Considering a small interior remodel. Opinions?

[1/2past3ci]

My tan center console is kind of an eye sore if you ask me. The bottom of the cup holders are disgusting. The tan paint is pealing in a few spots. I'm considering replacing the entire center console and arm rest with brand new parts, but here is the kicker. I like the idea of 2 tone-ing the interior with black. How do you think it would look if I replaced the center console and armrest all with black parts. The dashboard below the trim is tan, and that comes down and wraps around the shifter. That would stay tan. From there to the armrest in black I think would look good. I'd also like to replace my carpet with black, and get black seat bases.

[johnrando]

Need to see pre-pics, but I've seen some really nice 2-tone interiors similar to what you describe.

[static667]

Pics of the current console/interior would help.

Sent from my rooted Fascinate using Tapatalk.

[PKR]

I'm interested to see how this goes; I've considered changing the gray center console to black in my all gray interior as an experiment.
I've noticed that Tischer has good prices on the console components.

[nike001]

Pics first

[Ryans323i]

From what I read, what you're describing sounds similar to what I've done. Everything in my interior used to be tan, sans dash and steering wheel.

Just pretend my console is jet back and not my custom iridescent trim color.

http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm142/aprilsmom04/Interior/interior4.jpg

So of course, I say do it!

[1/2past3ci]

From what I read, what you're describing sounds similar to what I've done. Everything in my interior used to be tan, sans dash and steering wheel.

Just pretend my console is jet back and not my custom iridescent trim color.

http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm142/aprilsmom04/Interior/interior4.jpg

So of course, I say do it!

Man, I think that looks terrific!!! I gotta see more pics!! What did you do to the door panels? Are those black floor mats, or did you replace the carpet?


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- Wes
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[danewilson77]

From what I read, what you're describing sounds similar to what I've done. Everything in my interior used to be tan, sans dash and steering wheel.

Just pretend my console is jet back and not my custom iridescent trim color.

http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm142/aprilsmom04/Interior/interior4.jpg

So of course, I say do it!

I think euro tray would clean that up. Looks great though.

HTC Thunderbolt+TT

[kayger12]

I think euro tray would clean that up. Looks great though.

HTC Thunderbolt+TT

My thoughts exactly.

[johnrando]

Looks good Ryan. Funny that I never knew you had a two-tone interior. Your car has always been about the stripes! :)

[billschusteriv]

Man, I think that looks terrific!!! I gotta see more pics!! What did you do to the door panels? Are those black floor mats, or did you replace the carpet?

Looks like black mats - I see tan carpet by the center console and passenger seat and over by the "dead pedal".


Lucy's looking good Ryan!

BlackBerry. Tapatalk.

[Ryans323i]

Man, I think that looks terrific!!! I gotta see more pics!! What did you do to the door panels? Are those black floor mats, or did you replace the carpet?


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- Wes
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I did not replace the carpet, just added black floor mats front and rear. I two toned the doors with DupliColor Vinyl & Fabric spray. It has held up fairly well with me, and only requires occasional touch up. Some haven't had as much success. Since this picture was taken, I replaced the center console w/ one from an M3 that included a black armrest. I don't I have any pictures of it, but I definitely need to get some.

Here's some more pics:

http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm142/aprilsmom04/Interior/driver.jpg

http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm142/aprilsmom04/Interior/interior3.jpg

[Whitexi]

I think euro tray would clean that up. Looks great though.

HTC Thunderbolt+TT

But where would I put the 32oz big gulp soda?

And Ryan I always thought your car was a coupe lol

[1/2past3ci]

I did not replace the carpet, just added black floor mats front and rear. I two toned the doors with DupliColor Vinyl & Fabric spray. It has held up fairly well with me, and only requires occasional touch up. Some haven't had as much success. Since this picture was taken, I replaced the center console w/ one from an M3 that included a black armrest. I don't I have any pictures of it, but I definitely need to get some.

Here's some more pics:

http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm142/aprilsmom04/Interior/driver.jpg

http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm142/aprilsmom04/Interior/interior3.jpg

Were your seat bases always black? If not, you used the dupli-color on those too?


