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You sure your defroster trims and center speaker are covered in leather? They look different than what mine were... Yours have no stitching. Maybe they did two different tiers of leather???
Good eye! I was going to mention that these parts are not wrapped in leather. I double checked the parts catalog and the description for the part number for the defroster trim was "Defroster trim Leather" and the model code was "I981". For the center speaker cover, there are 2 different part numbers: one for I981 and another for unspecified model. I obviously picked the one for I981. I checked the parts themselves and they do bear the correct part numbers stamped on them. I also checked the 981 Spyder parts catalog but it only showed the same parts. I now have to believe that the defroster trims and center speaker cover actually wrapped in leather must be some kind of special order items and not available in the parts catalog.
On the other hand, their texture looks pretty consistent with the leather and they are pretty much out of sight. I am okay to proceed with them.
The parts are all here! Now I have to wait until it gets warmer to bring the car in for the installation.
The following is the weight of each part:
981 552 101 20 A11 (dash) - 10 lbs 3.2 oz
981 552 021 00 A11 (cowl) - 6.2 oz
981 552 375 00 5Q0 (defroster trim L) - 4 oz
981 552 376 00 5Q0 (defroster trim R) - 4 oz
981 552 151 01 5Q0 (center cover) - 3.6 oz
The total weight is 11 lbs 5 oz. I will weigh the original parts once they come out and report.
The install of the leather dash is done! I picked up the car from the dealer this evening and am so happy with the end result. I will post some pics in this weekend after I cleaned the car.
In the meantime, I weighed the original plastic dash and cowl and they were 12 lbs 13 oz. If I add the center cover (3.6 oz), the total weight will be slightly over 13 lbs vs. 11 lbs 5 oz of the leather dash. It has been confirmed that the plastic dash IS heavier than the leather dash.
And thank you very much for taking the time to weigh the parts before changing them out. I was fortunate enough to get a factory tour last month and based upon the leather trim assembly process I was confident the rubber parts would weigh more but alas without actual weights it’s conjecture. So now we know, full leather weighs less than the standard interior. Obviously not enough to really impact anything but for the naysayers that argue leather weighs more we can at least put that argument to rest.
That’s huge improvement IMHO, definitely worth it. Enjoy it.
Pictures definitely do not do justice for the full leather interior, the visual upgrade and the wonderful smell really does create an upscale vibe to the cabin.
BTW, my original black Slush Technology (plastic) dashboard with cowl is for sale. The part number is 981 552 101 10 DK4 and the list for new is $2,406.78. I will let it go cheap for those who may want to change their beige dash to black or make a custom leather dash out of it. PM me if anyone is interested.
I will let it go cheap for those who may want to change their beige dash to black or make a custom leather dash out of it.
Nice gesture!
We've joked in the past about how great the leather aroma will be once you get the new dash installed and now that the install is complete I'm wondering if the smell of the leather dash is definitely noticeable, slightly noticeable, or really not that noticeable at all. Just curious.
We've joked in the past about how great the leather aroma will be once you get the new dash installed and now that the install is complete I'm wondering if the smell of the leather dash is definitely noticeable, slightly noticeable, or really not that noticeable at all. Just curious.
I would say "slightly noticeable". Not as noticeable as I hoped but it is definitely there. My guess is that it would be more apparent if it was the natural leather option.
By the way, the funny thing is that the plastic dash has more pronounced leather-like grains stamped on it than the real leather dash. The plastic dash may look more like leather than the real thing to an untrained eye.
I have kept forgetting to post this pic for quite some time. The last time when I went to a dealer, I saw a 718 S with a leather cowl on plastic dashboard sitting in the showroom. I didn't know such a config was available from the factory. It didn't look as out of place as I thought it would be.
Meh, go for it. Cheaper than buying a different car. I dropped more than that on X73 and FVD exhaust and you can’t see either of them. (But you can feel them/hear them.)
I beg to differ ....although the X73 is not actually visible, what it does is very noticeable to the eyes and one of the best options available for aesthetics and performance
if I was gonna drop over $3-4K on mods, suspension and exhaust would be top of the list.....but if the OP wants a leather dash that is his prerogative
what ever makes YOU happy is the key
03-15-2019, 11:34 AM
Now I have to wait until it gets warmer to bring the car in for the installation.
Obviously not enough to really impact anything but for the naysayers that argue leather weighs more we can at least put that argument to rest.
