Anyone Done an Interior Color Change?

[renold458]

So my A4 is tan, and it's my second car with a tan interior. Honestly, it's frankly the most annoying interior I've dealt with with cars and have always preferred the look of a black interior. Has anyone ever dabbled into the art of color changing the interior? Interior pieces aren't an issue, can just grab some panels from a junked A4 that are all over where I'm from (guys selling door panels with all switches and handles for only 200 bucks for a set of 4). Might grab some new seats as well, but my concern is carpet and the larger dash piece. Can I just use spray paint for fabric on the carpet and the dash (Im not sure if the dash is vinyl or not so I thought I'd ask, and the paint I "intent" to use is Duplicolor's Vinyl and Fabric, which I heard good things about if you apply it correctly). How hard is it to remove the main dash and replace it with a black one? I plan on keeping the car for a while so what I put into it won't matter, and I'd rather work on it myself because I love stuff like that.

[ckimble]

Sounds like were in the same boat. I did the duplicolor to my glove box and it looks great...maybe a tad bit glossier than the stock stuff but damn good. Also used adhesion promoter two or three coats. I picked up a part out carpet for like $80 clean then just for extra measures rented a hot water extractor from home depot and it was perfect. Haven't done the dash looked into it but seems like their might be some bolts in didn't have time to get into. Don't ask what the pink red stuff is its from the PO
http://s1028.photobucket.com/user/ma...v4pur.jpg.html
http://s1028.photobucket.com/user/ma...fmt6w.jpg.html

[diagnosticator]

For recoloring interior parts, there is a professional quality spray product with the SEM brand. Available at body shop supply stores. SEM makes different sprays for dashes/trim, seats and carpets.

http://www.semproducts.com/

[renold458]

Sounds like were in the same boat. I did the duplicolor to my glove box and it looks great...maybe a tad bit glossier than the stock stuff but damn good. Also used adhesion promoter two or three coats. I picked up a part out carpet for like $80 clean then just for extra measures rented a hot water extractor from home depot and it was perfect. Haven't done the dash looked into it but seems like their might be some bolts in didn't have time to get into. Don't ask what the pink red stuff is its from the PO
http://s1028.photobucket.com/user/ma...v4pur.jpg.html
http://s1028.photobucket.com/user/ma...fmt6w.jpg.html

Carpet looks great! Do you have any pictures on the glovebox? If I grab a cheap dash and it's not "super" hard to remove I might just do that, or if they're expensive it'll be easy to paint once it's off.

For recoloring interior parts, there is a professional quality spray product with the SEM brand. Available at body shop supply stores. SEM makes different sprays for dashes/trim, seats and carpets.

http://www.semproducts.com/

Thanks for the link man I'll look into em, have you used any of this?

[ckimble]

Try to ignore the missing bits. It was that tan color and broken so I ordered that eBay hinges and painted it. The knee bolster is from a part out.


http://s1028.photobucket.com/user/ma...nerxt.jpg.html

The dirty version

http://s1028.photobucket.com/user/ma...8og58.jpg.html

[renold458]

Try to ignore the missing bits. It was that tan color and broken so I ordered that eBay hinges and painted it. The knee bolster is from a part out.


http://s1028.photobucket.com/user/ma...nerxt.jpg.html

The dirty version

http://s1028.photobucket.com/user/ma...8og58.jpg.html

That looks great! Oddly satisfying to see a lot of that stuff pulled out. Is headliner work expensive? Mine is sagging in the back in two spots, so I was thinking of just replacing it with a black one.

[diagnosticator]

Thanks for the link man I'll look into em, have you used any of this?

Yes, I have recolored a dash and carpet using SEM products.

[Pr1ce]

Orrrr you can do what I did and do a full interior swap. I swapped from tan ->black

Fun project


Edit: the dash isn't that bad at all. I have some pics I'll add up if I can find em

[Pr1ce]

[renold458]

That's exactly what I want to do! Only reason I asked about paint was it's price and ease of use, but I will always go to OEM if the work isn't insane. Looks awesome!