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- Wes
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[Ryans323i]

The seat bases were tan, while the handles/levers were black. I painted the bases w/ Dupli-Color Premium enamel, Gloss Black (2 coats), then my custom iridescent (2 coats), and then Dupli-Color Premium Enamel, Crystal Clear (3 coats). An initial sanding of 1000 grit is needed to prep the surface, followed by a wipe with alcohol on a microfiber cloth. These, along w/ my trim and center console painted the same way, have held up excellently. It will scratch like any trim, but is easy to fix. Just sand w/ 600 or 800 grit smoothing the scratch, then 1000 or 1200 grit and repaint.

[danewilson77]

But where would I put the 32oz big gulp soda?

And Ryan I always thought your car was a coupe lol

Big soda's (with narrow bases) will fit in euro-tray.

[PKR]

I started thinking about doing this to my gray leather int. when I spotted this pic at the Coby Wheels site ...
http://i1205.photobucket.com/albums/bb440/GSP51/image3.jpg

[Marcus-SanDiego]

And, if anyone ever does buy something at Coby, be sure to mention ZHP Mafia for a 10% discount.

[PKR]

Yeah Boss. I did when I bought a shift boot and e-brake boot from them. Great quality with a great price.
Holding up on the e-brake boot install until I decide whether to replace my gray console with the black center console.

[nike001]

Those euro center consoles are so nice. Too bad I use my cup holders :|

[danewilson77]

Big soda's (with narrow bases) will fit in euro-tray.


Those euro center consoles are so nice. Too bad I use my cup holders :|


But where would I put the 32oz big gulp soda?

And Ryan I always thought your car was a coupe lol

I use mine everyday....with a mug of coffee.

[SC4ME]

i never let liquids in the car, maybe a euro tray is how I can justify replacing the slightly peeling cup holders.
:mwah

[Go Horns!]

I say go for the two tone.

[static667]

Yeah, two-tone FTW!

[1/2past3ci]

Pulled the trigger on black center console, euro tray, and arm rest today. Before and after pics to come.


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- Wes
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[kayger12]

Pulled the trigger on black center console, euro tray, and arm rest today. Before and after pics to come.


---
- Wes
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

:like

[billschusteriv]

I use mine everyday....with a mug of coffee.

I haz seen this. :shifty It works.


Pulled the trigger on black center console, euro tray, and arm rest today. Before and after pics to come.

Nice!

[VaTechZHP]

If you are going to two tone the car, I would definitely suggest you put in black floor mats. On my Black e36 M3 sedan, the interior was modena with black floor mats which matched the a majority of the door cards.

Definitely get those if you are thinking of mixing and matching.

[1/2past3ci]

Goodies in UPS today!!! http://tapatalk.com/mu/aefd0be8-b03e-074b.jpg


Wes
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[danewilson77]

Goodies in UPS today!!! http://tapatalk.com/mu/aefd0be8-b03e-074b.jpg


Wes
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

That's gonna look awesome.

HTC Thunderbolt+TT

[Ryans323i]

Sure is! Can't wait to see pics!

[PKR]

[QUOTE=1/2past3ci;96355]Goodies in UPS today!!! http://tapatalk.com/mu/aefd0be8-b03e-074b.jpg

Verry nice!
For those of us who are also considering this, where did you get these ... damages?

[1/2past3ci]

[QUOTE=1/2past3ci;96355]Goodies in UPS today!!! http://tapatalk.com/mu/aefd0be8-b03e-074b.jpg

Verry nice!
For those of us who are also considering this, where did you get these ... damages?

The arm rest I got on eBay. It was brand new and cost 149 shipped. The console, ashtray, and euro tray I got at ecstuning.com. Forgot what my total bill there was. Somewhere around $130. Still waiting on black seat sides from getbmwparts.com.


