My 2002 R53 has some fairly scratched up down tubes. Has anyone found a decent cover for these, besides the $100 leather covers? Or maybe there is a better way to resurface the existing tubes? Any help is appreciated, thanks!

 

this is my idea

just a random google for an image. http://www.carbonfiberfilm.com/

i plan to do my door handles too to match.

 

Worked for me!

I got mine at a local vinyl shop though, just called and asked if they'd sell me a 2x3' sheet. It was about thirty bucks, cheaper than online and no waiting. I used about half that for the dash and tubes if I recall.

 

we need to find someone that gets this stuff and do a group buy.

in person does this stuff look real?

 

It doesn't look like the glossy "wet" carbon fiber stuff I've seen in person, since it has a matte finish. It looks pretty good though. I don't know if you'd fool anyone into thinking it was actually CF, but it's pretty sharp nonetheless. There's a better picture of the stuff in the daylight on my boot handle.

 

Whoa, that looks really good! I like that you did the dash as well. My 02 has that weird brushed-in texture that never looks quite right. In fact, I thought it was just wax build-up at first, heh.

I don't know if I'd go with the carbon fiber design, but doing the whole thing in vinyl is a great idea. I'll have to look around and see what shops near me could do something like this.

 

i really like that brushed plastic finish its classy. i planned to only cover up the other cheap plastics with CF.

 

For those who have never seen this stuff in person seach 3m Di-Noc and at the 3m site there is a place to get a free sample. Granted it is only about 3'' x 6'' but you get to see it first hand.. The site will also tell you who distributors are and if you know someone with a business license you can buy it direct from the distributor. Still not cheap but...... Then find 4-6 people to go in on it...

 

I did the 3m Di Noc, I loved the way it looked, but once the weather started to get cold, I found it to not adhere to well, so i removed it. I actually liked it better then the JCW carbon Fiber dash I had. I re painted, my down tubes and the entire dash with Black hammer paint, pretty happy with the way it came out, when I get bored with this, I may just have it all done in leather.