[Pr1ce]

Yea I See why paint but it's not worth it in the long run... Cuz to get a clean spray on the dash you need to remove it... So if it's out anyways to paint... Why not replace it anyways?

Id suggest replacing it all instead of painting it. With replacement you can just remove and install... No prep, no down time waiting to dry or worry about scuffing etc

Work isn't insane but yes it is work. The toughest/timely part was the carpet because you have to remove everything. I did it all in 2 weekends. 1 for the carpet and seats. 1 for the dash and console

[renold458]

Sounds worth it for me really. What're you gonna do about the top of the car? I noticed its still tan on yours.

[Pr1ce]

Yea I left it tan to break up all the black.... I really liked the color change but got tired of it after a couple months. I was going to get it changed to black but actually selling the car in a couple weeks so I'll leave it. I did the b pillars in suede though

[MNAudi101]

Did the exact same thing as Pr1ce, we did ours at the same time.

[lyates1987]

I am in the process of doing this as well. I've elected to paint a few things like the fuse covers on the sides of the dash and some of the lower floor trim. Looking to do suede headliner and pillars

[Toronto5.5]

How badly did all of that creak after you made that swap?

[MNAudi101]

I painted a few things like the grab handles and cover of the glove box, I went with a S4 headliner so I just needed some small pieces to finish up the black

[Pr1ce]

How badly did all of that creak after you made that swap?

Not one part squeaks or isn't supposed to be there.

Mnaudi101 and I both did it like he said. He helped out but honeslty it's pretty direct so if it squeaks you didn't pay attention or you missed something. I was lucky enough to have a donor car so I got everything and didn't need to paint.

[MNAudi101]

Not one part squeaks or isn't supposed to be there.

Mnaudi101 and I both did it like he said. He helped out but honeslty it's pretty direct so if it squeaks you didn't pay attention or you missed something. I was lucky enough to have a donor car so I got everything and didn't need to paint.

yup I actually got everything almost tighter so there is no squeaks or creaks. My interior is nice and quiet now

[Pr1ce]

^ agreed 100%

[sandspeed]

You could just find someone willing to sell the black carpet and dash out of their A4... *hint, hint*

[SJorge3442]

So does this stuff for staining the carpet actually last? I'd love to hit my tan carpet with some black. I HATE having a tan interior.

You guys who have swapped your interiors and have no creaks, where did you stuff some insulation or felt tape to keep the noises down? I'm hard at hearing so I can't find the source of my creaks, but I want them gone!

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

[Pr1ce]

So does this stuff for staining the carpet actually last? I'd love to hit my tan carpet with some black. I HATE having a tan interior.

You guys who have swapped your interiors and have no creaks, where did you stuff some insulation or felt tape to keep the noises down? I'm hard at hearing so I can't find the source of my creaks, but I want them gone!

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

Honeslty I never added, stuffed or taped anything. When installing just made sure everything was tight and in the right places before I screwed everything back down.

[sandspeed]

I wouldn't try spray dying a carpet. I did a little patch on my tan carpet and it felt crunchy and looked patchy, like crap.

[MNAudi101]

exactly the same for me, never needed to add anything I just made sure everything was tight and in the right spots

[7speed]

Yea do as Nick did and just find a black donor car. It looks better in the long run. Id try to find a B7 donor as they are newer and have a functional center console.

[SJorge3442]

Yeah I think im gonna start piecing together some black parts for my 3.0 to pair with the tan. I've seen a few tan/black interiors and I'm a fan. Just gotta have the right colors in the right spots.

[cschuster]

Yeah I think im gonna start piecing together some black parts for my 3.0 to pair with the tan. I've seen a few tan/black interiors and I'm a fan. Just gotta have the right colors in the right spots.

Agreed. It's gotta be just right. This kinda scheme from a Cayman looks cool. With some $$, the silver Recaros can be dyed to beige.