stated that this is available new at the dealer's parts department, not too expensive, either: $60 something for the front, $20 something for the rear. Worth it for a one-time purchase if you care how it looks.
Randy

That door trim is made from synthetic fibers. Therefore the color is impregnated into the plastic while liquid before extrusion. You cannot color the plastic. You can coat the plastic with a color but that will not last.

Buy new or used.


Zill.

As in my earlier post, I took the piece of fabric off of the spacer between the front seat and console. This appears to be the same fabric used on the fuzzy trim (we used to call this windlace or wire-on). I sprayed it with Palomino SEM Color Coat which is a popular product used for vinyl and palstic, and it looks like crap. I thought about using a dye, but the synthetic fabric probably won't absorb it. Also the SEM Color Coat is translucent and I don't think it would cover the gray and black marks in the corners of the trim where the air has leaked in. So I think I will spend the 200 or so bucks to replace them with new from the dealer. I will use the SEM product to coat the hard plastic trim around the windows to match. I think it will make a huge difference in the appearance of the interior!:)

Recover trim
 

Has anyone attempted to purchase fabric and recover the rubber???

Do you think this would work?

I saw a posting for fairly inexpensive dealer replacement for a W124; my dealer wants over $100 for each door for my W123.