Some more silver into the interior!

Son · Jan 1, 2006

The line around each gauge was definitely begging for this mod. I got a bit of encouragement from a chick on a Finnish SEAT board who painted this same bit (albeit in candy apple red and dipping the whole part in paint). So from her I learned how to disassemble the instrument cluster and last weekend started the project.

However, the first time around the paint layer turned flaky and I spent a week wondering what went wrong. I even tried with a new can of paint but it didn't help. Then I realized it - the plastic had a so-called soft touch paint finish on it. On one side it's got matte finish and softer feel to it, on the other side it's shiny plastic. The soft touch paint must've reacted with the paint somehow, eventhough I used plastic primer.

So then I just sanded all the paint off and the plastic, too, well enough to make sure the soft touch paint was gone, too. Last night (yesihavenolife) I painted the part again and it turned out pretty nice.

The masking, however, doesn't work perfectly when you cut it along the shape in the plastic, so some knife-trimming was still required to make the line of paint and plastic look better.

Well, here are pictures. Happy New Year, all!

Edit: And no, I don't recommend this mod to anyone...

stoneyfordNI · Jan 1, 2006

only 1st pic shows

Son · Jan 1, 2006

Fixed! File extensions in stupid capitals...

BTW, here are the other self-painted interior bits, in case someone hasn't seen...

devonmikeyboy · Jan 1, 2006

I can see them all, looks nice.

IbizaCraig · Jan 1, 2006

looks good mate, how long did it take in all??

stoneyfordNI · Jan 1, 2006

yep , nice rings u got there

Son · Jan 1, 2006

IbizaCraig said:
looks good mate, how long did it take in all??

A week.

Nah, now that I know how to prep the plastic, I could do it in a weekend, but the disassembly is a PITA (the gauge cluster doesn't come out of it's pit and there are several screws behind it that you have to undo). Also masking the plastic takes a good while and once it's painted, the finish isn't perfect. You still have to finish it with a knife along the groove as the paint gets under the masking and gives it a bit of an imperfect finish. That's what the perfectionist that I am thinks anyway.

And when you drop a screw inside the dash, this will take some more of your time... :doh:

IainW · Jan 1, 2006

That looks great. I like how the red lights glow on the silver rings.

tigor · Jan 1, 2006

I've got these rings I bought for the cluster months ago. These'll go behind the plastic coverings so will involve no painting. How easy do you reckon it'll be to fit these? Still a pain in the arse?

Fez boy · Jan 1, 2006

tigor said:
I've got these rings I bought for the cluster months ago. These'll go behind the plastic coverings so will involve no painting. How easy do you reckon it'll be to fit these? Still a pain in the arse?

Where did you get them from?

Are they for the MK4 Ibiza then?

tigor · Jan 1, 2006

I bought them from some online store. I must search n see if I still have the receipt. They are specifically made for the Mk4, yeah.

Son · Jan 1, 2006

tigor said:
I've got these rings I bought for the cluster months ago. These'll go behind the plastic coverings so will involve no painting. How easy do you reckon it'll be to fit these? Still a pain in the arse?

Behind the plastic coverings? Do you mean behind the 'window' of the gauge cluster? If so, it'll be even more of a PITA.

Generally disassembly and assembly is a bit of a pain, but doable. You'll feel like a handyman once it's done.

Georgie · Jan 1, 2006

i like that alot, looks so much better than the brushed stuff you get that goes all. if i can work out how to get that partout.. i may just try that!

mrcoyote · Jan 1, 2006

Looks good. You've definately got a lot more patience than me to do that though.

Son · Jan 1, 2006

Thanks, thanks.

Here's a view of the whole interior.

Georgie · Jan 1, 2006

that makes me like the red lights that much more!

muddyboots · Jan 1, 2006

Looking good Son, as always you take good photos too

Do you want me to add some of these to my site soon ?

Triple D · Jan 1, 2006

muddyboots said:
Looking good Son, as always you take good photos too

Do you want me to add some of these to my site soon ?

Off topic, but you could add a few more of mine if you want muddyboots as i have done a few other things since you last put the other pics of mine up.

@ Son, you must have loads of patients as i would get p*ssed off with doing it if it took that long to do, but it does look quality as the red reflects off the silver bits now.

Son · Jan 2, 2006

Muddyboots: Yeah, sure, you can replace the interior pic with the new one (although it's a bit blurry, but I was too lazy to go take a new one) and take anything else you like.

Spaniels: I don't have any patients, but knowing you'll have to do it again if it doesn't go right and knowing how much these parts cost to replace with new ones will give you patience.

But yeah, now the gauges look tons better in dark, too, as the red reflects off the silver.

Seat_Lass · Jan 2, 2006

Thats so cool

Some more silver into the interior!

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