I bought $50 worth of piano black vinyl and did this over the course of three days. This isnt my DD, so I had no need to rush. I am VERY satisfied with the results. The most difficult part is the area around the E-brake handle, but if you take some time and add some heat from a hair dryer it will turn out nicely. I have the black and tan leather interior, and now that the silver has been subdued, the brown leather really pops. My interior feels much classier now. If anyone in my area wants to do this and doesnt want to spend $50, let me know and I'll sell you enough to do your ride for a proportional fee. I have enough to do about 5-6 more cars, I think. I'm also going to use this on my B-pillars when I get a nice day because mine are faded and marked up pretty badly.

 

That looks real good, wanna sell me enough to do mine?

 

To be completely honest Chad, I think the shipping to Canada would negate the savings you might gain from it. I went to a local sign shop (Sign-a-rama) to buy my materials. I've heard that surcharges are killer. If I am incorrect about that, or if its worth it to you anyway, let me know.

Send me a PM if you're interested.

 

Whether going the vinyl route or taking a shot at re-painting those silver trim lines down the center console, the link to the service manual pages to dismantle the center console no longer connects to a webpage so does anyone else know where to find a diagram of that job? A 350 page owner manual .pdf I found was obviously not the right one as pages 142-143 were nothing to do with the center console assembly.

Thanks

 

Thanks for the DIY/idea

Mine done in 3D carbon

 

What carbon did you use and where did you get it? Looks awesome!

 

evenz the shift leather area looks good....

 

thanks... its 3D carbon vinyl off ebay... it was $16 shipped for a 3'x4' sheet. the total cost for the vinyl, shift boot, and shift **** was $50 and some elbow grease lol.

 

shift boot and shift **** for 50 bucks???

that sounds cheap... whatz the link if u dontz mind

 

Really nice things are here guys

Check out my selfmade interior: https://www.rx8club.com/members/corres78-61884-albums-new-interior-4327/

 

Just a heads up the **** is from china and is a little small in diameter but that doesn't bother me much... LINK

the shift boot needed to be modified to fit and was a real pain in the *** to get to the point of being presentable but looks decent in the end. on mine I had to remove the aluminum piece on top of the boot and re install it due to it being VERY crooked... LINK

I had enough vinyl to do the center console trim and the little panels on the doors that have the window/lock buttons and I still have a good amount left over. and the vinyl I used... LINK

total cost: $51.92

 

I was wrong on how large the sheet I used was before... seems its 2'x3' not 3'x4'.

 

well thank u very much for the link man.... yea, can see why need some altercation for the shift boot...

thanks alot man!

 

http://www.flxpaint.com/FLX-Paint_Gloss_Colors.htm

Check this stuff out. A little pricey, but it is actually paint on vinyl. More importantly I'm going to see how close the peal white colors are to the pearl white exterior I have. I think it would really set off the interior to be able to color match the beautiful pearl white exterior on the inside. What do you guys think?

 

will do mine in dynoc also, thanks for the DIY

 

any idea how thick is the vinyl? and how long it will lasts?


have eyes set on some matte options

 

I did mine, but I used the "stamped" CF with the adhesive already applied. The hope is that it will be easier to clean :D Pretty much same process, but if you aren't as experienced, u may find this a lot easier since you can cut it with scissors, and don't have to worry about fraying.

Sorry about the resolution, my phone gets it right sometimes, and sometimes not.

 

Figured this would be a fun project


That isn't a fold near the middle, actually just a reflection

 

This may be a dumb question, I admit my own ignorance in these affairs. But, what is the process for removal? Say, for returning to stock, etc..

 

just peel off the vinyl

 

Exactly as mentioned, vinyl can just peel right off. I might post mine, mine is a hot rod red (since 3M doesn't have any small cuts of their darker red, but it does well imo.)

 

That's insane! No damage or anything required to lessen adhesion? I might just do this soon...

Thanks guys! And thanks for not outting me for my lack of experience. +1 for cool forum members.

 

is there are how to on how to dissemble this center console? I want to do the pieces that run down each side, but don't know how to remove them.

thanks

 

I wrote one a while ago. There are actually a few floating around. Use the advance search instead of the regular search in the future and you'll have much better results.

/quote

I saw one around here somewhere, hold on... I added the attachments from it below...

1) open the center console and using a plastic panel remover, or carefully with a flat head pry out a small block on the passenger side, near parking brake, toward the rear.

2) Follow attached instructions for removing first few panels, you won't need to take out the kickpanel bolt, nor the understeering wheel panel, those are for radio removal...

Throughout this whole section look for more bolts... I'm doing this from memory...

3) there are 2 bolts underneath the panel beneath the shifter

4) there are another two in center console rear compartment under the liner, (immediately behind FRONT cup holders)

4.5) remove the cigarette lighter in the compartment from step 4, just pop it out, and remember to press it through when you pull the back half out later on

5) two more in the center console rear compartment under the liner, (immediately behind REAR cup holders)

6) two more underneath the removable panel between rear seats and trunk entrance

7) DON"T FORGET THESE, remove whatever you have below radio, and there are two directly under the radio.

The entire center console can be split in two, its held together by the same clips from step 2. Remove the rear half first, by lifting towards ceiling while hodling front section down (a knee if you are delicate) the seam is right between the front two seats, you'll see it.

Once you remove the the rear section move on to the front. Don't forget the clips behind the panels in the wheel wells (basically dont yank it off, pull the front section towards the rear for removal. The clips slide in...

I'll add more later, if I forgot anything, but this should get ya started.

/endquote

 

thanks, this is very helpful.

QUOTE=Silverhorn;4573494]I wrote one a while ago. There are actually a few floating around. Use the advance search instead of the regular search in the future and you'll have much better results.

/quote

I saw one around here somewhere, hold on... I added the attachments from it below...

1) open the center console and using a plastic panel remover, or carefully with a flat head pry out a small block on the passenger side, near parking brake, toward the rear.

2) Follow attached instructions for removing first few panels, you won't need to take out the kickpanel bolt, nor the understeering wheel panel, those are for radio removal...

Throughout this whole section look for more bolts... I'm doing this from memory...

3) there are 2 bolts underneath the panel beneath the shifter

4) there are another two in center console rear compartment under the liner, (immediately behind FRONT cup holders)

4.5) remove the cigarette lighter in the compartment from step 4, just pop it out, and remember to press it through when you pull the back half out later on

5) two more in the center console rear compartment under the liner, (immediately behind REAR cup holders)

6) two more underneath the removable panel between rear seats and trunk entrance

7) DON"T FORGET THESE, remove whatever you have below radio, and there are two directly under the radio.

The entire center console can be split in two, its held together by the same clips from step 2. Remove the rear half first, by lifting towards ceiling while hodling front section down (a knee if you are delicate) the seam is right between the front two seats, you'll see it.

Once you remove the the rear section move on to the front. Don't forget the clips behind the panels in the wheel wells (basically dont yank it off, pull the front section towards the rear for removal. The clips slide in...

I'll add more later, if I forgot anything, but this should get ya started.

/endquote[/QUOTE]