Wes
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[1/2past3ci]

Ok, have some pics of it in progress. I forgot to order the piece of trim that goes over the hinge of the armrest and back down under the ashtray, so I have to order that to finish the center console. I have the seat bases (plastic part that goes around the power buttons) on the way in black. The only thing left to do inside is an Ipod/bluetooth integration, which I'm having problems with because I believe my car has DSP, and everyone keeps telling me that E46s never came with DSP. All I know is when I went to hook up my old Dice Mediabridge in the trunk, the 2 connectors I expected to find were not there and there were 2 round connectors.
Anyway, here are some pics of the new center console before and after.
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/cc384/halfpast3ci/IMG_0691.jpg
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/cc384/halfpast3ci/IMG_0690.jpg
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/cc384/halfpast3ci/IMG_0688.jpg
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/cc384/halfpast3ci/IMG_0687.jpg
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/cc384/halfpast3ci/IMG_0686.jpg
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/cc384/halfpast3ci/IMG_0696.jpg
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/cc384/halfpast3ci/IMG_0695.jpg
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/cc384/halfpast3ci/IMG_0698.jpg

[anm3itbe]

A great improvement Wes. Loving the extra bit of contrast going on there.

[danewilson77]

That really looks awesome. Not digging spiral wheel wrap. Coby could finish your look nicely.

HTC Thunderbolt+TT

[johnrando]

Oh wow, amazing difference. Much better!

[Ryans323i]

The black center console and arm rest looks 100x better! Way to go.

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Wes, looks good. That's the combo I had with my E39. Sand with black accents in the car.

Definitely hit up Mike at Coby Wheel. He can do that steering wheel for ya. You'll like it. Mention ZHP Mafia for a 10% discount.

[PKR]

That looks great Wes. You've given me that little nudge I've needed to switch out my gray console for a black one.

[1/2past3ci]

Continuing the 2 tone with seat bases.

http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/cc384/halfpast3ci/DSC02872.jpg
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/cc384/halfpast3ci/DSC02873.jpg

[Ryans323i]

Very nice! Did you buy new ones or follow my DIY?

[johnrando]

Definitely very nice!

[danewilson77]

Looks great.

[webster]

Looks great.

+1

love the euro tray in place of the cupholders. i def. need at the least a new cupholder tray. mine's all scratched from the PO's.

[mikeyb74]

I did not replace the carpet, just added black floor mats front and rear. I two toned the doors with DupliColor Vinyl & Fabric spray. It has held up fairly well with me, and only requires occasional touch up. Some haven't had as much success. Since this picture was taken, I replaced the center console w/ one from an M3 that included a black armrest. I don't I have any pictures of it, but I definitely need to get some.

Here's some more pics:

http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm142/aprilsmom04/Interior/driver.jpg

http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm142/aprilsmom04/Interior/interior3.jpg

I was thinking about doing the opposite with my black and tan interior. For example on the door cards I'm thinking doing the handle and insert black and leaving the rest tan. I hate how the handle gets so dirty from use. Now I see yours I would think I like it better this way.

[Ryans323i]

^^^I love the way my two toned turned out. However, like you've said, the door handles get a lot of use, and the paint can wear off. This is counteracted by excellent prep before the initial paint, and occasional touch ups. For touch ups, I spray a lint free paper towel (saturate it) and dab the worn areas. When my car was my daily driver the handles needed touch ups after ~ 4-5months of usage. I'm OCD about things looking perfect so at the first sight of tan peaking through, I touched them up. And the touch ups blend right in, there's no indication that they've been touched up.

[az3579]

Continuing the 2 tone with seat bases.

http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/cc384/halfpast3ci/DSC02872.jpg
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/cc384/halfpast3ci/DSC02873.jpg

If this is how BMWs came from the factory, then I would never hesitate to choose tan. Excellent job!

[PKR]

Niiiice Wes. Did you paint the seat triim or .... ?

[1/2past3ci]

Niiiice Wes. Did you paint the seat triim or .... ?

No, you can buy new seat bases from getbmwparts for less than $10 a piece in black, grey, or beige.


Wes
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Gordo_GT]

It looks good. I might consider doing this as well.