Lesabre switchplates on doors

We have a '98 LeSabre that looks perfect except in one place....the metal plates that surround the window/door lock swithces on the door armrests. The paint has started to flake off of them making them look really cheap. Plus, my wife thought she would "help it along" by peeling more of it off! :screwy: Anyhow, my question is this. Do any of you know where to find replacement plates other than through the Buick Dealer part$ department? Also, does anyone have a clue how to get them off if I do find new ones? Thanks!

you'll have to replace the whole switch assembly, not a cheap part!

Oh. So that's why the price from the dealership was so high. I was under the imperssion that the plate was a separate part from the switches. Hmmm...maybe a junk yard. Thanks.

The problem is with the paint used on the plate. After a few years, the paint gets really soft and it prone to peeling. I took the plates off an completely removed the paint, repainted with epoxy and used a letterset to put back the descriptions of the buttons... I then gave them a clear coat to protect the lettering.

How'd it turn out for you? I thought about doing the same thing, but I ran in to a few snags. First of all, I don't know how to get them off the door. Second of all, I don't know how to remove the rest of the flaking paint without scratching up the metal real bad. The third problem was the labeling that you described. Any chance you can post a pic of yours? Also, I'd love to hear exactly how you went about it.