HOWTO: Color Concept interior trim for cheap!

[g3uvn]

I have spent forever looking for the coveted black trim pieces and pillars for my GTI both online and at the scrap yard. I'm not prepared to pay silly money for the parts so did some research, came across VHT vinyl dye which promised to dye the plastic parts, at £20 for two cans delivered I thought I would give it a shot, and the result is pleasantly surprising!

VHT dye can be found here, you want VHT SP942 (satin black) for an OEM look



I used my sunroof motor cover as a tester, this is before any prep



I cant stress how important the prep is for this paint, unlike normal paint it seeps into the plastic and physically changes the color, IT DOES NOT ADD A LAYER LIKE NORMAL PAINT. (and it does not need primer!!)

First clean the part with dish soap and a scotch pad to get rid of all the detail products, grease and dirt that have built up.



Then use some 2000 grit wet and dry under running water (you can use some dish soap to help lubricate the surface some more). Dont be too rough, you don't want to ruin your plastic



A picture after prep, looks 100% better if you just wanted it stock!



Make sure the plastic is properly dry, then shake the paint. Shake some more. Shake a bit more. And a bit more for luck. This stuff needs to be properly mixed otherwise you might as well throw the part away after you paint it.



Apply really thin light coats with 10 minute intervals between each coat. This allows the dye to seep into the plastic. Too much and it will just sit on top of itself like normal paint and it wont seep in properly

After 1 pass:



After 2 passes:


After 3 passes:



After 4 passes:



Final result after 5th and final pass
:



Let it cure for 3 hours so far and can confirm that it looks like a genuine OEM part and whats better it doesn't chip, scratch or flake like normal paint so should be good for a few years wear and tear!!

[clancy]

Looks really good mate, very interested in this actually, if it is genuinely not like normal paint and is like you said

Do you recon this would work on the exterior trims the same way ?

[g3uvn]

Looks really good mate, very interested in this actually, if it is genuinely not like normal paint and is like you said

Do you recon this would work on the exterior trims the same way ?

I will know tomorrow 100% if it works or not as it will have properly cured, but I have seen it work before. I spoke to a lady who works in the interior design company who is next door to my office... she told me they use this stuff to turn lamps and other bits different colours (including black to white!).

It should work on exterior trim providing it has not been previously painted in any way before, otherwise the pores in the plastic become blocked and the dye can't penetrate into the material. If it's prepped right, I don't see why not. It won't work with all plastics through, I do know that it works for ABS, vinyl and leather however.

[clancy]

Sounds good, might have too give it a try on some spare trims and see how they hold up, saves dressing them every time the cars cleaned!

Get some pics of your interior up once you've put your bits back on bud

[VR6_Wherry]

This looks pretty good. Do you know if you can get any other colours?

[hobbiniho]

^^ had a quick look at the ebay shop that the op posted and found that they do other colours 
http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/Interior-Styling-/40193/m.html?item=111374556319&hash=item19ee70dc9f&pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&_ssn=partsorama

[g3uvn]

This looks pretty good. Do you know if you can get any other colours?

As hob said, they do loads of colours. This stuff is the same as duplicolor vinyl spray I think (which is marketed for leather and fabric) - just it's like rocking horse droppings over here in the UK!

Also, here's a picture of the sunroof cover - fitted it this morning and after the usual manhandling there's not a scratch!!

[Len]

I have CC black with blue inserts seats and door cards. where should all the trim panels be black?

[vwwvgolf]

if this works all those 'rare' pillars and trim will no longer carry the tax. im guna have to give this stuff a try

[g3uvn]

My bits seem to be holding up well, just painted the b pillar inserts prior to the actual pillar being wrapped in material that will match my black headlining... Certainly cheaper than buying all the genuine parts!!