Any 'Wrap/Cover' their wood interior int their GX? (1 Viewer)

[fluid15]

I thought I read (may saw with pics) where someone had used some material to 'wrap' over their wood pieces on their dash - anyone out there done this? I know I saw it somewhere but am not sure if it was here; anyway not really a fan of the lighter wood and interested in learning more about it. Could be a Mod once I pick one up. I'm doing my research on these trucks to help me filter toward the right one. I'm currently on the hunt for a GX with ~ 100k miles and NO Nav, there are not many compared to w/nav but I want to forego the consolidated HVAC controls and install something more modern. TIA

 

[RCsGX]

Not that I've seen but if you do a search for "bmw carbon fiber trip wrap" you will see plenty of threads on how to do the wrapping. There's many fabrics to choose from. It's not hard just tedious and time consuming.

There's also hydrodipping. I want to get my interior wood trim pieces hydrodipped from the factory light wood to blackwood but I can't find any local places that have the blackwood material I want. Our wood pieces are VERY EXPENSIVE and don't come up at all on eBay so I'm hesitant to send them off to an out of state company.

There was one out of state hydrodipping company that did a few Lexus cars (blackwood) over on CL and I tried contacting them a few months back but I found out they went out of business. Here's the pieces that were hydrodipped into blackwood.

 

[fluid15]

Not that I've seen but if you do a search for "bmw carbon fiber trip wrap" you will see plenty of threads on how to do the wrapping. There's many fabrics to choose from. It's not hard just tedious and time consuming.

There's also hydrodipping. I want to get my interior wood trim pieces hydrodipped from the factory light wood to blackwood but I can't find any local places that have the blackwood material I want. Our wood pieces are VERY EXPENSIVE and don't come up at all on eBay so I'm hesitant to send them off to an out of state company.

There was one out of state hydrodipping company that did a few Lexus cars (blackwood) over on CL and I tried contacting them a few months back but I found out they went out of business. Here's the pieces that were hydrodipped into blackwood.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v467/BuyAMS/2012-01-26_21-18-13_332.jpg

I do like the blackwood. Is that the trim that came with the 'Sport' option? Regardless, it looks good. The slightly darker wood (more reddish?) in the later models also is more appealing to me than the lighter wood. I'll keep my eyes open, I don't want CF in an SUV but I get your suggestion the process is the same.

 

[RCsGX]

I do like the blackwood. Is that the trim that came with the 'Sport' option? Regardless, it looks good. The slightly darker wood (more reddish?) in the later models also is more appealing to me than the lighter wood. I'll keep my eyes open, I don't want CF in an SUV but I get your suggestion the process is the same.

The sport package wood is called black bird's-eye maple. The blackwood is very similar, slightly different grain pattern though. I have gray interior and to me the golden bird's-eye maple wood doesn't belong. It's more at home in a tan interior. The Medium brown walnut started in '08, so if you find a '08 that you like you might not have to wrap any of the wood trim.

And I agree, carbon fiber in a GX doesn't belong. My BMW suggestion was just to see how to install it. I have a E39 Bimmer (was mine, now it's my wifes) and I remember when everyone went crazy for the carbon fiber wrap years ago.

Anyway, good luck in your GX search!

 

[fluid15]

The sport package wood is called black bird's-eye maple. The blackwood is very similar, slightly different grain pattern though. I have gray interior and to me the golden bird's-eye maple wood doesn't belong. It's more at home in a tan interior. The Medium brown walnut started in '08, so if you find a '08 that you like you might not have to wrap any of the wood trim.

And I agree, carbon fiber in a GX doesn't belong. My BMW suggestion was just to see how to install it. I have a E39 Bimmer (was mine, now it's my wifes) and I remember when everyone went crazy for the carbon fiber wrap years ago.

Anyway, good luck in your GX search!

Ah, the e39 ... I used to have one - fantastic car. A good buddy still has one (only 80k miles) with no intention to let go of it anytime soon.

 

[jagsr71]

Not sure what part of the country you live in. Just happened to see this one in my area. 100K noo nav.

http://denver.craigslist.org/cto/4286162198.html

 

[fluid15]

Not sure what part of the country you live in. Just happened to see this one in my area. 100K noo nav.

http://denver.craigslist.org/cto/4286162198.html

I'm in Phx so Denver is a bit further than my search circle, but interesting none the less. Price/miles looks about right from what I've seen recently.

 

[ObsessMuch]

I did mine

I wrapped my trim in 3M vinyl. I used two colors. I used a matte silver grey for the door trim and a flat black around the radio. It was pretty easy and didn't take very long to do. I ordered the material off of ebay. just look at the 3M site to see what colors they have and do a search on ebay. there are people selling smaller pieces of the stuff. It looks like factory to most people who see it.

for the steering wheel i bought a high end leather cover. that took 30 min to put on and looks stock as well.

my build thread is the gx in seattle you can see the pics of the interior. much better than the boat like wood grain.

 

[fluid15]

I wrapped my trim in 3M vinyl. I used two colors. I used a matte silver grey for the door trim and a flat black around the radio. It was pretty easy and didn't take very long to do. I ordered the material off of ebay. just look at the 3M site to see what colors they have and do a search on ebay. there are people selling smaller pieces of the stuff. It looks like factory to most people who see it.

for the steering wheel i bought a high end leather cover. that took 30 min to put on and looks stock as well.

my build thread is the gx in seattle you can see the pics of the interior. much better than the boat like wood grain.

