Graphite Carbon Fiber Di-Noc and Piano Black MMI Surround Pics

[benspeed83]

These pics are pretty bad but I thought I would show my progress to date. I am covering all the silver trim in graphite (color) carbon fiber vinyl. I also painted the MMI surround in Rust-O-Leum brand Black Lacquer spray paint. The job was easier then expected...except for the shifter trim which was a pain in the ass. More pics to come when complete.

[benspeed83]

The MMI surround has a lot of smudges because I hadn't cleaned it before the pics. It looks about perfect in real life.

[Sandeman]

look great!

[hender]

good job around the MMI especially, those silver pieces really add a lot!

[genep]

silver carbon fiber on the doors look really great. how would you rate this mod? caveman-easy, medium, or ninja?

[benspeed83]

silver carbon fiber on the doors look really great. how would you rate this mod? caveman-easy, medium, or ninja?

I would say everything was caveman-easy except for the removal of the trim piece by the shifter. The removal of this piece to recover it in Di-Noc was a giant pain...so "ninja" on that one.

[benspeed83]

Here is a pic of the MMI from a distance with OSIR silver trim rings around the edges of the 2 pieces.

[Okan509]

Nice, Can you not wrap that center piece without taking it out of the car?

[userbbc]

Really like the MMI surround. Was there sanding involved before and/or after spray painting?

[benspeed83]

Nice, Can you not wrap that center piece without taking it out of the car?

It seems to me that you really need to take it out to do it right. It would be possible without removal but the final product wouldn't be as professional. IMO.

[benspeed83]

Really like the MMI surround. Was there sanding involved before and/or after spray painting?

No sanding...the only prep was to clean it and make sure it was free from dust. The black lacquer is not like other spray paints...you put it on a little thick and use less coats. I also used a clear lacquer top coat of the same brand.

[Hockenheim]

Looks awesome

[gamer2k]

Wow the paintjob on the MMI surround looks great... if that's as easy as you say I'll definitely be looking into this!

[MiracleWhips]

Minus the color, this looks very similar to the RS3 Sportback interior trim.

[benspeed83]

I found that the edges were chipped in a few places on the piano black MMI surround. I fixed it with some light touch-up but I now realize that I should have primed the plastic before I sprayed the lacquer. Just a heads up for anyone else considering this mod.

[PHP154]

The black surround looks great. How difficult is it to remove for painting?

[Greg Nelson]

I found that the edges were chipped in a few places on the piano black MMI surround. I fixed it with some light touch-up but I now realize that I should have primed the plastic before I sprayed the lacquer. Just a heads up for anyone else considering this mod.

I was afraid this would happen to you when you said earlier 'no sanding'
Painting requires proper surface prep.
Suggest you remove the trim piece, strip the paint (#240 grit 3M wet/dry sandpaper), then sand w/#320 and #400 grit, prime, THEN paint.
Takes more time, yet permanence & appearance will be worth it
Dashboard trim removal tool set (plastic) are available from ECStuning and Harbor Freight.
Cheers

[benspeed83]

The chipping only happened at the top edge where the plastic surround touches the underside of the dash. It happened as a result of me installing before the paint was perfectly dry. I did a slight touch up and you can't even tell.

But, I am sure some type of prep like sanding or priming would be very beneficial as advised. I highly recommend the mod and I am very happy with the way it turned out.

[MiracleWhips]

The OSIR trim really helps the look, otherwise the MMI might be too shiny.

I just wish the OSIR trim matched the interior aluminum trim pieces, instead of the silver rings around the gauges. I returned mine because of that.

[NPuter]

I just picked up some rust-o-leum black lacquer to do this mod. Your results look amazing!

I assume the clear lacquer is necessary to make the trim glossy? Was the straight black lacquer not glossy enough?
How many coats did you apply?

I can't wait to do this :)

[Okan509]

The OSIR trim really helps the look, otherwise the MMI might be too shiny.

I just wish the OSIR trim matched the interior aluminum trim pieces, instead of the silver rings around the gauges. I returned mine because of that.

+1

[jbradle7]

The quality of your work looks great! Just my 2cents... the gloss black MMI panel does not tie in to any other pieces (from what I can see in the photos), have you considered using the same Di-Noc film on the MMI surround that you used on the door pieces etc.?

[UnsavedOne]

Awesome mod. It looks great!

[Okan509]

The quality of your work looks great! Just my 2cents... the gloss black MMI panel does not tie in to any other pieces (from what I can see in the photos), have you considered using the same Di-Noc film on the MMI surround that you used on the door pieces etc.?

I don't think it really needs to tie in

P.S.: for those of you possibly inspired to do this from this thread, someone please do a write up on how to remove the MMI surround :)

[hender]

I don't think it really needs to tie in

he's right - I had the CF di noc on my MMI surround, but took it off because it was too busy...that and it started peeling
matte black via plasti-dip looks waay better and it follows a black theme through/through. CF DInoc is still on door / dash trims.

