restoring faded dash

[JoeJohnson]

So i just picked up a dash for my 90 coupe and its a bit faded in certain areas where the previous owner had left velcro tape. What can I do to restore it? I was thinking along the lines of respraying the dash with some interior paint but I don't want to mess it up and would like to have it come out as close to OEM looking as possible.

[AbsorbantNut]

Olive oil works wonders I've heard. Seriously.

[JoeJohnson]

Interesting, have any of you tried olive oil? Or anything else?

[Simon S]

I use Meguiar's Natural Shine Protectant with good results on interior stuff.

Have also heard good things about olive oil..
Guess I'd try one of those first - but if the color's fuct, then i suppose I'd pull the whole thing and dye it with VHT charcoal - but that's a lot of work..

[JoeJohnson]

hmmm... anybody in here dye their dash before? theres a little part of the dash thats near the windshield that has a tiny gash and I wouldn't mind filling it in and then dying the whole thing. I mean the gash is super small but it'd give me a chance to fix it.

[nmlss2006]

Yes. It can be done. It's not easy nor fun. And it's expensive. But it can be done. If you're REALLY determined, you can do it with the dash in the car. See before about 'not easy and not fun' and multiply by several thousand.

[straight6pwr]

i dyed a fading dash with Forever Black (got it at BavAuto) with good result. takes some practice to get the coating even. it wasnt hard at all, just take your time.

[JoeJohnson]

thanks guys, i might try on my old dash first before I ruin this new one :X

[84bimmer]

I've used olive oil for quite some time on my dash and interior parts, I really like the results...but I've never tried to restore faded/worn pieces with it.

[Wingnut]

use SEM color coat color: flat black. (clean the dash with acetone first) It will look absolutely perfect. (and its fairly easy)

[Bimmerista]

Olive Oil is a definitive remedy, because of the vitamin E content. It penetrates the dash & keeps it soft. I need to do mine since its been a year already. My car doesn't have a single dash crack and its a TX car from new.

[JubJub]

Olive Oil is a definitive remedy, because of the vitamin E content. It penetrates the dash & keeps it soft. I need to do mine since its been a year already. My car doesn't have a single dash crack and its a TX car from new.

This is enough to convince me. Texas heat and NO cracks? New? wow.

[herbivor]

I thought it was northern cold temps that cause dash cracks. Cold=contraction=crack. I wouldn't think southern cars would crack as bad, maybe fade more but not crack. Am I wrong?

[jw 325ic]

ive used mothers back to black with no cracks...texas car...no fade either

[jw 325ic]

I thought it was northern cold temps that cause dash cracks. Cold=contraction=crack. I wouldn't think southern cars would crack as bad, maybe fade more but not crack. Am I wrong?

most of the older bimmers ive looked at here have cracked dashes. heat + uv rays makes it dry. heat expands, so when something expands and is dry...cracks...