|
|
SUPPORT ZPOST BY DOING YOUR TIRERACK SHOPPING FROM THIS BANNER, THANKS! |
Post Reply |
|
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
05-22-2010, 05:19 PM | #1 |
Private First Class
52
Rep 152
Posts |
Custom dash trim
I've never been the biggest fan in the world of the brushed aluminum dash, though I do think it is one of the better options BMW has given us. But never being happy with things the way they are, I decided a while ago to color match the aluminum trim to the body color of my car.
I've hoarded a couple sets of aluminum trim from ebay, and took one of the more scratched up ones and began working on it. I decided not to do a step by step DIY write-up since it involves some rather advanced painting techniques that most people won't be able to accomplish themselves. There's an initial wash primer (acid etch primer) followed by a spray fill sanding primer. This is sanded back down to nearly bare aluminum, but the spray fill does what its name implies and fills in the brush marks. Since this is aluminum, I had to spray it again with wash primer so the next coating, an epoxy primer, would have proper adhesion to the bare aluminum sections. The epoxy primer was then sanded smooth, and a 2-component urethane base coat of the body color was applied. This was allowed to cure and then wet sanded, followed by a second coat of base coat. I then applied a 2-component urethane clear coat, wet sanded with 1200 grit sandpaper, applied another coat of clear coat, wet sanded again, and applied a 3rd coat of clear. This was followed up with a 2000 grit wet sand, fine cut buffing, swirl mark buffing and a final hand polishing. A recap: 1) acid etch primer 2) spray fill primer 3) Sand 4) acid etch primer 5) epoxy primer 6) sand 7) base coat 8) sand 9) base coat 10) clear coat 11) wet sand 12) clear coat 13) wet sand 14) clear coat 15) wet sand 16) buff with fine cut 17) buff with swirl remover 18) hand glaze Because there are so many curves in the aluminum pieces, it's a pain and great care must be taken to not go sand too much or you'll go straight through the clear coat and base coat to the primer. This happens much quicker than you'd think, I speak from experience. Anyway, here are the 2 dash pieces installed. I have to disassemble the console tomorrow to install the center trim piece. Then I plan on color matching the roll hoop covers and the silver piece on the door handle. For the steering wheel I'll get the black M pieces to replace my silver pieces. I may color match the shift knob, or go with a Whalen piece. |
05-22-2010, 05:31 PM | #2 |
Lieutenant General
2427
Rep 11,667
Posts |
Nice work, that looks great!
__________________
'21 M2C Hockenheim Silver
'18 718 Cayman S Lava Orange (sold) '13 E92 M3 Santorini Blue (sold) '07 Z4 M Coupe Alpine White (sold) |
Appreciate
0
|
05-22-2010, 10:55 PM | #3 |
Second Lieutenant
42
Rep 250
Posts
Drives: '07 Imola Red Z4 MCoupe
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: El Dorado township, CA
|
HOLY PAINT JOB, BATMAN!! That is some incredible work and it looks beautiful!
__________________
~Krissi~ '07 Imola Red Z4 MCoupe
Eisenmann Sport Exhaust | RE X-Pipe | RE Transmission Mounts |
Appreciate
0
|
05-23-2010, 11:23 AM | #7 |
Major
23
Rep 1,034
Posts |
That looks amazing, I hate the wood trim in my car, and now I have a new more expensive option to consider, thanks!
I probably would have gone for a less shiny, more satin finish, for less glare.
__________________
Straightaways are for fast cars, Corners are for fast drivers.
|
Appreciate
0
|
05-25-2010, 10:39 AM | #8 |
Captain
180
Rep 659
Posts
Drives: '22 M5CS, '00 M5, '06 Z4M
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Northeast
iTrader: (1)
Garage List 2022 M5CS [0.00]
2001 BMW 740i [0.00] 2006 BMW M Roadster [0.00] 2012 BMW X6 3.5i [0.00] 2006 BMW 325xi [0.00] 2017 BMW 540xi [0.00] 2000 BMW M5 [0.00] 2001 BMW X5 4.4i [0.00] |
That is very very nice, that is some amazing work you have done. Nice job!!!
|
Appreciate
0
|
05-27-2010, 10:32 AM | #9 |
Private First Class
52
Rep 152
Posts |
I was initially worried about glare, but you can go from glossy to matte but not from matte to glossy so I figured if it was a problem I'd just put the matte clear coat over it.