P.S.: for those of you possibly inspired to do this from this thread, someone please do a write up on how to remove the MMI surround :)

i owe ya one for the headlight assembly although you may not like the method i chose LOL. it sounds careless or dangerous but you really can't f*ck it up.

i only took the faceplate off the MMI surround. this made it way easy to work with. i did such by taking a tiny flathead and just gently prying around the sides. you'll hear the glue cracking as you go around. i don't think it's possible to crack the plastic, the glue is by far the weakest connection.

afterwards, use whatever adhesive you like (I used good ol' krazy glue, there may be better out there) to stick it back on. i know some people used epoxy - seems overboard, but it's all up to you & how much work you wanna do.

this method, to me, seems way easier than removing the whole thing, masking off the glossy black surround (screen area) etc. etc. like others have done.

FWIW the plastic is nothing but glued on there, not evenly or anything - just looks like someone did it by hand at the factory... you can tell because the glue will still be on there :) so you're literally re-doing what was done at the factory.

[Dasquade]

Sorry to ask it here aswell, but does anybody knows the partnumbers of the dashboard surround (left vent cover + mmi cover) for the A4 B8?
Planning to buy a new set to paint them black (and keep the old ones as backup).
Would be much appreciated as my dealer couldn't find the numbers s:.

[gtg196w]

benspeed, did you get a parking brake error afte removing the mmi surround? I don't know if it is a coincidence but the day I took it off, the car started having a parking brake error every time I start car.

[benspeed83]

Sorry for the late responses guys...here goes.

In regards to the clear lacquer: the black was great by itself and I don't think the clear made any difference in shine or depth of color...maybe just a bit but you will be fine without it.
In regards to removal: both pieces just pop right out...no screws, no glue, no problem. Just pull them out carefully and with some force. They will just pop out.
In regards to match: the Di-Noc was too busy on the MMI surround. The black looks much better. I was inspired by the new RS5 interior. Look it up...Audi chose the same thing.

One other note: prep the plastic with some type of primer before applying the lacquer.

[benspeed83]

benspeed, did you get a parking brake error afte removing the mmi surround? I don't know if it is a coincidence but the day I took it off, the car started having a parking brake error every time I start car.

Yes, I did get the parking brake error light after the MMI removal. I used my Singapore knock-off VAG-COM to remove the warning light and it never came back.

[benspeed83]

The quality of your work looks great! Just my 2cents... the gloss black MMI panel does not tie in to any other pieces (from what I can see in the photos), have you considered using the same Di-Noc film on the MMI surround that you used on the door pieces etc.?

Audi RS5 disagrees with you.

[gtg196w]

Audi RS5 disagrees with you.

lol... Agreed. For anyone doing this mod, the OSIR trim is a MUST. I tried it without, and it doesn't look quite right. The trim really makes the piano black pop. If you'll notice, the RS5 uses a similar design strategy; their brushed metal trim is along that center ridge of the MMI surround piece. Since us a4/s4 guys don't have that, the OSIR trim is as close as we'll get. The only drawback is that discontinuity in the bottom transition from the mmi surround to the tacometer surround is further accentuated by the OSIR trim (I don't know about you guys, I feel like that discontinuity was a pretty major goof by audi).

[Stubek]

I hate that silver piece that comes with the car, its like Audi realized last minute they needed trim. I wish it matched my piano black, so this is on my list. Happy to see you testing methods for me. Thanks!

[belzebutt]

How is that paint holding up as far as attracting dust and scratches?

[NPuter]

I have all the materials sitting in my garage ready to go... I just have to find the time to actually start it...
However, I still need the purchase the osir trim pieces...

Sent from my Nexus One using Tapatalk

[gtg196w]

AHHH... so mine is bubbling up like a mofo. lots of tiny (1mm) bubbles. Is it just the florida heat? anyone have any suggestions? I didn't prime the air vent, and that side seems better than the mmi piece. HELP. at this point I am ready (reluctantly ready) to drop 2 grand for the entire rs5 instrument cluster+trim. Something about the metal accent divider in the rs5 mmi surround is really appealing to me anyway:
http://www.ridelust.com/wp-content/u...5-Interior.jpg

[Kthing]

Unfortunately, the MMI surround from the RS5 won't fit our cars. It looks very similar but their are slight differences.

[gtg196w]

even if i replace the whole instrument cluster? not just the trim? my plan was to replace everything including the gauges. If there are discrepancies in overall dimensions, or the tab locations are different, I would really like to know (if anyone has a clue on that).

[matt@oCarbon]

even if i replace the whole instrument cluster? not just the trim? my plan was to replace everything including the gauges. If there are discrepancies in overall dimensions, or the tab locations are different, I would really like to know (if anyone has a clue on that).

I have both sets of pieces here and can take some measurements for you, but I can say for certain the trim is different and is not interchangeable. It might be possible if you replace cluster, but you'd still have to double check on the actual dash as well.

[aznpxdd]

Matt, let's show them how real silver CF trim looks :P

[gtg196w]

Matt, let's show them how real silver CF trim looks :P

lol

I have both sets of pieces here and can take some measurements for you, but I can say for certain the trim is different and is not interchangeable. It might be possible if you replace cluster, but you'd still have to double check on the actual dash as well.

matt... that would be awesome. maybe :
1. distances between tabs
2. length and width (from my perspective depth wouldn't really matter... as long as it's not a blatant difference)