Quite interesting

[MarkyB]

Due to some low-life, no good, bad driving eejit I've had to replace a door on my modern motor (crashed into when we had snow ).
The first interesting bit is how much lighter a modern car door is than a Minor door, although is has a tube for crash protection and an electric window fitted.

I'm having to downgrade the door that I'm fitting as it came off a fancier model than I have.
The door itself is fitted now but the downgrade is only part done.
Today I removed the manual winder from the old door (by drilling out 3 pop rivets)
Here it is;[frame][/frame]
And the other side;[frame][/frame]

I have to say I'm impressed with how light it is and how much work it has to do. The window is a very good fit in the channels and needed a firm push to lift it up, which may well explain why there is a noticeable difference to how much less noisy the interior is with the windows shut.

[les]

I made something like that from Meccano once!

[andrew.searston]

what car is it off??

[MarkyB]

1995 Mercedes C class.

Les might have made something that worked on the same principle, but I doubt is would be as light and strong as this is.

[les]

I suppose I was surprised at how skimpy it looked, and now I know it's from a German car I'm even more suprised! However if it does have the strength, great. It sure makes a Minor item look industrial!

[MarkyB]

I put it down to 40 or so years of engineering development, finite element analysis and plastics that are much more durable than Bakelite.

I found the close fit of the window in the channel interesting as it is enough to keep the glass up (unlike a Minor) and they do keep the noise out.

When it stops blowing a freezing gale and raining I'm going to take the bathroom scales out and weigh the whole door.

As the whole car weighs something like 1520Kg (kerb weight) compared to 775 kg for a Minor I'm wondering if my perception that this door was much less of a handful than a Minor door has any basis in fact.