But due to the orientation of the trim piece, I haven't noticed any glare issues and I've driven at various times of the day with the sun above and directly behind me. Would there be interest from people if I could turn a couple of these out in various colors? I'd have to sit down and figure out my time investment, but I'm thinking it would be in the $600-700 range + your factory dash (+$200 core charge, refunded when I get your stock pieces) for all 3 pieces to be smoothed out and painted. You'd order a color you wanted w/ a $200 deposit that would be refunded once I received your original trim pieces. I'd get the trim done (~2 weeks per set) and then submit the final cost ($600-700). Once paid, I'd ship out the trim, then upon receipt of you stock pieces I'd refund the $200 deposit. If you back out after I've starting work or don't ship me your original trim I'd keep the deposit and that would take care of me wasting time or buying replacement trim. Last edited by nadaclue; 05-27-2010 at 03:51 PM.. Reason: Because Hawkeye has a hawk eye and pointed out some confusion. |
Appreciate
0
|
05-27-2010, 01:51 PM | #10 |
Captain
42
Rep 632
Posts |
I have the carbon leather trim in mine, which I do like alot, but I have seen one or two with the piano black and I think that trim is just killer. I've thought of doing this exact thing, so it's really great to see that it can be done, tedium ad nauseum aside....
Hey, roughly what sort of coin did you have to cough up for the Al trim pieces on ebay? Haven't considered it seriously enough to start looking, but I just may after seeing your work - fantastic! |
Appreciate
0
|
05-27-2010, 03:10 PM | #11 | |
Brigadier General
2070
Rep 4,365
Posts
Drives: '07 Z4 Coupe, '21 X3, '16 GMC
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Iowa
|
Quote:
Your work looks great. Nice original idea!!!
__________________
2007 Z4 3.0si Coupe • 6 MT • Black Saphire Metallic • PP • SP
2016 GMC Sierra SLT Z71 Premium Plus 4x4 2017 Harley StreetGlide • Denim Black • V&H Tune 2021 BMW x30i • Phytonic Blue Metallic • Fully loaded |
|
Appreciate
0
|
05-30-2010, 02:41 AM | #14 |
Lieutenant
41
Rep 543
Posts |
wow amazing! you wanna do mine in shitbrown for me?
__________________
H&R Coilovers, BBS LM-R 19's, K&N Drop Filter. SS step headers, race cats, x pipe, sport mufflers Brembo BBK Yellow |
Appreciate
0
|
06-06-2010, 01:58 AM | #16 |
Lieutenant
21
Rep 494
Posts |
Wow, very nice! I just got a z4m with al trim. Was wanting carbon fiber graphite but you've given me something new (and quite unique) to consider.
cudos! |
Appreciate
0
|
06-09-2010, 08:58 AM | #17 |
Colonel
441
Rep 2,747
Posts |
Very nice work. Lets see some phots of the center console when it is done
__________________
LINK TO 07 IR PHOTO JOURNAL:http://www.zpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1303735
LINK TO 06 IB MOD JOURNAL:http://www.zpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=403119 |
Appreciate
0
|
08-10-2010, 06:35 PM | #19 |
JackEJ
0
Rep 3
Posts
Drives: 2009 BMW X6 50i
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
|
Awesome work! Very classy!
|
Appreciate
0
|
01-07-2011, 05:15 PM | #21 |
Major
111
Rep 1,351
Posts
Drives: in Anger.
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Newcastle, WA
|
Well done. Nice paint color.
__________________
Gone (2006 STI, 2008 EVO MR, 1968 Mustang)
AFE Intake/Euro Cats/CSL Headers/Sportline CSL/H&R Springs 1217/1815 !!! BOILER UP !!! |
Appreciate
0
|
Post Reply |
Bookmarks |
|
|