Has anyone re-finished interior trim w/CF?

mugatu22 · #1 (**permalink**) 10-31-09, 06:16 AM

Hi, I am new to the forum (reading but not posting) and considering a CTS-V. One of my major hang-ups with the car is its interior trim quality. This is a personal opinion and I do not care to debate with anyone whether you believe it's "ok" or not, I'm simply looking for an answer to the following question...

Has anyone refinished their interior trim pieces, either with true replacement carbon-fiber pieces or with laminate over the original pieces? Coming from several Euro forums, I've seen amazing quality laminate CF finishes applied over stock trim pieces.

Particularly bothersome to me are the fake "carbon" trim pieces in the CTS-V that are clearly a sticker/applique that looks more like a silver/black micro checkerboard rather than carbon fiber.

The black Obsidian trim looks like it will scratch if you sneeze on it, so I'm curious about refinishing that as well. Having owned several GM cars, I'm familiar with their interiors and how the wear (unfortunately).

Any pics or feedback from people who have refinished their CTS-V trim pieces are appreciated. Cheers.

tedcmiller · #2 (**permalink**) 10-31-09, 10:20 PM

I might mention that the "carbon fiber" trim in the 2009 CTS-V contains the ambient lighting. If you cover this up completely with some sort of refinsh or an overlay, you might lose all of your ambient lighting.

mugatu22 · #3 (**permalink**) 10-31-09, 10:54 PM

Thank you for your response. However I'm not following what you mean. In the photo below, the faux carbon-fiber pieces that run below the climate controls & on the dash seem to be solid pieces of plastic w/the applique over it. Are you saying these pieces are lit from behind? The trim pieces would be removed, re-finished, and replaced.

BTW here is a photo of refinished CF that I'm talking about. Started life as Mercedes burlwood, was laminated to look like real carbon fiber, not a silver/black checkerboard sticker...

GMX322V S/C · #4 (**permalink**) 11-01-09, 12:00 AM

The fake CF pieces are injection molded plastic. The ambient lighting light pipes are separate assemblies that emit their light through a gap underneath the pieces. I really don't care for the CF look in this car--fake or not, so I replaced mine with the Sapele wood trim.

mugatu22 · #5 (**permalink**) 11-01-09, 12:35 AM

GMX--right on, thank you for the info.

Do you have any photos of your interior trim pieces installed? Sapele wood certainly sounds nice, would like to see the finished product.

bk000 · #6 (**permalink**) 11-01-09, 12:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GMX322V S/C

The fake CF pieces are injection molded plastic. The ambient lighting light pipes are separate assemblies that emit their light through a gap underneath the pieces. I really don't care for the CF look in this car--fake or not, so I replaced mine with the Sapele wood trim.

I don't care the CF look either. Can you post some pics of your car? Who did you buy the replacement wood trim from?

Gary Wells · #7 (**permalink**) 11-01-09, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bk000

I don't care the CF look either. Can you post some pics of your car? Who did you buy the replacement wood trim from?

X2. I don't want to appear as a disgruntled poster on someone else's thread, but I would not do CF, real or replica. I would also like to see pics. I would of rather seen black anodized aluminum, brushed, polished, *engine* turned, or anything other than the polished black plastic.

cbloveday · #8 (**permalink**) 11-01-09, 01:31 PM

Her is an option for those wanting to "dip" their pieces.

http://www.hydro-dip.com/index.htm

tedcmiller · #9 (**permalink**) 11-01-09, 02:26 PM

muguta22OK,
Your idea of fake carbon-fiber and mine apparently different. I thought you were referring to the strips that run along the top of the dash above the AC vents and door handles, not something below the climate control panel. Sorry.

mugatu22 · #10 (**permalink**) 11-01-09, 04:27 PM

It's nice to know I'm not the only one who stares at the fake CF and scratches my head. It's the weakest part of an otherwise very nice interior IMO.

The hydro-dip is one option I've looked at. The results are pretty amazing, and apparently it's very durable.

Still would like to see PHOTOS of the gentleman's car w/the wood trim installed.

radix · #11 (**permalink**) 11-01-09, 11:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mugatu22

It's nice to know I'm not the only one who stares at the fake CF and scratches my head. It's the weakest part of an otherwise very nice interior IMO.

The hydro-dip is one option I've looked at. The results are pretty amazing, and apparently it's very durable.

Still would like to see PHOTOS of the gentleman's car w/the wood trim installed.

I assume he was talking about the Sapele wood trim that is available on on the '10 models perhaps available on earlier model base models ??)

anyway pictures of the optional wood trim for the v2 on this thread - http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums...ilability.html (Sapele Wood Trim availability)

mugatu22 · #12 (**permalink**) 11-02-09, 01:10 AM

Excellent photo, thank you.

Is it just me or does that wood trim completely change the look of that interior? It's shocking how low-rent the silver/black checkerboard print "CF" is IMO.

That Sapele wood elevates the V's interior quality & class 10x, nice!

Tony407 · #13 (**permalink**) 11-02-09, 01:39 AM

I much prefer the look of the fake CF trim to the wood. Not that I wouldn't like a better looking CF trim, but I'd take it to the wood any day! At least in the V2 with black interior that is.

Tony

GMX322V S/C · #14 (**permalink**) 11-02-09, 05:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mugatu22

GMX--right on, thank you for the info.

Do you have any photos of your interior trim pieces installed? Sapele wood certainly sounds nice, would like to see the finished product.

Sure, no problem. Didn't mean to sound like I'm dissing on your interest in CF, it's just not my cup o' tea for this car. I can post pictures, but I'm iPhoning it right now so it may be awhile. In the meantime, you might want to check out the regular CTS forum--they're bound to have pictures of the Sapele wood trim. Note that I am not talking about the Midnight Sapele wood trim, which is what I really want, but can't find without having to buy the whole door skins ($$).

PS: Mugatu, would you happen to be an original Star Trek fan?

GMX322V S/C · #15 (**permalink**) 11-02-09, 05:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bk000

I don't care the CF look either. Can you post some pics of your car? Who did you buy the replacement wood trim from?

Will post after I get back to my laptop, but if you've seen a regular CTS interior, you've seen what I'm running. Ordered the parts through my dealer, but they are also available from gmpartsdirect.com or Luke/Lindsay Cadillac could probably source them for you as well.