Below is my most current job on the S5 – the auto I ended up keeping far longer than I ‘d expected.
Carbon fiber skinning/wrapping of the OE trim items: My car featured Stainless-steel Mesh trim and a Piano Black facility console piece. I constantly wanted to change the center console piece with the Carbon Atlas or carbon, but could never ever justify the price for what is simply a decorative piece.
I did a damp lay-up utilizing 5K 2×2 twill carbon fabric as well as a marine-grade epoxy to skin/wrap the OE parts. The parts are not excellent, and everything still requires a bit of ending up and shaping with wet-sanding and a Dremel, yet I definitely ENJOY the results.
Center console: this piece was an annoyance since you need to eliminate the WHOLE center console to access the screws. The skinning was challenging construct because of the tight tolerances and smooth surface required for the sides that abut the facility console.
The aquatic quality epoxy offers the clearest, brightest, most UV-stable color.
Throughout the layup:
The lefthand scale cluster surround was the initial trim item. It really forms better to the curves than the pictures suggest.
CF is so damned messy and time consuming.
Mid-build on the centerpiece (note that it have to be peeled from the MMI/Nav screen surround; a warm gun and also patience are needed).
Similar to the other pictures, there are blemishes that are stressed in these shots that really aren’t that apparent to the eye. This item, though, is just sitting in location for an examination fit, as well as needs last shaping as well as finishing:
Certificate plate filler panel, North American variation. I took the OE license plate owner, sawed-off the expansion that backs the North American plate design, loaded it with Bondo.
This is simply an examination fitting; I have a whole lot extra polishing and also fining sand to do to get the coating to where I want it. I likewise need to use a two-part, UV-stable matte clearcoat for the last application.
Lastly, it looks amazing, yet I most likely will not keep it in the auto. It’s a little tacky and also it doesn’t match the black grille. Would certainly go truly well with the typical Rock Grey S5 grille.
