Page 1 of 1

Dashboard reskinning ideas

Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2011 9:03 am
by petroscf
Ok, here's the matter:
My dash is still in -almost perfect- condition, so I am doing nothing at the moment (car always garaged, so no sun rays hitting the dash, and quite often treated with vaseline-although I am not sure that this is the proper material to use on a dash)
There is a very small crack (passenger's side, on top, in he recess) at a point that remains unnoticed, so no reason to start a big work yet.
But, just thinking about what to do, I have always had the idea to upholster my dash with leather (well I now think that somewhere in here I have started a thread about that, but I don't remember anymore)
I would like the idea of having a leather dash, like some E24s I 've seen (I don't know if E24 was factory made with leather dash, or the ones I 've seen were retrofitted). And in general I love cars with leather dashes...
I also was thinking of an open coloured leather dash, not a black one, or a 2 coloured one, maybe not only the top of it, but also other parts (for example the centre console, or glove compartment etc)

So what are your opinions?
Is that doable? Do you think that the first summer sun that hits the dash will destroy the glue and make all the leather upholstery unstick?But then, what is the difference in cars that have factory fitted leather dashes? Aren't these dashes the same as in cheaper editions of these cars, with the additionof leather? If yes, Then why shouldn't this be done on an old dash?

Re: Dashboard reskinning ideas

Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2011 11:19 am
by Mcinek
You have to find a propoer specialist who will do this, since this is not an easy work.

Re: Dashboard reskinning ideas

Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2011 11:30 am
by e21-Mark
Get it flocked instead. I think its about £200?

Re: Dashboard reskinning ideas

Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2011 11:39 am
by petroscf
what is flocked?

Re: Dashboard reskinning ideas

Posted: Fri Jan 28, 2011 10:10 am
by petroscf
I 'd rather trim it with leather..Only issue is how long it 'll last

Re: Dashboard reskinning ideas

Posted: Fri Jan 28, 2011 1:26 pm
by Reck
Leather is really tough if the conditions are right! I'm sure they've dug up leather belts from old viking ships and stuff..

Re: Dashboard reskinning ideas

Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2011 9:01 am
by petroscf
ha ha ha, well, I did not mean how long will leather last before the first cracks as vinyl dashes, I am sure it would last way longer as a material...
The "how long it 'll last" means the glues etc...I am not sure it will last long glued on the dash, I am really afraid that after 2-3 summers it would unstick (or parts of it)