Fantastic! I believe your thread was probably where I originally saw this. Nice, unique mod. I'll be back in touch if I go this route ...

 

[RCsGX]

Obsessmuch I must have missed your thread before, that looks very nice! Are you using the 3m 1080 vinyl?
http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/Graphics/3Mgraphics/Products/Series1080/

If so how has it been holding up? A lot of car guys use the 3m 1080 stuff. It's supposed to be easy to install and you can use a heat gun to get it to form around curved / odd shapes. I wonder how it holds up over time with scratches?



Fluid15, Your thread got me burning up google these past few days. I can't find any local shops and I just don't trust these fly by night hydrodipping companies with my parts so with that said and after seeing a Merc done up in some 3m 1080 brushed black metallic I'm going to order some of that to try out.

 

[ObsessMuch]

yes i think that's it...i did use a heat gun to get it to wrap there are some tricky spots around the vents where its best if you trim a bit before stretching. the stuff can be over stretched and either rip or gap. generally speaking it works well

One thing that wasn't apparent to me was that the film is a pressure adhesive. the heat is used to stretch it but pressure and rubbing get it to stick so you need a good tool for burnishing it.

The stuff is also tough. scratches and things don't show. just for perspective i covered my snowboard with it and its holding up fine. I also covered the side panels on my BMW1200GSA with it after finding out platidip was not fuel resistant.

 

[RCsGX]

yes i think that's it...i did use a heat gun to get it to wrap there are some tricky spots around the vents where its best if you trim a bit before stretching. the stuff can be over stretched and either rip or gap. generally speaking it works well

-Thanks for the tip.

I ended up buying way more than I need (5ft. x 2ft.) so hopefully the install goes smooth.


One thing that wasn't apparent to me was that the film is a pressure adhesive. the heat is used to stretch it but pressure and rubbing get it to stick so you need a good tool for burnishing it.

The stuff is also tough. scratches and things don't show. just for perspective i covered my snowboard with it and its holding up fine.

-I ordered a felt squeegee. I'd probably be ok w/ my little tinting rubber squeegee but the felt was cheap so I bought it just in case. I don't understand why 3M's says it's sensitive to scratches because I've seen posts where people have used this stuff for years and it's still holding up? A lot even use it on the exterior of their vehicle too, especially the carbon fiber 1080.

"B.
Covered squeegee The unique finish on film series 1080 is sensitive to scratches and requires careful handling during installation.

We recommend using a high density felt squeegee or covering the edge of a 3M™ Applicator PA1-G (gold) with
the loop side of 3M™ Scotchmate™ Reclosable Hook and Loop Fastener - Loop portion SJ-35231.zl"


I also covered the side panels on my BMW1200GSA with it after finding out platidip was not fuel resistant.

-Offroad GX and an offroad BMW 1200. You have some nice toys!

54321

 

[tynee]

Looks like I landed an '05 w/ the sport package. Not a big fan of the black birds eye maple in the photos. Maybe I will change my mind in person. If not, would swapping the wood packages with another member here be a huge undertaking or not? Not sure the wood I like, but probably the yellow birds eye. I like the contrast.

 

[RCsGX]

Looks like I landed an '05 w/ the sport package. Not a big fan of the black birds eye maple in the photos. Maybe I will change my mind in person. If not, would swapping the wood packages with another member here be a huge undertaking or not? Not sure the wood I like, but probably the yellow birds eye. I like the contrast.

I'll trade with you if you get it and don't like the color. Let me know, I have the golden birds-eye maple trim.

The trim piece pop off VIA pressure clips. The only part that's not pop off would be the steering wheel but it's a 5min job to remove.

 

[tynee]

Sounds good, thanks, I will let you know. Unfortunately the truck is going straight to my wife up in Pittsburgh, I'm moving up there in April and will have to wait until then to take any pieces off, she would be overwhelmed. Otherwise it would have been an easy swap with you in Seminole (I'm in Orlando for now).

 

[RCsGX]

Ah man too bad it's not heading down here, I'm in Winter Springs.

No rush. I have some 3M stuff that I'm going to wrap it in for the time being.

If you do decide to trade, let me know. Congrats on your new GX.

 

[RCsGX]

I did a few pieces today...so far so good.

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r34/rrcompton/Lexus GX470/3M/brushedmetallictexture.jpg~original

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r34/rrcompton/Lexus GX470/3M/leftofsteeringwheel.jpg~original

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r34/rrcompton/glovebox.jpg~original

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r34/rrcompton/Lexus GX470/3M/gearshiftknob.jpg~original

http://s140.photobucket.com/user/rrcompton/media/Lexus GX470/3M/console.jpg.html







*While you have the console out, remove the shifter boot, transfer case boot and most of all the e-brake boot so you can clean the part of the boot that you can't see when they're mounted.*




http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/...470/3M/closeupmountedondoorpanel.jpg~original

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/.../completedandmounteddoorpanelD80.jpg~original


And disregard what I said on post #14. The door panel trim pieces are NOT held in by pressure clips. You have to remove the door panels and unscrew the wood trim from the backside.








I also plasti-dipped my grill black and the Lexus emblem white last week.
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r34/rrcompton/Lexus GX470/Frontview.jpg~original

 

[GXO]

Hmmm, me thinks I need to do this.

 

[ObsessMuch]

Wow the brushed metal looks great. Ive got all the pastidip for the grill jsut no time to do it.

I think you did a much better job on your shiftier knob than i did

 

[GXO]

Mike, come to Atlanta and do this for me.

Thanks!