Thought I'd share the results of my DIY interior brushing

[womensecks]

Hey guys ... so I decided while my exterior was getting a makeover, I decided to touch the interior up as well. Here is how my DIY brushed aluminum trim came out. Enjoy!

I did most of the project while watching the LIFE series on the Discovery Channel so it went by pretty quickly If you guys have any questions on doing it as well, I'm more than happy to assist.

The area around the badges and the ashtray lid button were possible by removing the Quattro badge and ashtray button completely. That required a dremel to the back to free the tabs from the heat pressed seal Audi uses.

Materials used:

-100% Acetone stripper
-Scouring pads and old rags
-3M Wetsanding blocks (150, 220, 320)
-Duplicolor Acrylic Enamel Clear







Pictures in the car: (Sorry they suck, but they'll do for now until I get natty light pics)

[vbrad26]

wow looks like it came out pretty good...
now pics of exterior NAO!!! lol

[xULx]

that looks really good . Although the bottom of the rear ash tray looks like it had a few brush strokes caused by a gloopy brush and half dried paint (smear). Also, what trim did you have to start with?

[womensecks]

lulz @ vbrad ... patience! They'll be up when they're ready to be up

Sadly ... those are the result of inconsiderate passengers putting small dings in the lid

I had the fishscale trim to start with!

[michgo]

Dont know why this wasnt an OEM option. Will look clean once installed

[womensecks]

Here are some photos for those curious about the during.

This is right after acetone-ing the factory clear over the trim. OoOoHhh shiny.


Here is a closeup of a partially done ashtray lid. Note, the scales are possibly laser etched or machine scored into the aluminum. Not very deep though.

[MCT9891]

very nice.

[xULx]

Well you did a great job. I wonder if the fish scale would look good left unpainted after the acetone? Shiny is good

[womensecks]

The shine is SUPER blinding without the factory clearcoat on it.

[xULx]

^ hmmmmmm.....

[B72.0T]

You did a great job, post pics up once its back on there

[eskimopunk]

Dont know why this wasnt an OEM option. Will look clean once installed

S-line

[womensecks]

I thought S-lines still had the fishscale? And Ti package got the piano black, right? I thought the only way to get the brushed trim was getting a cabrio or an S4 or something...

[eskimopunk]

Nah s-lines (non Ti) have brushed.

[CZA420tAvant]

looks awesome, I really want to do this.

[NastyNate]

I've done the same thing, and I say do it. I really like the way mine has turned out, although I used a Satin finish instead of Gloss.

I've got a set for sale in the Classifieds (fishscale) that you can use to try it out. I was scared, so I bought someone else's and worked on that...

[Tusin]

How did you take off the quattro badge? And what did you use to re attach? Do you know of a good guide to remove all of the trim (the doors are cake, just haven't done any others). How many coats of Satin Clear did you use?

Any other tips? I may end up doing it this weekend.

[xULx]

Tusin,

http://www.carboncopydesigns.com/Ins...on.aspx?type=3

This made it easy for me.

[NastyNate]

Tusin,

http://www.carboncopydesigns.com/Ins...on.aspx?type=3

This made it easy for me.

x2. 2-3 light coats of the Satin clear should be fine. You don't want too much on there or it could start to look milky.

[womensecks]

How did you take off the quattro badge? And what did you use to re attach? Do you know of a good guide to remove all of the trim (the doors are cake, just haven't done any others). How many coats of Satin Clear did you use?

Any other tips? I may end up doing it this weekend.

To remove the Quatto badge and the ashtray lid button, I sanded the backside with a dremel so that I could pop them out... I believe Audi attaches them via a heat press which melts the plastic on the back to hold it in ... I just sanded through it and it popped right out. If you try to work around it, the results will look pretty booboo. To reattach, I used super glue but any epoxy should work.

Tips... take your time. 3M wetsanding blocks made it buttloads easier to get the brush going in a uniform direction. I prefer the gloss clear seeing as it keeps the interior looking a bit more classy IMHO ... others like the satin finish for the more sporty look.

I'll take more pics tomorrow morning of the finished product in the car

[Sensiblepatron]

Looks good. Were you using a wide brush to keep the lines even (understanding that you sanded as well)?

[EuroSpec27]

Looks great, awesome work man!

[womensecks]

Looks good. Were you using a wide brush to keep the lines even (understanding that you sanded as well)?

