dash top leather

[chrisdurham]

hello,

has anyone replaced the leather on top of the dash - the bit where the heater vents poke through?

[Mr Nordic]

Yes I have had mide done, the screen needs to come out

[chrisdurham]

did you do the job yourself?

[Mr Nordic]

Hi,
No I had this done at a trimers and at the same time i had the front window surround done in the same colour plus used the opportunity to remove the cheap and nasty sun visors.

Whilst the screen is out it is the time todo the other work if you want to. It really improved the look of the car.

Good luck

[SILICONEKID350HP]

Mr Nordic said:

Hi,
No I had this done at a trimers and at the same time i had the front window surround done in the same colour plus used the opportunity to remove the cheap and nasty sun visors.

Whilst the screen is out it is the time todo the other work if you want to. It really improved the look of the car.

Good luck

The damage is normaly caused when the dash top is removed .I would tape cardboard on to that area. When you lift the dash it springs then the sharp thread cuts in to that area.

[chrisdurham]

hello -

basically the leakther has gotten very wet and damp has got behind it so ive had to remove it, bit unforseen - but will prob also need a few other bits re-trimmed also..

:+(

[massivesi]

Hi Chris

My leather had shrunk and pulled itself away from the forward part of the dash where the heater were. To sort it i believe you have to remove screen and front section of dash.

I took mine to a trimmer for a new rear window, he had a go at the dash and did a temporary repair which looks ok and he didn't charge me for. He also promised that if he damaged the screen when removing it, then he would replace it. Cost about 350 quid i reckon. I think it can wait until the rest of the interior needs replacing.

Massive Si

[DrasticplastiC]

Hi, I am plagued with the problem of the leather against the windscreen having shrunk on the drivers side, it is also coming unstuck on the passenger side.

I am reluctant to have the screen removed for this. I spoke to some experts who said the original leather could probably be heated and expanded and glued back under the screen using tools to push the leather under the rubber. They said replacing the whole thing and taking the screen out is a nightmare job.

I have thought of carefully and neatly cutting the leather at either side and pulling the most of it out. Then finding a new solution to cover the fiberglass up to the screen. I once saw an example covered in a carbon fibre effect vinyl but it was across the whole top dash section and I guess the screen had been out to do it.

I figure that carpet would not be great against the screen, I could rub down the fibreglass and paint it, or perhaps fit a thin fibreglass section up to the screen (painted or covered in vinyl) and across left and right to just over where I have cut the leather. Has anyone ever done this? I guess it would be an MOT failure if the vents stop directing hot air up to the screen, they become distorted when the leather shrinks.

Any advice on doing a good repair without removing the screen would be appreciated; I don't fancy heating the leather to try and expand it, I'd rather cut it out!!

[O mage]

If you remove the dash you might see there is excess leather below the dash line and maybe you can unpick it and then stretch it up to the screen again. Hope its just enough.

[DrasticplastiC]

The thing is that the leather is very tight across, pulling it up from underneath won't entirely fix that I don't think.

[O mage]

You might have to unpick around the vent thats tucked behind and then glue that back and cut the vent out again,it wont be perfect but i dont think you will get any better unless you take the screen out.