Dash Trim for 2002 'Bird

[Meowgal]

Re: Dash Trim for 2002 'Bird

DON'T use alcohol!... It's much too harsh...It will definitely harm the plastic! Instead, use some more "gentle" stuff like WD40, or some varsol...but nothing strong like alcohol, thinner, etc...!
Claude.

What about that Goo B Gone stuff?

[MerlotBlue]

Re: Dash Trim for 2002 'Bird

YIKES!!!!

It's glued on? I guess I didn't give this enough thought. I had hoped it "snapped" on some-how..........that's too bad.......I really do like the look.

[MerlotBlue]

Re: Dash Trim for 2002 'Bird

I'll disagee with you here, as I love my woodgrain dash kit (don't think I got it from this dealer tho) and how it looks in my bronze. I don't think I would have cared for the aluminum in the bronze, but love it in the Tbird blue. I personally think it depends upon the car itself.

Yeah, I'm sorry Meowgirl.......my own big mouth getting ahead of me so that I can fit a foot in.........again.

I can't take it back......I really don't like the wood grained look in most any car......but that is just my own individual opinion. It wouldn't be the first time I found myself in the minority.

Normally I don't like much of anything along the line of these kits and add ons. It's really rare that they actually improve the look of any car IMO.

I'm genuinely amazed by this Brushed aluminum kit of extra trim pieces. It's just so PERFECT for these cars and for this particular color interior pictured........it's truly the rare exception to my general thinking on this sort of change.

[Borla Babe]

Re: Dash Trim for 2002 'Bird

Although this finish is the closest you can get to the original aluminium dash, I found out to my expense that this particular color tends to yellow over time, creating a mismatch against the stock pieces becomes obvious...
To solve this, I removed mine and chose another finish (titanium burlwood) instead...Too bad though because when new, it was simply gorgeous like in the pictures "Treken" posted.
Claude. :sun:
P.S: Here are a few pictures showing my car's interior with the "brushed aluminium" kit and the "titanium burlwood" kit...

Claude, I had forgotten about your trim turning yellow, now that I think about it I think Sally mentioned her trim is turning yellow too.
I am going to have to give this some thought now, unfortunately I've already placed the order, so can't back out now without a penalty.
Here's a question for you.......Is it possible that maybe some of the cleaning products you use for the interior of your car might have gotten on the trim and caused it to take on that yellow look? And was it you that asked them to put a polyurethane over the top of the trim pieces to try to allow it more protection?
Thanks for your help Claude.

[2FAST4U]

Re: Dash Trim for 2002 'Bird

Claude, I had forgotten about your trim turning yellow, now that I think about it I think Sally mentioned her trim is turning yellow too.
I am going to have to give this some thought now, unfortunately I've already placed the order, so can't back out now without a penalty.
Here's a question for you.......Is it possible that maybe some of the cleaning products you use for the interior of your car might have gotten on the trim and caused it to take on that yellow look? And was it you that asked them to put a polyurethane over the top of the trim pieces to try to allow it more protection?
Thanks for your help Claude.

Julie, if you've already ordered the kit, why not try to call them "asap" and tell them you'd like another finish instead?...worth a try!...
As for cleaning my car's interior, well...it doesn't get much dirty as I drive it on some occasions, but not everyday and I only use a damp cloth or chammy to wipe off the dust from the dash and other trim pieces, so I doubt that the yellowing was caused by that.
When I bought my dash kit, I told them that I wanted the poly coating (used on most of the dash kits) to have that "thick" look with the rounded edges...At first, they were reluctant but they finally processed my order the way I asked them, but now...I understand why!...They probably knew that there was a possibility that it could change color over time but did not want to say that to me, thinking that if they did, I would not buy a kit at all! Since "Brushed Aluminium" is a very light color, the yellowing is more obvious than on some darker colors on which is not noticeable at all.
That's why I chose to peel my old kit off and reinstall a new one from www.wooddashexperts.com in "Titanium Burlwood" which is some kind of greyish wood that matches the '02's interior very well! (In case you never noticed, only the '02's had a dark grey interior as opposed to black for the subsequent years...)
Claude.
P.S: The only person I know of who has a "Brushed Aluminium" kit that did not yellow is my good friend Dino ("Blue Heaven"). His kit doesn't have the poly coating on it, and it looks more "flat" and very thin too...but at least, it doesn't yellow!

[Blue Heaven]

Re: Dash Trim for 2002 'Bird

P.S: The only person I know of who has a "Brushed Aluminium" kit that did not yellow is my good friend Dino ("Blue Heaven"). His kit doesn't have the poly coating on it, and it looks more "flat" and very thin too...but at least, it doesn't yellow!

Hey Claude! How's it going?
Yes, Claude is correct. My kit is raw brushed aluminum without any poly coating. It's been on the car for 6 years and looks the same as the day I installed it. It's only draw back is you need to be careful not to scratch it. The kit came from Legend 5, a company that many of us purchased our kits from back in '03. Unfortunately, they went out of business. I have seen other "raw" kits advertised, but don't know what they look like in person.

If I could add my two cents worth and I hope I'm not offending anyone, any kit that costs $99 is not going to last. Quality kits are generally $175 and above. Remember the old saying...

[Blue Heaven]

Re: Dash Trim for 2002 'Bird

What about that Goo B Gone stuff?

NO!!!!!!!!!! Do not use Goo B Gone on plastic!!

[Ray]

Re: Dash Trim for 2002 'Bird

That's why I chose to peel my old kit off and reinstall a new one from www.wooddashexperts.com in "Titanium Burlwood" which is some kind of greyish wood that matches the '02's interior very well! (In case you never noticed, only the '02's had a dark grey interior as opposed to black for the subsequent years...)
Claude.

This is what I have in my car. I've had it for about five years, and it still looks as good as the day I installed it. This trim looks great in my '03, as it has flecks of black in it and blends in well.

[justjon]

Re: Dash Trim for 2002 'Bird

Brushed aluminum will never yellow if it is brushed aluminum .. all polycoats will yellow over time but it doesn't show much and can actually improve the look on wood dash's. look at a 10 year old Jaguar sometime. Definitly not a $99 kit.
Also the material cost for the aluminum kit can't be more then $25 max. A laser cut job and $99 is a good profit.

[2FAST4U]

Re: Dash Trim for 2002 'Bird

Remember the old saying...

"YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR"...
Claude.

[Blue Heaven]

Re: Dash Trim for 2002 'Bird

"YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR"...
Claude.

[MerlotBlue]

Re: Dash Trim for 2002 'Bird

Claude, I had forgotten about your trim turning yellow, now that I think about it I think Sally mentioned her trim is turning yellow too.
I am going to have to give this some thought now, unfortunately I've already placed the order, so can't back out now without a penalty.
Here's a question for you.......Is it possible that maybe some of the cleaning products you use for the interior of your car might have gotten on the trim and caused it to take on that yellow look? And was it you that asked them to put a polyurethane over the top of the trim pieces to try to allow it more protection?
Thanks for your help Claude.

I wonder if you shouldn't just accept the kit "as is" and before installing it..... see if there isn't some creative way to install it that doesn't require a glue that would damage the under-side surfaces should it fade away over time.

I'm still considering ordering despite the bad review on longevity.

[Borla Babe]

Re: Dash Trim for 2002 'Bird

I wonder if you shouldn't just accept the kit "as is" and before installing it..... see if there isn't some creative way to install it that doesn't require a glue that would damage the under-side surfaces should it fade away over time.

I'm still considering ordering despite the bad review on longevity.

I'll take a very close look at the trim when it arrives, but I'm pretty positive I will follow thru and install it. I spoke with Roman this morning, the fellow that sold me the trim, and he explained that this trim will not yellow. He explained that some company's use epozy to save on costs instead of polyurethane and those are the trim pieces that turn yellow. He also told me that he sells his trim to new car dealerships all the time and never has a problem with customers complaining about yellowing.
As far as paying a cheaper price for the trim, I'm not worried about an inferior product, I've seen this trim installed on other cars and I think it looks very nice. I guess I can hope that I just got a better price than some who paid much more.
From the information I've been able to gather on the trim is that we have to be very cautious about not letting it get scratched. I think the pictures Treken posted speak for themselves, the trim looks very sharp in his car.

[2FAST4U]

Re: Dash Trim for 2002 'Bird

I'll take a very close look at the trim when it arrives, but I'm pretty positive I will follow thru and install it. I spoke with Roman this morning, the fellow that sold me the trim, and he explained that this trim will not yellow. He explained that some company's use epozy to save on costs instead of polyurethane and those are the trim pieces that turn yellow. He also told me that he sells his trim to new car dealerships all the time and never has a problem with customers complaining about yellowing.
As far as paying a cheaper price for the trim, I'm not worried about an inferior product, I've seen this trim installed on other cars and I think it looks very nice. I guess I can hope that I just got a better price than some who paid much more.
From the information I've been able to gather on the trim is that we have to be very cautious about not letting it get scratched. I think the pictures Treken posted speak for themselves, the trim looks very sharp in his car.

Julie, unfortunately, just "looking at it when it arrives" won't reveal anything wrong. The yellowing problem only becomes noticeable after a while.
It does indeed looks very sharp once installed BUT...just wait and see what happens in two or three years......Let's just hope "Roman" is still around to help!
...
Anyways, good luck with your kit,

Claude.

[Treken]

Re: Dash Trim for 2002 'Bird

There is alot of opinions here on the trims. I done a little more research tonight and found (in my own opinion and research) that whether you spend $99 or $135 or even $175+, it is basically the same cheaper type trim, poly or resin. As far as some dash trims for other cars that are factory trim or more durable aftermarket premium trims costing $1200 plus, they too have some wear and mismatch problems with them as well. Just google and you will see for yourself. I even found a guy that took his off and sold his used for $150. A friend of mine has a 2000 Range Rover with factory wood trim that is showing its wear now, mainly where the sun hits it the most. That is where the real problem is with most trim, and also smoking will yellow the resin or poly.
When I bought mine, I knew it was not going to be the quality of the brushed aluminum that is in the car now, which cost about $200+ for each piece, but a great match and I love the look. If there was a choice for the $1200+ premium dash trim for our car, I am not sure if I would of spent the extra.