Maybe Eric the Plug Guy would best answer this, but I'm actually considering ordering some seal grey paint with clearcoat and painting the center console. I can order the paint in a formulation that will bind itself to the curvatures of the center console.

Am I crazy to try this? If not, are there any tips you can give me (like how to spray, whether to buff, clearcoat, etc.)?

Pictures of your success would be helpful.

-Bobby G

 

I don't know if this picture will help any, but here is my Seal Grey Center Console. It's Factory and came out of Josh's GT2. I would imagine with all the curves that it can't be an easy piece to paint.



Center Console Pictures

 

Actually, it is a pretty involved process. My guy here in Fresno charged me a grand to paint close to 40 parts in arctic silver. You can check it out on my post that I just did. It turned out fantastic! The key is the sanding. My guy here said that had he of known the time it took to sand them down, he would have charged me double. I have had no issues with the paint as of yet.

Justin H

 

What would be the cost of buying one from the factory already painted?

 

it lists for $750 I think

 

With the small, delicate parts, I can imagine how much of a pain in the a$$ it would be to sand everything down. But really, how much sanding difficulty would one encounter with the larger center console?

Justin - did you see how much sanding your guy did or what sort of sandpaper he used?

I can't wait to f'up my console.

 

I did not! I do know that sanding was key in the way the piece looks. I imagine they started with a semi-gritty paper, but ended up as fine as they could get it. You honestly can't tell that mine isn't factory...it would be very difficult to tell. I think you can pick up just a simple black center console on ebay, and use that instead. That way, at least you have your original in case things get all F'd up! If I were to do it again, that is what I would do. I would even sand that sucker myself to save on the labor. You just want it to be as smooth as possible, so that it looks factory. Hope this helps! Good luck.

Regards,
Justin H

 

Justin, do you have any pics of your AS results. Bet it looks great! TIA

 

Yes...sure do Don. Here ya go:







Best Regards,
Justin H

 

Hey Don!! Where have you been? enjoying the Naples weather!!

Here is a full link to Justins interior job..


Link to pics

 

Why wouldn't you just get one from bumperplugs? They just did one for me and it looks great!

Roy

ps. Here's a pic of one they did, not mine:

 

Roy, that pic is of my center console. Eric did a dead-on match to the silver. I've got the high res pic and you CANNOT tell the difference between the factory AS console and what Eric did on the ash-tray delete. He also painted my headlight covers which also were a perfect match

Kevin, I've been around. Much more to do in Naples than on the Cape this time of the year.

Justin, thanks for the pics. That combo works great, and the silver inst. hood looks fine with the silver instrument rings.

Here are the headlight covers that Eric painted..

 

I too got my factory black center console replaced by Eric at bumper plugs. I did the core swap meaning he took a deposit and shipped me a beautifully painted seal grey center. I transfered all the bits myself and shipped him back my stock black center console. Couldn't have worked out better and I paid less than half the option cost it would have cost me if I ordered it this way from the factory.

Don't waste your time, do it right.

 

There is quite a long involved process to painting plastic. But if someone wanted to shortcut it, and did not have a professional painting background, they may end up with something that 'look' fine. However, the preparation work involved in what we do with painted interiors is extensive. What this provides is a long lasting professional finish like nothing you'll get in your garage, and something that will hold up over time.

We've taken numerous parts from DIY's who tried to paint and either the prep was not done correctly (it's hours upon hours of prep work), or the finish was just not 100%.

Painted Center Consoles are $349 from us, $750 from the factory, and we have a core exchange program as well, and can add non smoker packages for those interested, and paint them at the same time.

The finishes we achieve on the painted plastic are unparalleled in quality and durability. Just ask around.

Hope that sheds some light on this subject.

Email me with questions anytime: eric@bumperplugs.com

 

Eric do you have core bumperettes? I need to get mine done