deanski
wax on, wax off
- Joined
- May 20, 2010
- Messages
- 367
- Reaction score
- 6
- Points
- 16
- Location
- Lancashire
- Website
- www.vivalasfaces.co.uk
So this week I finally decided to do something about the horrible, scratched surround of my gearstick. The plastics in the Audi are lovely and tactile but this has the drawback of them being easily marked.
So here goes, my first attempt at wrapping. I included how to take off the surround so if you know someone with an A4, point them to this.
The offending item in place. Blurgh.
Pull the gear stick back and open the ash tray.
Then simply pull out the ash tray insert.
With no screws, just loads of clips, gently pull the surround and it all clips out, including the gear knob.
Push the gear stick in so it's almost inside out and you can see the clips that you need to remove below. The black ones on the inner are to release the gaitor and are plastic push outs, the silver clips are to release the chrome insert and are metal. BE AWARE! The silver clips have to be bent back but are very brittle and will snap if you move them too much.
Gaitor and stick out
Chrome insert out.
Draw a template on a piece of card. Its easier to handle than cutting around the surround and you can tape it down so it won't move. When you cut out the template, leave a little room for the wrap to tuck under. Don't do it exactly the same size as the surround or you'll have no room for error.
Then ya get's your CF wrap. In this case it's proper 3M Di-noc which cost a whopping £3.50 including delivery from Ebay.
Put the template on the wrap and cut out, and don't forget to leave some room. TBH, I left a little too much on the edge but I got away with it.
Clean and dry the surround thoroughly so the wrap will have optimum grip. I used an IPA solution. Then remove the back from the wrap, place sticky side UP on a flat surface and press the surround onto it making sure it's straight. Turn the surround over and snip the inside corners (pictured below) so they can bend and wrap around the inside. Then get a hair dryer and gently heat the wrap til it's malleable and push down and around.
You'll end up with this.
You will need to trim some out as you need to unblock the holes for the chrome insert clips. IMPORTANT- Use a very sharp craft knife and be careful. The holes for the clips are at right angles. Make sure you push the knife horizontally and not vertically or you will get a visible hole in the edge of the wrap. If you get a bubble you can push it out and don't worry if you get a crease as the Di-noc will move again if you heat it up.
Almost there. You can see the holes I needed to cut to get the chrome insert back in.
Pop the gearstick and gaitor back on and give it a smack when installing it back in the car.
Looking better.
The ashtray was a PITA. You undo the two bolts here.
and the ashtray comes free but you have to wriggle it about a little to get it out. Then to take the lid cover off you are supposedly able to slide it towards you and it slides off but mine was stuck fast. I used a plastic knife (so not to cut anything) to get between the cover and the lid and at the front of the lid there are several tabs to pop out. Sorry didn't get a pic of these. Some cars you'll have to take the climate control face off I believe. I'll be sorting the chrome out on the ashtray when I get a properly sharp knife.
Pretty pleased with that for a first effort. And yes I did turn the wrap so the weave would be symmetrical to the pattern on my seats. :thumb:
So here goes, my first attempt at wrapping. I included how to take off the surround so if you know someone with an A4, point them to this.
The offending item in place. Blurgh.
Pull the gear stick back and open the ash tray.
Then simply pull out the ash tray insert.
With no screws, just loads of clips, gently pull the surround and it all clips out, including the gear knob.
Push the gear stick in so it's almost inside out and you can see the clips that you need to remove below. The black ones on the inner are to release the gaitor and are plastic push outs, the silver clips are to release the chrome insert and are metal. BE AWARE! The silver clips have to be bent back but are very brittle and will snap if you move them too much.
Gaitor and stick out
Chrome insert out.
Draw a template on a piece of card. Its easier to handle than cutting around the surround and you can tape it down so it won't move. When you cut out the template, leave a little room for the wrap to tuck under. Don't do it exactly the same size as the surround or you'll have no room for error.
Then ya get's your CF wrap. In this case it's proper 3M Di-noc which cost a whopping £3.50 including delivery from Ebay.
Put the template on the wrap and cut out, and don't forget to leave some room. TBH, I left a little too much on the edge but I got away with it.
Clean and dry the surround thoroughly so the wrap will have optimum grip. I used an IPA solution. Then remove the back from the wrap, place sticky side UP on a flat surface and press the surround onto it making sure it's straight. Turn the surround over and snip the inside corners (pictured below) so they can bend and wrap around the inside. Then get a hair dryer and gently heat the wrap til it's malleable and push down and around.
You'll end up with this.
You will need to trim some out as you need to unblock the holes for the chrome insert clips. IMPORTANT- Use a very sharp craft knife and be careful. The holes for the clips are at right angles. Make sure you push the knife horizontally and not vertically or you will get a visible hole in the edge of the wrap. If you get a bubble you can push it out and don't worry if you get a crease as the Di-noc will move again if you heat it up.
Almost there. You can see the holes I needed to cut to get the chrome insert back in.
Pop the gearstick and gaitor back on and give it a smack when installing it back in the car.
Looking better.
The ashtray was a PITA. You undo the two bolts here.
and the ashtray comes free but you have to wriggle it about a little to get it out. Then to take the lid cover off you are supposedly able to slide it towards you and it slides off but mine was stuck fast. I used a plastic knife (so not to cut anything) to get between the cover and the lid and at the front of the lid there are several tabs to pop out. Sorry didn't get a pic of these. Some cars you'll have to take the climate control face off I believe. I'll be sorting the chrome out on the ashtray when I get a properly sharp knife.
Pretty pleased with that for a first effort. And yes I did turn the wrap so the weave would be symmetrical to the pattern on my seats. :thumb: