The stock door pull inserts on the Civic Si (EP3) are silver (PPG color NH442L), but it's just paint, and after a few years, it begins to chip or wear thin. I considered painting them black, to match my dash, but before I got around to that, I came up with another idea...

Back in October 2010, I posted about a Ferrari F40 wrapped in matte faux carbon fiber, so I visited the company's website that sells it, and found a sample piece for $8.

Follow this link: http://store.carbonfibergear.com/3m-...fiber-vinyl

They sell all sizes of the stuff, but I discovered a 4"x8" sample sheet for $8, shipped free. They sell it so you can get an idea of what the stuff looks and feels like (it has a carbon fiber-like texture to it), but it looked like the perfect size to do the inserts for the EP3's doors. It arrived 3 days later in a regular postal envelope.

It's just enough to cover both interior handles if you angle them on the sheet, so make sure you place them both on there and draw a line between them so you can cut it in half. If you don't know how to remove the plastic door pull inserts, look for a tiny hole at the bottom-back of the pull, and stick a thin, short screwdriver in there. Press forward with the tip of the driver, and the insert will snap out.

Before starting, I used 250, then 400-grit sandpaper to remove some paint and rough up the surface, then cleaned it with mineral spirits.

Then, you just remove the backing from the vinyl and stick it to the insert. It didn't require soapy water, but a hair dryer is essential for keeping it soft while you work around the handle. Trim it with an X-Acto blade, then re-heat and work around the edges until you're totally satisfied with it. When you're done, pop it back in the door.

Here are a couple photos of the finished project, which cost $8 and took maybe 30 minutes for both doors:

Because the adhesive bonded quickly to the plastic, I think I might get away with it working long-term. However, should it begin to peel up, I'll try using 3M Primer 94, which they say helps bond even better around corners and uneven surfaces.

Since the vinyl won't wear out or chip like paint does, this may be a permanent solution to the ugly stock door pull inserts. But, if you try it and want to go back, use the PPG color code I mentioned above, and you can easily revert back to the OEM look. Another option would be to go with one of the other carbon fiber colors, such as silver or pewtor, but I prefer the black because it blends well with the mostly black interior.

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