New Switch Panel

[MrC]

I want to replace my slightly tatty switch panel on the central console of my V8S (same as S3/4). Any ideas on how to get the thing off? I also fancy updating some of the switchgear with some of the aluminium stuff off of the later cars, so if anyone has done a similar thing, let me know. Cheers!

[LeeBee]

There should be 2 screws at the rear of the tunnel cover and maybe? 2 at the front, undo these and pull the cover up at the back and move it back at the same time.You should now be able to see underneith which will reveal 4 10mm nuts on the back of the switch panel, undo these and the panel will come off.Refitting is the reverse of removal (sounds like a good ol' Haynes manual!! ) Cheers Lee

[GreenV8S]

quote:There should be 2 screws at the rear of the tunnel cover and maybe? 2 at the front, undo these and pull the cover up at the back and move it back at the same time.You should now be able to see underneith which will reveal 4 10mm nuts on the back of the switch panel, undo these and the panel will come off.Refitting is the reverse of removal (sounds like a good ol' Haynes manual!! Cheers Lee

Helps to stick it in fourth gear to give more clearance around the gear lever, careful you don't yank the wires off the window switches when you move the console and be prepared to spend some time reattaching the fresh air ducts to the vents afterwards. Watch out for those funny plastic tubey things attached to that other funny light bulby thing, they are optical fibres for the switch illuminations and are quite fragile. Cheers, Peter Humphries (and a green V8S) ">

[MrC]

Thanks a lot - easier than I thought. On a similar subject, how about removing the veneered strip on the door panel?

[speedsix20]

And the dash panel ?

[GreenV8S]

quote:Thanks a lot - easier than I thought. On a similar subject, how about removing the veneered strip on the door panel?

Removing the door lining is a job you should wish on your worst enemy, it involves working through the speaker and ashtray holes to unwind a very long screw using finger tips. Not difficult, but make sure your nearest and dearest stay away for a couple of hours afterwards. Don't remember how the trim is attached to the door lining but I expect it will be screwed or glued and can be removed somehow once you have the door lining off. Worth a try anyway. Cheers, Peter Humphries (and a green V8S)

[s3 bob]

quote:Thanks a lot - easier than I thought. On a similar subject, how about removing the veneered strip on the door panel?

It's held in place with about 5 small nuts - about 6mm. At last, a use for those tiny sockets you get in cheap toolkits!

[Roy C]

From memory (and excluding the swearing): The door "card" is held on by a screw on the outside and a nut on the inside. To get to the nut, you remove the speaker and put your forearm through the speaker hole (usually removing skin in the process). Full details in Steve Heath's book. The wood veneered strip is actually a "D" section metal tube with a slot along the flat side to take bolts which fasten it to the door card, with the nuts on the reverse side. I never liked the wood effect strips (the only wood in my S2 apart from the glovebox handle, which I covered in vinyl to match the dash), so I covered it in carbonfibre effect plastic (Foliatec?).

[Paul V]

On of the previous owners put that carbon look stuff on one side of the car, obviously to much hassle to do both, I was thinking of using something red to go with the interior (grey leather, red piping and black carpet) does anyone have suggestions on what to use?

[speedsix20]

I was told that, if you take off the wood-effect paint (wet & dry paper/paint stripper ?) thedoor strips, which are apparently made of alloy, would end up with a nice polished alloy finish. Haven't tried it though.

[LeeBee]

Correct You do have to polish it though! Edited by LeeBee on Friday 20th April 22:49

[macwalsh]

Paul, Foliatec do "Cockpit vinyl" which is like a sticky back plastic in a range of colours. They also do aerosol paints specificaly for car interiors. Try their website - www.foliatec.com - I think

[Paul V]

Ok I’ll have a look, I might see if I can polish the alloy, if that doesn’t work to well I’ll try some of the sticky back plastic stuff.

[macwalsh]

Let me know how you get on with the polished alloy look - sounds good Cheers Andy

[s3 bob]

I stripped my door trims back to the alloy finish - looks far better than chipped walnut effect paint! (imho). Paint came off quite easily and with a coat of car polish they still look good two years later.

[MrC]

I'm going for the alloy look also and am currently pricing out the latest Griff aluminium switchgear to replace the 70s black plastic switches and Fiesta collumn stalks - should make a vast improvement

[LeeBee]

Get yourself Steve Heaths new bible and check out my car for such items .Bear in mind though that the column stalks on the S (Sierra) are not the same as the griff ones (Vauxhall) and will not fit without a lot of work!

[MrC]

I was planning on replacing the Ford stalks with the Vauxhall ones (must be loads of Astras breaking for spares)