There were no 'brushes' involved in the process. The way it went was:

1. Lay rags flat on the trim pieces and dump the acetone in, allowing it to soak the clearcoat.
2. Scouring pad to rub that hot mess off.
3. Wetsand with the 3M 150 grit block to get rid of the fishscale, which seems to be laser etched or something.
4. Wetsand with the 3M 220 grit block to get finer brushing lines.
5. (Optional) Wetsand with the 3M 320 grit block to get even finer brushing lines.... note that some people stop at the 220 and prefer that look
6. Reclean all parts with soap and water and acetone before spraying the clearcoat.
7. Spray light even coats from END to END ... never stop in the middle of a trim piece.
8. Enjoy!

When I speak of the 3M wet sanding blocks ... they are basically sponges wrapped in sandpaper... THEYRE THE SHIT!

[Sensiblepatron]

There were no 'brushes' involved in the process. The way it went was:

1. Lay rags flat on the trim pieces and dump the acetone in, allowing it to soak the clearcoat.
2. Scouring pad to rub that hot mess off.
3. Wetsand with the 3M 150 grit block to get rid of the fishscale, which seems to be laser etched or something.
4. Wetsand with the 3M 220 grit block to get finer brushing lines.
5. (Optional) Wetsand with the 3M 320 grit block to get even finer brushing lines.... note that some people stop at the 220 and prefer that look
6. Reclean all parts with soap and water and acetone before spraying the clearcoat.
7. Spray light even coats from END to END ... never stop in the middle of a trim piece.
8. Enjoy!

When I speak of the 3M wet sanding blocks ... they are basically sponges wrapped in sandpaper... THEYRE THE SHIT!

Appreciate the info! I've used them before when I resurfaced one of my guitars so know what you mean . When I got my car from the dealer the fish scales have had knicks on the drivers side door and a few other places and have wanted to replace for a while but so much more that I can do with 550 than getting the carbon fiber trim at this point though I would like to do down the road. This looks like it is in the price range and a good little weekend job, props again on how it came out. Post up some pics when you get it all installed, looking forward to seeing more.

[xULx]

Curious If color could be added. I would like to do a brushed red/black. Maybe black painted then a red clear if that is even made

[womensecks]

Appreciate the info! I've used them before when I resurfaced one of my guitars so know what you mean . When I got my car from the dealer the fish scales have had knicks on the drivers side door and a few other places and have wanted to replace for a while but so much more that I can do with 550 than getting the carbon fiber trim at this point though I would like to do down the road. This looks like it is in the price range and a good little weekend job, props again on how it came out. Post up some pics when you get it all installed, looking forward to seeing more.

Thanks man! Yeah it's definitely a full weekend job... after you do one piece though you really get the hang of it and the shit goes by quick.

My fishscale had nicks in it too that drove me nuts which is why I redid mine as well. And yeah, all in all the cost was about 20 bucks for everything. Be sure to get 2 of the 150 grit blocks though, one of mine ended up going soft (that's what she said) halfway through the trim pieces.

[womensecks]

Curious If color could be added. I would like to do a brushed red/black. Maybe black painted then a red clear if that is even made

Not too sure if it could be added... I know that since it's aluminum it could be anodized ... but I'm not sure how hot anodizing baths are which might melt the plastic the trim is mounted to.

I think if you were to paint over the brushed finish, it would end up filling it in and coming out smooth after... worth a try though!

[xULx]

yes, but on a different set. Maybe I could acquire some piano black trim, brush it red, and later lightly clear spray it. Hmmmm

[MCT9891]

cant wait to see it installed... *ahem...ahem* pics please =]

[womensecks]

MAN ILL GET SOME PICS THEN! I'll post them up tomorrow morning <3

[RJMars]

these pics just convinced me to do this mod... others in the past, the lines in the brushed pattern were not straight not clean.. On the other hand, these look great!!!

[G18]

very nicely done, looking forward to seeing the installed pics as well, great job.

[Tusin]

Where do you get the 3m sponges? Walmart?

[Tusin]

Wait are you talking about these?

[womensecks]

Wait are you talking about these?

Yeah! It's pretty much like that. Except those are the trapeoidal shaped ones. You'll want the rectangular shaped ones.

You can get them from the painters section at a Lowe's or Home Depot or similar shops! They're about $3 per block... and remember get at least 2 150grit blocks (they do the hard work)

[saizero]

wow your trim turned out quite nice. Me thinks this will be on my future mods list.

[JRMSLINEA4]

I did most of the project while watching the LIFE series on the Discovery Channel so it went by pretty quick

Haha funny. Great work looks like it came from Audi that way!

[jimrobbington]

Indeed looks badass. As for the acetone, did you just use nail polish remover? or a more commercial grade of it? I think a brushed aluminum would look sick anodized though. Wonder if it's possible.

[NTLWNF]

Looks Fantastic, great work

[Tusin]

I started taking off the interior pieces while driving home today (well the rear ash tray and the part in front of the shifter). The later is what worried me the most. So it looks like I will be doing it this weekend;)