MadaboutKitcars

On my mx250 build on the mx5, i did away with all the center controls and relocated them behind te seats. Maybe thats te way to go?....

I see your point, maybe just 2 spaced appropriately with the panel covered in the same fabric you used below it?
I do like the flat panel in curved recess look though. A curved to suit stainless/aluminium/chrome sliding cover with a little tang handle would look the part to cover the originals, although it's a lot of work to get it rite, not sure its worth the effort unless you just had one vent under it and used the space gained to loose the 6 modern switches from the console? Like Danny did on his MX and WCA did on his? http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=221807893610&alt=web
That type of cover, or how about 2 of those mounted side by side on a trimmed panel modified to be air vents, I'd like that challenge! Ed.
I would also continue your new trimming material up onto the dash pad and completely rip off WCA's idea. It does look good in the flesh. If you can't stitch mark it all up and post it me and il post it you back with a French hem seam on. Or take it to the cobblers they will probably charge £5 to hem it.
Ha ha Danny added a post as I was typing mine, saved you rummaging through his thread.

If you want to be a bit more radical with your remodelling, here are photos of my interior and the frame that was built.

I basically gently unthreaded all the wiring and relocated the switches to the centre console mounted as far back as I could push them. I then had the framework shown in the picture made and a fake panel put in front of the switches.



Top of the door linings simply glued over what was there already, you can even see the speaker panel still showing through which irritated me at the time but now I don't really notice.

Just found a picture of my first attempt when I was playing with ideas. The idea worked but the fit and finish shows why I got help with the finished article.

inspired/shamed by this thread I quickly pulled the vents out of my car and resprayed them a couple of times. They look so much better now. Still plastic looking but shiny silver plastic instead of flat greyish plastic

OMG!!!!!!

FANTASTIC.......what a great finish......

Ok 2 things:

1. I feel responsible for the effort you have undertaken and sorry for that, it was not intended.
2. They look amazing! please tell us your process, I want to replicate exactly those.

Thanks

1 Thanks. Needed doing
2 Spray alcohol to clean what was there. Wipe off with a paper towel. three coats of thin paint with 15 minutes between.

I can check what paint it was but I bought Chrome Silver at B&Q so you can probably find something similar

That does look much better.
I tried not to say anything but please adjust the nuts on your switches so the flats are aligned.

I miss the clock though

Might be better to fit round nuts? Else some may think the verticals should be aligned, others the horizontals... I have to say I hadn't noticed but now I have...

Not part of making the interior look 'older' but this weekend I pulled my seat our to replace bushes that make the seat move slightly on acceleration and braking, and is really annoying. Bought Bushes off ebay from Czech Rep, had to sand them down a little to make them fit, but all in now and no more movement! Yay!, took around 1.5 hours to do in total as a leisurely pace following z3 forum instructions, heres some pics:

Chrome Indicator stalk ends and chrome effect door handle surrounds added:

Where did you get the indicator stalks from?

Are they easy to swap over?

Also, where did you get the door handle surrounds?

Stalks from:

uwf-Interieur
Zu den Bettern 13
35619 Braunfels
Tel. 06472-831899
Fax: 06472-831901

Surrounds from: http://www.fmw-tuning.de/BMW/3er-E36/Interieur/Chrome-parts/Inside-door-handle-surround-chrome-2-pcs-for-BMW-E36-Z3::853.html

I have 3 stalks (wipers, indicator and cruise control). I only put the new ones on wipers and indicators as need to know what cruise control movements do what.

Wipers one was easy just twist off with a bit of force applied . Indicator one was more difficult as have switch for BC, which I have removed and replaced with analogue clock, so I totally destroyed it to get it off, snipped the wires running down its centre and secured in steering trim capping each wire off so I don't get any shorts.

Both stalks have a grub screw fitment, so really easy to put on.

Cheers,

Ok, so not really classified as interior, but started to work on exterior parts as kit arriving in 1 week, fingers crossed....

Spinners onto alloys


Chroming of side window support
before...

after...


Re-Chroming of windscreen surround as it was faded...

Hi Andy,
Wheels look very nice, spinners work a treat.
Could you slow down a bit though as it's making my progress look very bad!

Cheers, Bob.

Where did you get the stuff for rechroming from?

Mine is tatty and could do with refreshing. Is it hard to fit?

Lots of "mirror chrome wrap" on eBay.

I have some spare "sticker bomb" wrap from doing my Jago if you'd prefer...

Yep ebay, search on 'chrome wrap'. Its fiddly, you'll need some 'prying tools' and a heat gun/hairdryer. I'm no professional at wrapping but I managed it ok. Still have the other side to do.

An old respray trick is to lift the windscreen rubber and feed some thin electrical cable- bell wire or similar, underneath which leaves the lip raised. Wrap or respray and then remove the wire so that the new colour goes underneath the rubber.
I didn't need my heatgun when I wrapped the screen pillars and windscreen surround on my Z300S, just a warm day and a felt edged applicator.

I shall get some and maybe there will be a new How To video on my 'on the road' thread