Damned AC buttons-- a fix???
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Lifetime Rennlist
Member
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 2,676
Likes: 542
From: Seattle, WA
Go to car-part.com and buy the whole replacement. Ask for a pic and try to get 2008 model year cayman, Boxster. Switched to all black non rubber coating, nothing to peel off.
My total cost was $150 or so shipped.
My total cost was $150 or so shipped.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 372
Likes: 56
From: Spokane WA
The picture in post #77 pretty much tells the story for me. The original button is far more refined if you ignore the pealing rubberized coating. The new part is IMHO not even close in quality and the finish is embarrassingly bad.
If your going to the trouble of pulling the buttons out why not remove the coating completely and re-coat with a semi gloss or satin black lacquer? I did this with the plastic kick trim at the base of the door opening on the drivers side recently and it turned out better than the factory finish. Lacquer dries quick and flows out like glass. Worrying about the indicator symbols seems a bit lame as well. If you can't remember which is which you've got bigger problems. Just sayin....
If your going to the trouble of pulling the buttons out why not remove the coating completely and re-coat with a semi gloss or satin black lacquer? I did this with the plastic kick trim at the base of the door opening on the drivers side recently and it turned out better than the factory finish. Lacquer dries quick and flows out like glass. Worrying about the indicator symbols seems a bit lame as well. If you can't remember which is which you've got bigger problems. Just sayin....
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 77
Likes: 0
I don't know about that thing but my previous owner changed it on my car.
It looks something placed(bonding or glue)over the button but it looks a lot cleaner than you guys.
Again, I have no idea but you guys should do more research.
Look mine.
It looks something placed(bonding or glue)over the button but it looks a lot cleaner than you guys.
Again, I have no idea but you guys should do more research.
Look mine.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 135
Likes: 0
From: San Mateo, CA
It's really interesting how wildly different the views are on the quality of these switches. I wonder if the production variance that wide or if it's just a question of how each person views the expected quality relative to their own standards. Mine shipped recently and I'll make sure to post some high quality macro shots of the switches either way.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 982
Likes: 100
I guarantee you that if I took a **** in my car it would look better than if I took a **** in my toilet. But it's still **** in my car.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 135
Likes: 0
From: San Mateo, CA
cheers!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 982
Likes: 100
See, to me the **** would look better in the toilet, because that's where it's meant to be. Something similar happens with this switches, if you look at them once installed, from a regular distance, they look OK (that's how they are meant to be), if you take high def close ups, you will probably see a lot of bad details, but I can't think of a single situation where my eyes are going to be that close from the buttons inside my car LOL. When I placed the order on their website, I saw the full size pictures they post, and I could get the idea of what I was going to get, so I'm happy with the results. If I were expecting a 100% replica of the original buttons, I would have been disappointed, but they don't advertise that.
cheers!
cheers!
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 66
Likes: 5
From: Toronto, Canada
I have to say their website was quite misleading if you ask me. Their promo photo (Above) never showed any weird 3d printing grooves all over the switch, the finish looked smooth. However, their instructional video (Below) which was only uploaded recently shows what the finish truly looks like.
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Instructor
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 141
Likes: 0
From: Tampa, FL
this is not good. when the website says "With a factory like matt black finish..." I would think you would get something that looks as good as 'like new' factory switches. When I get mine I will install but I will also be working to refinish my factory ones
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 1,258
Likes: 188
Bit unfortunate. Didn't read whole thread but I'm guessing these are 3D printed?
They don't look good imho.
I have to say even their promo pic looks bad. You can see the irregularities in the finish in the one in the box and grain in the one in the foreground.
Well, benefit of this thread is to warn people of what they will actually get.
Also, I will say that if this is a slightly cheaper solution, it may not help if or when someone is reselling the car. Cutting costs on an item like this (which will be noticeable to at least some buyers and definitely to the ones who look closely) may cause people to wonder what other costs were cut...
They don't look good imho.
I have to say even their promo pic looks bad. You can see the irregularities in the finish in the one in the box and grain in the one in the foreground.
Well, benefit of this thread is to warn people of what they will actually get.
Also, I will say that if this is a slightly cheaper solution, it may not help if or when someone is reselling the car. Cutting costs on an item like this (which will be noticeable to at least some buyers and definitely to the ones who look closely) may cause people to wonder what other costs were cut...
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 982
Likes: 100
I have to say their website was quite misleading if you ask me. Their promo photo (Above) never showed any weird 3d printing grooves all over the switch, the finish looked smooth. However, their instructional video (Below) which was only uploaded recently shows what the finish truly looks like.
Ya they look a lot better installed! 😏
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 122
Likes: 3
I have to say, mine look GREAT in the car. Much better than OEM, because they were peeling! When you take a high-res picture close up (like I posted before), it doesn't look as good. But I am a very happy customer-- an huge annoyance is gone.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 982
Likes: 100
Ric-ko, putting aside whether you are happy with the product, would you agree that my photos accurately show the quality of the finished product?
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
Bit unfortunate. Didn't read whole thread but I'm guessing these are 3D printed?
They don't look good imho.
I have to say even their promo pic looks bad. You can see the irregularities in the finish in the one in the box and grain in the one in the foreground.
Well, benefit of this thread is to warn people of what they will actually get.
Also, I will say that if this is a slightly cheaper solution, it may not help if or when someone is reselling the car. Cutting costs on an item like this (which will be noticeable to at least some buyers and definitely to the ones who look closely) may cause people to wonder what other costs were cut...
They don't look good imho.
I have to say even their promo pic looks bad. You can see the irregularities in the finish in the one in the box and grain in the one in the foreground.
Well, benefit of this thread is to warn people of what they will actually get.
Also, I will say that if this is a slightly cheaper solution, it may not help if or when someone is reselling the car. Cutting costs on an item like this (which will be noticeable to at least some buyers and definitely to the ones who look closely) may cause people to wonder what other costs were cut...
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 122
Likes: 3
my buttons
VERY glad I did it-- the buttons drove me nuts every time I got into the car. Now I do not notice them at all.