Piano Black Facia

[KarlFranz]

I'm considering replacing the facia (piece over the center stack) on my 07 V8V with the piano black finish because I like the look. My car is a 6-speed w/out nav. so there is only the opening for the start button and the two a/c vents.

For those that have piano black on their car, how hard is it to live with? Is it a dust, smudge, and fingerprint magnet?

Does anybody have a source for this part in the US, or is my local dealer the only way to go?

[babyvantage]

KarlFranz said:

Is it a dust, smudge, and fingerprint magnet?

Bingo! Black Facia looks great, but I couldn't with the constant daily dust and have the dealer flip it out for me.

[KarlFranz]

babyvantage said:

Bingo! Black Facia looks great, but I couldn't with the constant daily dust and have the dealer flip it out for me.

So it bothered you that much? Did you have it replaced at time of purchase of the vehicle or sometime later after living with the facia for a while? If the latter, would you mind stating how much it cost to swap out? (or PM me if you don't want to mention on the forum)

I've been wondering if I can just take the piece to a good paint shop and have them put a durable high gloss lacquer finish on it, if it would be substantially cheaper. But now you have me re-thinking if I should get piano black at all.

[bogie]

babyvantage said:

Bingo! Black Facia looks great, but I couldn't with the constant daily dust and have the dealer flip it out for me.

same here - I use my car a lot and its bad enough keeping the rest of it clean (ish) let alone having shiny black interior

Ive had the black on a Rangey before and its just not practical IMO, unless you get in, and give the car a dust before/after every drive...

..I much prefer the maintainence free metal ally (std) finish ...

[Adam2S]

Nah its not a big deal at all to maintain, I have had paino black on both my Astons and I love it, indeed I had it swapped in on the first car. I just keep a microfibre cloth in the glovebox and give the dust a quick wipe off between cleans. As long as you dont go smearing greasy fingers over it all the time (and there is no reason to touch it normally) its just fine.

The cost for the main dealer to supply and fit was around £500 but that was almost 2yrs ago now.

[KarlFranz]

Adam2S said:

Nah its not a big deal at all to maintain, I have had paino black on both my Astons and I love it, indeed I had it swapped in on the first car. I just keep a microfibre cloth in the glovebox and give the dust a quick wipe off between cleans. As long as you dont go smearing greasy fingers over it all the time (and there is no reason to touch it normally) its just fine.

The cost for the main dealer to supply and fit was around £500 but that was almost 2yrs ago now.

Adam, another owner told me he swapped his out because he had problems with sunlight reflections. Have you found this to be a concern? I do live in the "Sunshine State". Also, I wonder if the facia reflects too much onto the windscreen. I really do love the look of piano black. I just want to be sure I can live with it.

[Adam2S]

No problems at all with reflections but then I live in the UK and we have a lot more rain than we do sun!

Edited by Adam2S on Tuesday 31st May 19:22

[Zod]

Reflections aren't a problem, but it collects fingerprints and dust. I have it in my M5 too and keep a micro-fibre cloth in each car to deal with the problem.

[yeti]

KarlFranz said:

I've been wondering if I can just take the piece to a good paint shop and have them put a durable high gloss lacquer finish on it, if it would be substantially cheaper. But now you have me re-thinking if I should get piano black at all.

I had this done on my old DB7, Chiltern took the walnut panels and sprayed and laquered them. Perfect results! A replacement palnel from AM in the UK is around £800 so they're not cheap. Painting it will save you a lot of money.

Yes it gets dusty and smudgy but as mentioned above, a wipe with a microfibre cloth every now and again keeps it nice. I would hve it again on my DB9 but I have avery light interior (moonstone) and it would look wrong. Shame really.

[Simpo Two]

yeti said:

I had this done on my old DB7, Chiltern took the walnut panels and sprayed and laquered them. Perfect results!

I think this may have been the car that was on sale back in January... silver/red Vantage Volante? Sadly I was too slow off the mark.

[steveatesh]

KarlFranz said:

Adam, another owner told me he swapped his out because he had problems with sunlight reflections. Have you found this to be a concern? I do live in the "Sunshine State". Also, I wonder if the facia reflects too much onto the windscreen. I really do love the look of piano black. I just want to be sure I can live with it.

I have it on my V8V and it really looks good. It's one of the things people like when they see inside the car. Yes it gets dusty and I too keep a micro fibre cloth in the glovebox and dust it once per week which takes around 15 seconds.

In my opinion whether you can live with it or not is a personal choice balancing the appearance advantage (subjective) against the seconds it takes to keep the dust off. It's what matters to you as an individual in other words!

[yeti]

Simpo Two said:

yeti said:

I had this done on my old DB7, Chiltern took the walnut panels and sprayed and laquered them. Perfect results!

I think this may have been the car that was on sale back in January... silver/red Vantage Volante? Sadly I was too slow off the mark.

Yup - was a lovely car in perfect mechanical order, was priced cheaply as I needed to close my DB9 deal on January 31st! Happy to report the new owner is very hapy with it

[don4l]

I give mine a wipe off every few months. At the moment, it is in need of a dusting. I noticed it at the weekend, but it doesn't bother me too much. I would choose piano black in the future.

I have only had one smudge on it in nearly 3 years, and it wiped off easily enough.

Don
--

[babyvantage]

KarlFranz said:

So it bothered you that much? Did you have it replaced at time of purchase of the vehicle or sometime later after living with the facia for a while? If the latter, would you mind stating how much it cost to swap out? (or PM me if you don't want to mention on the forum)

I've been wondering if I can just take the piece to a good paint shop and have them put a durable high gloss lacquer finish on it, if it would be substantially cheaper. But now you have me re-thinking if I should get piano black at all.

I had it flipped out two days after getting my car, therefore the dealer did not charge me for the swap.

Glare was also any issue with me during certain times of the day.

Just had my car in for service today & while in the showroom noticed most of the cars with Panio Facia all where dusty and filled with fingerprints from people touching the car.

In the end, go with the look that appeals to you.

[KarlFranz]

So far what I've discovered is that this is a very divisive topic. Some people love the look on their car and are willing to put up with the maintenance involved. Others believe the drawbacks outweigh the benefits. I haven't fully made up my mind yet. I'm going to see if I can get a sample panel sprayed by a custom cycle, chopper and hotrod shop and see how it looks.

[bananarob]

Have Piano black all the way down the centre console. Had a Vantage also with Piano black, no maintenance problems.

[lady topaz]

I have had Piano Black on both of mine. Never given it a thought other than how good it looks. No reflection issues and a quick anti static wipe when necessary.

I dont think I can recall having a reason to paw it and leave finger prints on it. The ocassional drool maybe.

Di

[GlynMo]

I avoided piano black on my first 2 V8Vs, precisely because of perceived maintenance issues. My current car has it though, and no reflection issues at all, and the occasional wipe isn't an issue, even for me, who would rather be than cleaning!

[lady topaz]

Just re read this thread and blimey guys I thought I was the woman on here. Talk of oooh it gets a bit dusty and I have to wipe it on the odd occasion!!!

Its a shiny facia wiped clean in approx 30 seconds. Its no big deal.

Blimey, sounding like Michael now.

Seriously I would have thought this was the minutest of issues to worry about.

If you like it, go with it. It really is not going to cause you sleepless nights.

Di

[Simpo Two]

You'll note that the men see the dust (they are enlightened 'new men') but have no idea what to do about it...


That's why there are women