Wrapping console in Carbon Fiber vinyl

Cliffdog

Cliffdog

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Joined
Jul 2, 2022
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Hello Z people!

I'm in the process of modernizing the interior of my 1999 pre-facelift Z3 Roadster 2.8. Mostly using 3M 2080 Carbon Fiber vinyl to cover, among other things, the fake wood trim pieces in the front half of the center console. I bought a set of used panels and I'm wrapping them in advance. Then I'll take the console our, replace the panels, and reassemble/reinstall.

Does anyone have any suggestions or gotchas to watch out for? I've never removed the center console. I'm going to use the instructions from Pelican Parts' website.

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Watching with interest as wanting to do my dash and centre console around the handbrake area.
 
Have a butchers on YouTube Dave.

Tony.
 
Cliffdog said:
Hello Z people!

I'm in the process of modernizing the interior of my 1999 pre-facelift Z3 Roadster 2.8. Mostly using 3M 2080 Carbon Fiber vinyl to cover, among other things, the fake wood trim pieces in the front half of the center console. I bought a set of used panels and I'm wrapping them in advance. Then I'll take the console our, replace the panels, and reassemble/reinstall.

Does anyone have any suggestions or gotchas to watch out for? I've never removed the center console. I'm going to use the instructions from Pelican Parts' website.

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They look fantastic, great job.

I followed the Pelican Parts instructions the first time I took mine out too and they were perfectly adequate.

IIRC they suggest stripping the footwell trims too, which I don't think is absolutely necessary. Although in the grand scheme of things it's only a handful of screws and a couple of panels each side. No big deal.
 
The biggest gotcha I would point out - as I have tried this multiple times with multiple wraps & even paid to have it done professionally....
Wrap doesn't work on car interiors.... in the heat it will contract, lift and pull away from the corners & tight areas.

These days I get parts hydrodipped - that DOES work in interiors. Wrap looks lovely at first, but doesn't stay that way unfortunately....
 
137699 said:
The biggest gotcha I would point out - as I have tried this multiple times with multiple wraps & even paid to have it done professionally....
Wrap doesn't work on car interiors.... in the heat it will contract, lift and pull away from the corners & tight areas.
Click to expand...

I'm using the 3M adhesive promoter pens. You still think it will lift?
 
137699 said:
The biggest gotcha I would point out - as I have tried this multiple times with multiple wraps & even paid to have it done professionally....
Wrap doesn't work on car interiors.... in the heat it will contract, lift and pull away from the corners & tight areas.

These days I get parts hydrodipped - that DOES work in interiors. Wrap looks lovely at first, but doesn't stay that way unfortunately....
Click to expand...
What sort of cost is hydro dipping please?
 
Here are the side pieces... Wrapped with a fine grain leather patterned vinyl. They should frame the CF nicely.
 

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Cliffdog said:
I'm using the 3M adhesive promoter pens. You still think it will lift?
Click to expand...

I had it done once by a 3M accredited wrapping company. They had 3 attempts with it using various products before giving me a refund as they couldn’t get the wrap not to contract in the heat of a car interior in the summer. That was after three attempts of my own to do the same.

So good luck with your attempt but honestly hydrodipping isn’t really any more expensive and it works every time.
 
137699 said:
I had it done once by a 3M accredited wrapping company. They had 3 attempts with it using various products before giving me a refund as they couldn’t get the wrap not to contract in the heat of a car interior in the summer. That was after three attempts of my own to do the same.

So good luck with your attempt but honestly hydrodipping isn’t really any more expensive and it works every time.
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Thanks. I'll look into that ahead of time in case mine goes fubar.

Can they do a carbon fiber pattern that looks good, or does the liquid cause irregularities? I've only seen abstract patterns done with hydrodip.
 
Yes I have had carbon fibre done in dip - in fact most interior “carbon” effect parts that car manufactures use is just dipped plastic.
 
I'm getting a quote on hydro dipping. If it's reasonable that I might change course.
 
So, to follow up... I'm sending the parts to Liquid Concepts to be hydro dipped. They do pretty nice work. It'll cost me $600 to $700 USD but It's better than having to redo it every 5 years.

I'll be sure to post photos when they come back.
 
Apparently the trim panels have some exposed wood on the back, and it's a gamble as to whether they'll swell and crack after hydro dipping.

I'm taking the chance. I'll post pictures either way when I get them back. Should be late July to mid August. Here's hoping.
 
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