Suede dash conversion

[Garageaholic]

I was watching unique autosport last night on speed and i saw them making headliners and shit. All they do is take suede and conform it to the current vinyl that they have and spray an adhesive on the other side so it sticks.

They use a heat gun to conform to the curves and it looks pretty damn good. Has anybody tried this before on the E30 dash?? sounds like a pretty good idea and relatively simple.

[KenC]

Try it and let us know how it turns out ;)

[Majikal]

As long as you get some thin material that has a tack side so the adhesive doesnt bleed through to the showing side, it's very easy, just time consuming. I recently recovered the luggage tray behind the rear seats in black carpet and it came out great, Ive only done pieces of a dash before, not the whole thing, but the process is the same really.

[Erick]

How expensive is suede anyways? I'd love to have my steering wheel reupholstered in suede.

[Garageaholic]

I've found websites where it's $14.00 a yard.

http://www.distinctivefabric.com/fabric.php?product=UPHOLST2

[Erick]

faux suede?

[Garageaholic]

Yeah, it's polyester, but looks/feels like suede. I think that real suede is alot more expensive. I may take advantage of getting that little 5" x 3.5" piece and see how it holds up...

[Erick]

I see... I wonder how hard it would be to work on a steering wheel.

Also... this is a nice thing for those cracked dashes.... just cover it up in faux suede. :)

[Mastrcruse]

Just for steering wheels. I thought I saw a thread that had someone that you could send your wheels/knobs and he also did shift boots. You could send him your stuff and he would turn it into a suede masterpiece

[Erick]

Who's "him"

[Garageaholic]

I see... I wonder how hard it would be to work on a steering wheel.

Also... this is a nice thing for those cracked dashes.... just cover it up in faux suede. :)

Yeah right? I am suprised there wasn't a thread about this already. It sux, bc i dont' have a cracked dash anyway. If i do it, it would be a waste of a perfect dash!

Steering wheels are another story. I would talk to rob sheiring about that one. I wouldn't tackle a steering wheel. not to mention if you used the faux suede, I would imagine that it would wear out rather quickly. You know, compared to alcantara or even real suede.

[Erick]

Well, check this:

http://www.distinctivefabric.com/fabric.php?product=SUEDE2

"This is the finest faux suede: thick and supple with the real look of suede leather but without the high cost or complicated care."

And it's cheaper than the one you posted.

[Garageaholic]

you're right, I saw that too, but I figured that upholstery suede would be a little more durable. I'm sure that's why it's double the cost, to take a little bit more of a beating (the sun in this case)

[Erick]

I was thinking about that, yet there is no mention of it's durability in the upholstery version.

[Garageaholic]

I'm going to sign up and get that sample... see from there