I may add this to the list of mods you're going to do on my car, along with the instrument cluster lighting 
Interior Trim Mod - Carbon Fiber
- Thread starter Silverstar
- Start date
Player 1 said:I do like that you've done this properly rather than just sticking some vinyl over everything as is seen so often, top work sir!
bluetooth said:
Many thanks! Being my first time it isn't 100% perfect but it's pretty close! Just need a bit more practise to get it to 100%
Timmyboybunter said:
Finished skinning the door trims last week, this time I took a slightly different approach, after the final coat of epoxy resin I gave the trims to my paint shop and they put on a few coats of 2K clear lacquer. The centre console and dash trims I simply polished up the epoxy by hand however the difference in the finish is huge so I think I will get those other pieces lacquered too!
Door trims refitted:
Very nice and great work! I don't have the patience or time to do what you have done, at least not now. So I went the route of purchasing them which was very expensive. I first did a carbon type vinyl wrap but quickly decided that wasn't for me. At least not in a BMW of this caliber so I found a company in Thailand that does just what you did. I must say, I like the trim piece up top and I think I will order that for mine as well. How difficult was it to pull those horizontal trim piece off?
I did have the radio surround trim piece done as well and I think it would pull together your console and upper trim piece nicely.
I plan to have all of the shiny carbon pieces covered with XPEL PPF. I did this with my wife's Lexus interior bamboo trim. That was a matte finish PPF except for around the center console where they used the glossy film. This stuff is amazing and provides a lifetime of scratch-free, glossiness. One thing I do not like it the use of piano black trim everywhere. It is very difficult to keep it from getting even the slightest of swirl marks when just dust gets on it and someone carelessly wipes their hand or something across it. With PPF, you can have your piano black trim and not worry about scratches ever again.
I did have the radio surround trim piece done as well and I think it would pull together your console and upper trim piece nicely.
I plan to have all of the shiny carbon pieces covered with XPEL PPF. I did this with my wife's Lexus interior bamboo trim. That was a matte finish PPF except for around the center console where they used the glossy film. This stuff is amazing and provides a lifetime of scratch-free, glossiness. One thing I do not like it the use of piano black trim everywhere. It is very difficult to keep it from getting even the slightest of swirl marks when just dust gets on it and someone carelessly wipes their hand or something across it. With PPF, you can have your piano black trim and not worry about scratches ever again.
Shaun_e89 said:
Thanks! You can see how to remove the dash panels in this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQA3VtDh9AA
The door trims are complete with the interior door handles. The door card has to be removed and trims and handles are held in with a combination of screws and clips, then you have separate the trims from the handles by grinding down the plastic welds, this will be the same for the two dash pieces that are part 'leather'.
I have actually purchased some dash pieces from the breakers (the two dash pieces plus centre console trim) and am in the process of skinning them in carbon fiber, should have them finished by next week or week after. Once done they will be looking for a new home, at a price of course
BMC_Kid said:Very nice and great work! I don't have the patience or time to do what you have done, at least not now. So I went the route of purchasing them which was very expensive. I first did a carbon type vinyl wrap but quickly decided that wasn't for me. At least not in a BMW of this caliber so I found a company in Thailand that does just what you did. I must say, I like the trim piece up top and I think I will order that for mine as well. How difficult was it to pull those horizontal trim piece off?
I did have the radio surround trim piece done as well and I think it would pull together your console and upper trim piece nicely.
Not too difficult you just have to remove a few things first, as mentioned above the video below shows how to do it quite well:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQA3VtDh9AA
If you don't mind me asking how much did it cost for the centre console trim from Thailand?
We had all those pieces hydro dipped carbon fibre effect a few years ago and they are looking as good today as they did when they were done.
Wish it was proper carbon fibre though as it does look better.
To separate the trims from the dash and door handle parts the plastic tabs can be heated up with a soldering iron and pulled apart. When putting it back together the soldering iron can be used to melt the plastic tabs back in place.
Wish it was proper carbon fibre though as it does look better.
To separate the trims from the dash and door handle parts the plastic tabs can be heated up with a soldering iron and pulled apart. When putting it back together the soldering iron can be used to melt the plastic tabs back in place.
Nictrix said:
That's a good idea. I used a Dremel to gently grind them down but still leaving the tabs in place, to put them back together I used PU sealer / adhesive.
Silverstar said:
I would need to go back and look. I did get bit off since I was having them make multiple pieces for both the Z and MINI at the time. But still, it was expensive but I didn't see any other alternative. As I said, I first looked at wrapping but at the end of the day, faux carbon fiber wrap just looks so out of place in a Z4. Hell, I wouldn't even go that route in my MINI. I was amazed at how precisely they lined up the weave in every single piece of the multi piece center console. And the radio surround weave lines up perfectly with the center console piece so precisely, I don't think BMW could have done a better job.
If you pay for quality wrap then it can look good. My friends own a wrapping company and the quality of carbon wraps has come on so much. The forged carbon is a satin finish but can be dkne in gloss (this was fitted to a lamborghini hurracan interior). The gloss carbon wrap was in a bmw. 
Shaun_e89 said:
From the photos, those look really good. I'd have to see if any of my local wrappers can get anywhere near that level - if they have any examples. Still, at the end of the day, it is just a layer of vinyl. I know if I have a Lamborghini, I would not even consider vinyl wrapping anything. Still, I would like to compare something like to an actual carbon fiber skinned piece. I have a hard time imaging that the vinyl can have anywhere near the depth that you get with actual clear coated weave.
Shaun_e89 said:
Those do look really good but you still can't get the same effect as real carbon. Besides for me I don't like fakes or imitation of anything, it's either the real thing or if that is not possible then something totally different.
Excellent job, looks amazing with the red leather. I had a look at this and concluded that this method was probably overkill for my 16 year old Zed 
I'm still new to owning a Zed after a string of Boxsters but when I settle on "the one" I suspect I'll go down the Hydro Dipping route for the trim.
I'm still new to owning a Zed after a string of Boxsters but when I settle on "the one" I suspect I'll go down the Hydro Dipping route for the trim.Another set being worked on, should be ready by next week. Gone for standard 2x2 twill carbon fiber this time. I am going to try and sell them but if I get no takers I will have another set for my car, I can swap them out every six months.
Silverstar said:Another set being worked on, should be ready by next week. Gone for standard 2x2 twill carbon fiber this time. I am going to try and sell them but if I get no takers I will have another set for my car, I can swap them out every six months.
IMG_9837.jpeg
Interested! Let me know how much you are wanting for them
Pooltee said:Silverstar said:Another set being worked on, should be ready by next week. Gone for standard 2x2 twill carbon fiber this time. I am going to try and sell them but if I get no takers I will have another set for my car, I can swap them out every six months.
IMG_9837.jpeg
Interested! Let me know how much you are wanting for them
Once they are completed I will have to work out the costings and will let you know.
Arcade.Eyes
Member
Watching this