Hi All,

I am brand new to the C8 Forum Section as I normally write and respond to our fellow members in the C2 section of our Corvette Forum.

Last week the wife and I put a deposit down on a Grand Sport (the configuration picture is below) for her with our local Chevy Dealership and if all goes well are slated to take delivery in September. The 3LT and Dipped interior was a lock on this GS with the wife being insistent that this be the final configuration regardless of potential issues.

For those that are shaking their heads, it was either a 3LT red dipped interior or we are NOT buying the car. What can I say . . . Happy wife, Happy life.

I am aware of the horror stories of the de-lamination and or bubbling on the leather dash section under the windshield arc and had a few questions which I was hoping you all could me help with, so here goes . . .

What would your estimation be of the amount of time that typically passes from the date delivery of a new C8 to the beginnings of the de-lamination?

If it happens while the C8 is still under warranty, will GM repair or replace the damaged section without too much kicking and screaming?

Besides the radical use of a fitted sun shade, are there any other techniques one could use to slow down the inevitable?

For those of you who have had this happen (or know someone who has) out of warranty, what is the approximate cost to have it repaired/made like new?

Thanks very much for any information you can provide. I like to know what kind of a beating I am in for. Cheers, C.J.

 

My 2021 HTC had the bubbling on the top of the driver's door panel and on the passenger side dash. The dealer was able to get GM to approve a discount but I still paid about $2100 out of pocket.

 

My 20 was dipped and never had this issue. My 23 is also dipped and hasen't had a problem. I average around 4000 miles a year of summer driving but will say our temperatures rarely get over 90 and car doesn't sit outside for extended amounts of time.

 

Very tastefully done build! You are smart to be investigating the leather dash bubbling issue now. I think the most important thing you can do to prevent this is to keep the car in the garage whenever it is not being driven. This problem goes back to C6, and probably earlier. Personally, I would not buy a car with 3LT because of this, but that is just me, and I know you have other reasons for going this way. Also, if you don't plan to keep the car beyond the warranty period, it is not an issue anyway. Another point to consider is that there are many reports of excessive windshield glare caused by dipped interiors, so just be aware of that.

 

Adding a good ceramic film to all windows like Xpel Prime XR Plus including the windshield might help. You can get an almost clear 70% which has the same UV, heat rejection as darker tints. There’s no guarantee but it can’t hurt. That’s the first thing I plan on doing when I get my 3lt dipped interior GSX.

 

Well, an unknown.
Some within 3 yrs, some after, some never.
Using a windshield sunscreen may be the best way to slow down or prevent.

 

The only way I'd roll the dice on this issue (which I think is a bit overexposed in the forums) is if I wanted a dipped interior like you're doing. I almost did it for the blue launch edition. ultimately I chose to get 2LT and get a few more options. Seeing above that out of warranty it's $2k to repair, it would be a no brainer to get an extended warranty if you plan to keep it beyond the 3yrs. And since you're used to patrolling the C2 area the consensus on the C8 is to purchase one as you are nearing expiration of your b2b. There are several dealers that sell these extremely discounted which you can search out in the c8 section.

 

Nothing to add about the delamination issue although I do have a new 26 3LT, just wanted to say that your wife has impeccably good taste and I’m sure she’ll love it when she takes delivery.

 

So far, no issues with delamination on my 23 HTC. The car is stored inside, and I do try to avoid applying any chemicals to the surfaces, whether it helps IDK.

 

The problem is overblown on the forums. I had a 2015 3LT with no debonding issues and now have a 2020 3LT with no debonding issues (so far).

The problem appears to mostly be the luck of the draw, most likely an issue with the adhesive or how it is applied. There have been brand new 3LTs sitting on the showroom floor with debonded dashes. But some people have had multiple problems with the same car suggesting there is also an environmental factor. I use a sunshade when I park in the sun, can't hurt and it keeps the car cooler. I just follow the owner's manual care by wiping with a soft cloth dampened with water or a mild soap solution. I'd be wary of anything that claims to condition the "leather" (it is a bonded leather and not whole animal hide). If it can penetrate the surface coating it may be able to reach the adhesive.

The good part over previous years is the panels can be replaced without removing the entire dash so replacement isn't as bad as in previous years. And most of the time the problem occurs early on. The replacement is covered by the 3 year B2B warranty but it is not covered by the Chevrolet Protection Plan.

 

Definitely luck of the draw. It just sucks when its yours.

 

The timelines for this seem to be all over the place. People have reported seeing new C8's sitting in show rooms with the issue starting, while others didn't have it happen until the car was out of warranty. It's just a huge roll of the dice.

Lots of people claim window tint and sun shades will prevent it, but I don't see how that is possible when the issue has started on cars sitting in show rooms, or cars that are just a few months old.

I think it comes down to luck. Some of the dash parts are just built better at the factory that makes the parts, so they hold up longer. While others maybe were kind of half assed, so they fail faster. Maybe there is just poor quality control with the adhesive used. Who knows.

Its worth pointing out that this isn't a Corvette exclusive problem. Lots of cars with real leather dashes end up with this issue at some point.

 

Just so you know, the extended warranty will not cover the trim.

 

Many thanks to all who responded. Your replies help a lot.

I will follow your advice and hope that Lady Luck is not staring down the barrel of a gun at me if/when it comes to my turn in the de-lamination barrel.

I'm pretty excited to join the C8 group in September and to become an owner of a Grand Sport as well. My C2 and my C8 will then be exactly 60 years apart.

Cheers. C.J.

 

Just get what you want and move forward. You have a warranty and if you get the issue within 36 months its covered. Just like it would if you have a transmission issue. That would be covered under the drivetrain warranty..and so on. The warranty is for the what if's. No one here knows if you will ever have a problem and if you did when it would it start. Congrats on the new car.

 

I ordered a GS with red dipped. I figured what the hell. It can always be fixed. I'm not going to let a "maybe" problem pick my interior color. Still, boo to GM for not fixing it permanently.

 

I ordered the 3LT ADRI on my 2027 GS well aware of the issue . I never leave my corvettes outside for any extended period of time, use a premium sunshade and have covered parking at work. I am researching the Ceramic tint as an option to potentially mitigate any issues .

Life is too short to not get what you want .. as they say tommorrow is not guaranteed.

Your build looks fantastic with the black and ADRI

Best

DD

 

Dipped has nothing to do with it !

 

I live on the hot and humid Gulf Coastal regions and never had an issue with my 2011 leather wrapped ZR1 after 10-1/2 years and 2019 Z06 Vert with leather wrapped dash after 8 years. Cars were always garaged at home and the office and rarely parked for very long in the sun. I had no hesitation ordering the 3LT PEG for my 25 E-Ray. Your results might vary.

 

My friend has a Ferrari 812 Superfast and has the same dash delamination problem. I’m no expert but it seems to be that natural leather shrinks and expands more with high temps and rapid temp. changes which breaks the adhesion.