workhurts

So, I'm in the process of changing out some trim to Alcantara plus perhaps painting a few pieces here and there. Chances are it will all look like crap when I'm done but I enjoy experimenting ...

Anyway, for those of you with Alcantara (glovebox or anywhere else ... steering wheel/knee trim) is there any cushion to it? Our vinyl has a bit of give to it.

What's the plan of action here? Strip of the vinyl and glue on the Alcantara or is there something else that needs to be done. I can't imagine applying the Alcantara over existing vinyl.

Thoughts?

Bruce In Philly

I love Alcantara..... post your results!!!! I think two-tone seats with the center panels in say a black alcantara look fantastic.

Google "Porsche Alcantera Seats" and check images.... nice....

https://www.google.com/search?q=pors...=1832&bih=1160


Peace
Bruce in Philly

SF911TT

Thinking down the road for you, here's some good Alcantara cleaner

blakecam

Thanks for the link on the Alcantara cleaner. I have been looking for something like this.

As for Alcantara, my car has 30K+ miles, and Alcantara seat inserts, steering wheel, parking break handle, headliner, etc all look like new.

workhurts

Already have gt3 seats in there with the alcantara inserts. That's why I want to do the entire lower dash.

Bought a globe box and parts under the steering wheel off ebay. Can source real alcantara for about $100 but have no idea what to do with it.

Georound

For the last couple of weeks, I've been applying Alcantara to many of the interior parts.
Most of the parts, I just put over the leather. There are two types of Alcantara, panel and seat. The panel is thinner and more pliable, but shouldn't be used for seats.
The parts with leather stitching, I haven't messed with like the sides around the radio and the door armrests.
Glove box was easy. I covered over the leather on most parts. Other lower parts of the dash were pretty easy. Steering column surround was more difficult and the console was a pain with all the complex curves. I did need to make a couple of cuts that I'm going to stitch with red thread.
I bought a yard and a half of remnants and a full yard. Didn't need the full yard. Only thing that I might still do is the A pillar covers. I used 3M 77 spray adhesive.

Smitten

Is that permanent or can you reverse it?

Chaos

Pics pics pics

Old Guy

Blakecam, would you have us believe that your steering wheel is still fuzzy? Our GTS, coming up to 35000 miles, has a steering wheel that is almost as smooth as the proverbial baby's butt. Otherwise, seats, etc., are all still A-OK. What is NOT A-OK is the stitching on the driver's seat door side bolster. The threads are starting to fray. Looks bad.

blakecam

Old Guy, are you saying that I would lie about it just for kicks?

Georound

Well, after a few days to cure, I'm not sure. Initially, the material would pull off with some effort and Acetone would remove adhesive...and some of the soft touch paint if not careful. It felt a little like rubber cement. Might be a differnt story now. I'll get some pictures up. Not totally professional, but saved a couple of grand in parts by doing it myself. All started when a cell phone magnet with double sided tape pulled the paint off my leather glove box lid!

workhurts

To glue straight to the vinyl/leather or remove. Anyone remove the leather to add alcantara?

I got some samples and I'm thinking I need some padding under it or the original vinyl. It's pretty thin stuff.

Old Guy

Hey, if your steering wheel is still fuzzy, great. I believe you, even without photos. Just recounting our experiences: the M3 Alcantara steering wheels go pilly before eventually shredding. Our M3 is on its second one. As I said, on the GTS the texture is all gone...wheel is smooth, even shiny here and there. My layman's opinion is that our body chemistry and how moist our hands get while driving must make a difference. Intense driving probably increases the issue. On the M3, for autocross and track days I wore Nomex driving gloves and on longer highway drives I wore leather BMW driving glovers. None of this an issue yet for the "virgin" GTS, but even when driving events start, the wheel is already smooth...not much in the way of Alcantara suede surface left to preserve.

Georound

This 9002 Alcantara. Four evenings, 2 small cans of spray adhesive and about $100 worth of remnants.
The surround for the steering wheel needs to be reglued.

CosmosC4S

^^^