Scott Kinnebrew

So... the bezel that surround my dome light in my 2002 996 Targa fell out the other day. The plastic around the mounting holes which the mounting screws pass through dry-rotted and fell apart.

The part number is 996.555.557.07-A03

The 07 at the ends designates the Targa version vs. the Coupe or Cab

The color code A03 is for the black interior

It's $437 from Vertex Auto

https://www.vertexauto.com/roof-lini...-p-306969.aspx

The same part in Stone Grey (color code C53) is $104

https://www.vertexauto.com/roof-lini...-p-306970.aspx

Aside from the novelty humor - I am posting to see if anyone has any bright ideas on where I might be able to find a black one for less what it costs to feed my kids every month. I've tried a few dismantlers, like dcAuto and LA dismantlers. I suppose I need to try that route a little harder. I'm just trying to understand how the color can be $333 difference.

I've also tried a ton of other parts places (like Pelican and the usual dealers that are popular parts dealers ie. Suncoast) and it's all some close variation on the same problem. I guess that are all pulling from the same database... anyway- any help would be greatly appreciated.

Scott

gnat

Be glad you don't need the leather version...

Scott Kinnebrew

LOL. Is there a leather version? Actually, now that I think about it, is that one the leather version? There aren't any that are more expensive- I know that. I can't find anything the distinguishes between plastic and leather.

Paul Waterloo

Do you mean this part:



I have the grey spec one on the right, replaced it with the leather one on the left.

If you want it, I'll give it to you for shipping. I painted my center horseshoe with the following paint, the one on the left, it used to be Cashmere in color, now it's absolutely perfect black:



This is the paint I used....I still have it, but don't really want to paint it for you also! Find it at a local auto body supply place and never look back. It's awesome paint.



Let me know if you want it.

Paul Waterloo

Or do you mean this part? There are a bunch on ebay.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/01-Carrera-9...lZn29o&vxp=mtr

AnthonyGS

SEM interior primer, paint, sealer etc. is your new best friend. They have YouTube how to videos. Buy grey and make it black for $15-$30 and 15 minutes of time.

dan_189

I've found the same thing A03 - $$$

Black is not cheap

I remember a member on here buying one from a dealership in Greece or something for $15~ almost fell off my chair.

Problem with painting it is there's so much soft touch black everywhere in the interior.

Although that doesn't sit near anything so you could get away with it.

Atrox

Black plasti dip match is very close to factory black trim. I did my center console.

Scott Kinnebrew

Paul, thanks for looking, but I think the first one is for a Cabrio and the second one is for the Coupe. The Targa piece is specifically for the Targa. However, buying a different color and painting it may be the way to go. That paint turned out pretty good. I'll see if I can find it. Thanks again.

cds72911

Paul Waterloo,

Thanks for the tip. I picked up a can of that paint from a third party seller on Amazon. I'm hoping for the great results you got.

When you redid your parts, did you strip the soft touch material down to the bare plastic before you painted? If so, what worked best for you? Alcohol, Acetone, etc? Did you use an abrasive like a 3M pad or steel wool?

I'm trying to change my scratched up metropol blue console to black to match the new interior I put in and this seemed like the lowest cost route to go if it turns out half as nice as your work did.

Thanks!

Paul Waterloo

As I recall, I cleaned it very well with dish soap and water in the kitchen sink first, rinsed it very well with hot water and then scuff it ever so slightly with a "greenie" from the kitchen that had some miles on it, so it was not too abrasive. Then about 3 or 4 coats of paint. I'm not a great painter, but that paint is fantastic.

It's about 2 years later and it looks exactly the same.

wyovino

I painted the piece around the tiptronic shifter with Plasti-dip. It had the soft-touch paint. I just cleaned it with soapy water and then painted it with black plasti-dip. I applied Dip Coat from Dip Your Car.com which removes the tacky feel. It looks and feels more like leather than the factory soft touch did.