The next car project I'm going to tackle is removing and painting that fugly gray plastic center console piece & am looking for a specific picture of someone's car with my same interior. I have the black & beige two-tone interior and am trying to decide whether to paint that thing black (my exterior body color) or try and match the beige. I've seen them when painted black and know what that'll look like, but is there anyone on here who has gone the beige route? If so, would you kindly post a pic of your interior with that look? I'm thinking that black is the way to go but would like to see the other before committing and doing the job.

 

I personally would have the center console/radio bezel either carbon fiber dipped or do a carbon wrap, painting it a satin black would work also.

 

I have seen pictures of a few guys wrapping the center console. End result looked really nice imo. Maybe some guys who did it can post some pics here.

 

I would go with Black over Beige . Black Carbon Fiber would look good as well. C6 Black Carbon Parts – Interior – Center Console : apsisusa

 

Same interior but from a 2010 so it has the updated bezel from the factory. Hope this helps. Love the two tone interior.

 

another vote for black or some type of carbon fiber wrap or dipped part. Best of luck to you.

 

I'm for black!

 

I'm about as ignorant as they come when it comes to vinyl wrap. Never done it, never had it done. I presume that finding a shop is as easy as letting your e-fingers do the walking but can anyone hazard a guess as to what cost may be?

 

Cost: About $25 for the vinyl wrap only
Difficulty: Budget $50 so you don't mind doing it twice. It is exactly the same as trying to get a very wide (IIRC like 24"x36) piece of tape down flat.

I did mine myself. For the console, I used 3m Di-Noc 3d carbon fiber wrap. Good luck deciding I hope this helps.



This is a couple of years later so you can see how it holds up. (I added a 2012 wheel at this point)





Close up:

 

Yes, this absolutely helps! Now that's a look that I can go for! Very nice. Wish I had the blonde carpet like you do, rather than my black. That's super sharp.

But I'm truly incompetent when it comes to stuff like this ..."A man's got to know his limitations." --Dirty Harry Calahan... and I know mine. The chances of me hosing it up and ending up having to pay a professional to undo what I've done and then do the job (I should've just paid him for) in the first place are awfully high. So you 'get a wide piece of tape flat', then what about the cut outs for the vents, etc.?

 

This looks really good! I am very tempted to do mine. I figure I can give it a shot and if it doesn't come out looking good, I'm only out $25 and some time.

My big concern is keeping it one piece with the shape of the console. Did you start at the top near the vents, at the back near the tombstone or on one of the sides? I have watched a couple videos on how to wrap dash and console pieces. It looks like I need a heat gun, a sharp utility knife and a squeegee.

 

I’ve both vinyl wrapped and painted the radio bezel. Painting is 100% easier.

I also recommend changing the color of the other gray components (door buttons, e-brake button) to coordinate.


Matte black vinyl wrap

Painted Rustoleum Night Black Metallic

Painted

 

If I do it, my plan was to do all the gray parts as you did. Any tips for the paint? Did you use anything other than the Rustoleum Night Black Metallic?

 

Light sanding of the parts to scuff them up, and top it off with your clear of choice. Be sure to follow the specific instructions on the paint/clear.

 

Yours looks really good. Did you use a gloss or matte clear? I don't want it to have too much shine and yours looks just about where I think I would want mine to be.

 

The second time, I screwed up the first time, I peeled the backing off the center and started in the center of the console just below the ashtray. Since the backing is still on the top and bottom you can easily get started without it sticking where you don't want it to. Slowly start getting it down from the center out. The hardest part will be the long piece by the driver's leg. Try to handle the wrap by the edges you are cutting away. If you mess with the sticky glue too much it may lift later. Make sure the console is clean!! before wrapping. I washed, lightly sanded it with 400 grit, and washed it again. I have no problems with lifting except by the crease near the hazard button about a month later. Light application of heat and finger pressure and it has stayed stuck down for 3 years.

I would use a hair dryer rather than a heat gun. The heat gun can make the wrap so soft that you can easily tear a hole in it. BUT, heat is your friend here and really helps get that nice tight look. After you cover a hole slit wrap in the center and wrap around the edge. Leave a fairly large tab on the back side because the wrap will shrink ever so slightly.

Here's an example of the tabs I left on the tombstone.

 

So this is the method? Basically you just want to get a clean, smooth application over the entire piece, the cut slits in all the holes ...cup holder, face vents, etc... wrap around the inside and then cut away excess? Did you happen to film & post the job?

 

You can cut small ovals, but key is to have it attaching a bit on the back side so that it does not work loose. But yes that's the idea. No I did not film or post, I just take lots of pictures so that I know how things together. Makes it easy when I find a bolt, nut or electrical connection and I don't know what it's for or where it goes.

 

I have an 06 with the silver trim pieces that I just recently completed painting. I painted the door switch bezels, dash pods, gauge trim rings, steering wheel covers, and e-brake button with a flat black and then matte clear. I first tried satin and it did not blend well so I switched to flat with the matte clear. It has just the right amount of sheen for me on the small pieces. I have a vert and had the center console painted to match body color by a friend of mine who owns a body shop.

If you chose to do paint I would opt for the flat with matte clear on the small pieces and then either satin or actual body color for the console.

Here is the process I used and all paint was rustoleum.
1. 600 wet sand your part until the sheen is gone
2. Spray with adhesive promoter and within 10 minutes a coat of primer, another 10 minutes primer again. Follow the primer process until it looks like you have good coverage,
3. Let dry over night
4. 600 wet sand to smooth out primer.
5. 3 light coats of color spread out every 10 to 15 minutes
6. Wait 30 minutes to an hour until the top coat looks evenly dry and apply 2 coats of clear about 10 or 15 minutes apart.
7. Let dry over night and hopefully done.
8. Caution if you use a matte clear spraying it on to heavy or to many coats your finish will look frosted.

Here is a pic of mine completed.

 

Thank you so much! I'm still trying to decide, but I think I may go the paint route. How many cans of primer, paint and clear did you need?

Also, I have been looking at the same center console cover you have. How do you like it? It looks so much more comfortable than the stock one.