How to Refinish Door Handle Trim on a VW Scirocco with ColorBond LVP OE
We’ve talked about restoring obscure trim pieces for classic cars here on the ColorBond blog before, and we’re pleased to show you another great example. Check out this door handle trim from a 1979 Volkswagen Scirocco, which has become dried out and oxidized. The owner of the car, Nick Frey, told us finding a replacement would be difficult and expensive, so he decided a project to refinish the door handle trim was a better idea. To get a great result and make the job easier, he chose to use ColorBond LVP OE Interior Automotive Elastomeric Coating.
Bring Your Interior Trim Back to Life Without Breaking the Bank
Got faded, oxidized, or worn interior trim? Just like Nick did with his classic VW Scirocco, you can restore it with ease using ColorBond LVP OE. Follow his steps below and give your interior that fresh-from-the-factory finish—quickly, affordably, and professionally.
Door Handle Before
The VW Scirocco was introduced to the European market in 1974, and the US market in 1975. Created as a replacement for the Volkswagen Karmann Ghia, the car is based on the platform of the first-generation Volkswagen Golf (which is known as the Rabbit in the US). The styling of the coupe was rendered by the legendary automotive designer Giorgetto Giugiaro who created a modern appearance that remains refreshing to this day.
Nick’s car is a beauty. It was a true barn find that he located last summer in the Buffalo, NY area. The original beige metallic color still looks great, and so does the tan interior, especially since the door handle trim color has been refreshed. The sliding ragtop sunroof really adds to the character of the car. Back in the day, I don’t remember seeing many Sciroccos equipped with that option.
VW Scirocco Door Handle Trim Restoration
So, back to the dried-out and faded door handle trim. Nick looked into replacing it, but unknown, pre-2000s VW parts are obsolete, and buying new old stock might have cost $100 plus per door handle. So, he decided that using ColorBond LVP OE to refinish the door panel plastic would be a far more economical alternative to restore the appearance of the door handle.
ColorBond is an Excellent Choice to Refinish Door Panel Plastic
ColorBond LVP OE works great to refinish door handle trim as well as other leather, plastic, and vinyl interior trim pieces. ColorBond LVP Aerosol is formulated to bond strongly and has a high pigment content, which makes it very opaque. This means it can be applied with thin coats to get proper coverage, rather than needing to apply heavy coats. Thick, heavy coats are prone to flaking, cracking, and peeling, especially when it comes to soft plastic that flexes. Thin coats help to avoid this. Also, thin coats allow the original surface texture, like the leather grain texture in plastic, to show through.
ColorBond LVP OE is available in 150+ colors, including OEM-correct colors, so users can find an exact match for their interior color, or at least one that comes very close to the interior trim color. This was the case for Nick. He found our BMW Mocha Brown # 3242 worked great and told us the color coating should work for any MK1 VW with brown interior accents.
How to Refinish Door Handle Trim with ColorBond LVP OE
Refinishing small interior trim pieces like door handles can dramatically improve the look of your vehicle’s interior. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the steps Nick followed to restore his worn door handle trim using ColorBond LVP OE:
Step 1: Remove the Door Handle Trim
To ensure clean, even coverage and to avoid overspray, Nick started by removing the door handle trim from the vehicle. This made it easier to work on the piece from all angles and allowed it to dry thoroughly before reinstallation.
Step 2: Inspect the Surface Condition
The trim piece already had a rough, scratched texture from wear. Because of this, Nick determined that sanding wasn’t necessary. If your piece has a slick, glossy surface, you may want to lightly scuff it with a fine abrasive pad to aid adhesion.
Step 3: Clean Thoroughly with ColorBond Prep Cleaner
Nick then used ColorBond Prep Cleaner to wipe down the entire surface, removing dirt, oils, and any residue that might prevent proper bonding. This step is crucial—any leftover silicone or conditioner can cause peeling or uneven coverage.
Step 4: Apply the First Light Coat of ColorBond LVP OE
After the trim was clean and dry, Nick applied one light mist coat of ColorBond LVP OE. This first coat acts as a base layer and helps establish initial coverage without oversaturating the surface.
He allowed it to dry for 3–5 minutes before proceeding to the next coat.
Step 5: Apply a Medium, Full-Coverage Coat
Once the first coat was dry, Nick applied a second, slightly heavier coat to fully cover the surface and restore an even finish. This coat provided the final color depth and a smooth, uniform texture.
Step 6: Allow Proper Dry Time
Nick waited approximately 45 minutes after the final coat before reinstalling the door handle trim. This gave the coating enough time to dry to the touch and begin curing, ensuring it wouldn’t smudge or peel during handling.
This straightforward process gave the door handle trim a factory-fresh look using minimal materials and just a bit of time. Whether you’re restoring a single component or refinishing your entire interior, ColorBond LVP OE offers a reliable, professional finish.
Door handle refinished with ColorBond LVP OE
Nick said the project required only 1/3 of a can of ColorBond LVP OE. With a can of the door handle trim coating costing $23.35, it offered a great savings compared to a $100.00 replacement part.
ColorBond LVP OE is the perfect choice to refinish door panel plastic and other interior trim.
Ready to Transform Your Car’s Interior? Choose ColorBond!
Nick’s refinishing project proves that with a single can of ColorBond LVP OE, you can get showroom-quality results for a fraction of the cost of replacement parts. Whether you’re restoring a classic or refreshing your daily driver, ColorBond is the smart solution.
Have a project you’re proud of? We want to see it! Email us at info@colorbondpaint.com and you could be featured in the next ColorBond blog spotlight.
