Carbon fibre wrapping- dash, door and rear quarter interior trim pieces.

When looking to buy my GTS, it became apparent that finding one with the exact spec I wanted, would have taken a very long time. I decided to concentrate on the big things colour, gearbox, history etc, as the little things could be sorted afterwards. One of which was the colour of the trim.
My preferred option would have been 'Alutex' with carbon a close second. The car I got came with grigio dark chrome.

After seeing the silly prices for genuine replacement trim pieces I decided I'd get them hydrodipped or wrapped instead.

I had a spare day or so over Christmas so decided to have a go at wrapping it myself. I couldn't find any wrap that looked like the factory Alutex, but could find plenty of carbon. I got some 3D carbon wrap from amazon.

Removing the trim pieces is very simple. Best to use a plastic trim tool ( a few quid on ebay or amazon) you just gently prise it off starting at one end and it just unclips. I didn't take pics of the removal but @conaero has some, so hopefully he'll add them here.

Now I have never attempted any wrapping before, so just had a quick look on YouTube and there are plenty of 'how to' guides on there. But basically stick it on, heat it up and stretch it round the curves and bends etc. It is a little fiddly in the corners and stretching it over the large curved piece under the dash clock takes a bit of trial and error, but I managed to do it on my first attempt.

So if you fancy a change, give it a go! Or you could of course pay someone a few quid to do it for you.

For a first attempt I'm very happy, and you really wouldn't know its not real carbon unless you look VERY closely or took off the trim.

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That just looks so good, I can see there being a run on sheets of wrap in the next couple of days.

Pics for trim removal:

Oneball said:

That just looks so good, I can see there being a run on sheets of wrap in the next couple of days.

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I'm not really one for 'fake' carbon etc, but the price of these trim pieces is just silly for what they are, and as they are purely cosmetic and not functional, I can't see the problem.
Hydrodipping would probably give an even better finish, but is obviously not reversible. You never know, the next owner might prefer the dark chrome finish, and I can just remove it.

conaero said:

Pics for trim removal:

Click to expand...

Thanks.

Right so the question for me is what colour/finish to do my white Strad, with red callipers and a very monotone black interior?

As it’s easily reversible I am prepared to go a bit crazy here.

Options:
Red to match the calipers
Carbon (it’s been done and it’s still black)
White to match the body
Mad mirror chrome
Something Italian flag based???

conaero said:

Right so the question for me is what colour/finish to do my white Strad, with red callipers and a very monotone black interior?

As it’s easily reversible I am prepared to go a bit crazy here.

Options:
Red to match the calipers
Carbon (it’s been done and it’s still black)
White to match the body
Mad mirror chrome
Something Italian flag based???

Click to expand...

The obvious answer is to get the car wrapped an actual colour

But you can get coloured weave carbon.

conaero said:

Right so the question for me is what colour/finish to do my white Strad, with red callipers and a very monotone black interior?

As it’s easily reversible I am prepared to go a bit crazy here.

Options:
Red to match the calipers
Carbon (it’s been done and it’s still black)
White to match the body
Mad mirror chrome
Something Italian flag based???

Click to expand...

What colour is your stitching?
Red carbon? https://www.amazon.co.uk/VViViD-Carbon-Fibre-Adhesive-Release/dp/B01CITB2RU

As I said above, the black carbon for me was a trial, and I'll be keeping an eye out for something that looks like the factory Alutex as I think its the nicest OEM option. It breaks up the sea of black nicely and would go with my silver stitching.

Unless someone wants to swap their Alutex trim for my Carbon/dark chrome?

Nice work!

I might well go that route as some of my trim has some scratches. The only thing is I'd rather do it *all*

C

CatmanV2 said:

I might well go that route as some of my trim has some scratches. The only thing is I'd rather do it *all*

C

Click to expand...

What do you mean 'all' ?

Well played

Sam McGoo said:

What colour is your stitching?
Red carbon? https://www.amazon.co.uk/VViViD-Carbon-Fibre-Adhesive-Release/dp/B01CITB2RU

As I said above, the black carbon for me was a trial, and I'll be keeping an eye out for something that looks like the factory Alutex as I think its the nicest OEM option. It breaks up the sea of black nicely and would go with my silver stitching.

Unless someone wants to swap their Alutex trim for my Carbon/dark chrome?

Click to expand...

Stitching is silver...that may have been white when it was new. Red carbon an option.

Screen bezel and the little caps by the door handle (although they just pull off I know.

Bezel is a bit of a PITA I think. Oh and HVAC surround? I can't actually recall what else there is

C

Screen bezel removal requires the entire dash facia to be removed.:

Lower side tunnel panels
Upper dash trim
Centre consul
Infotainment unit removal

Then the bezel unscrews from behind

It’s about an hours work:

CatmanV2 said:

Screen bezel and the little caps by the door handle (although they just pull off I know.

Bezel is a bit of a PITA I think. Oh and HVAC surround? I can't actually recall what else there is

C

Click to expand...

Ah I see. Yeah I thought the same, and probably will at least do the door handle caps as well. When I install the Carplay/Android stuff I'll probably look at the items in the center, as I would think that'll all be off anyway.

I would vote for the red carbon in yours Matt.

Looking at the bezel, though, it's not the same finish anyway. What about the HVAC surround? Anyone know about getting that off?

C

safrane said:

I would vote for the red carbon in yours Matt.

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Yeah, agreed. If you were splurging £ks on actual parts then I'd not bother at all, but for a bit of fun and few quid why not enjoy yourself.