Hi. I got scratches on my center dash panel as well as the shifter cover, so I`m looking for a replacement. I thought they are all the same, but when I start checking them out, it turned out that I was wrong. In the courtesyparts.com the center dash panel has the same part number for 03-07 350Z. But i heart they are different colors, and probably different shapes too.
I got 04 350Z with black interior. Which dash panels will fit mine? How does they classified (years and colors)?
What about the cubby? There is one with the button, there is one with a little kind of a switch, there is one with the navigation...

 

Never mind getting replacements. Go out and get a can of Dupli-Color Vinyl and Fabric Flat Black. Match is so close you won't notice any difference.

Check it out, I did mine.

BEFORE



AFTER



Here's the color match comparison shot



My lower console was scratched all to hell as well - now is all good



If you have to get new, send courtesy an email about it - the different colors has to do with the trim code on your car which is on the sticker on driver's side where the door closes.

I painted mine (no prepping other than cleaning with soapy water) about 3 weeks ago, still looking good.

I purposefully painted the silver trim rings around the gauges, AC controls and the shift boot. All that comes out real easy if you don't want to go for the black out look.

 

Thanks! I`ll try to do that also!
After the paint dries out, does it leave any dirt on your fingers when you pushing the button or touching any painted surface?

 

No dirt or smudging. I did sand the push button for the cubby door release and all the bumps are gone but I put my wallet and phone in there a couple times a day and it still looks good, no chipping, or anything like that.

Also, I did it on a nice warm sunny day and let the it sit in the sun a bit so it was good and dry before I put it back together.

One thing i did notice is that it's a little rougher to the touch. Later on I used some polishing compound and a soaked t-shirt to rub out the bumpiness on top of the gauge housings and the depressed areas in front of the gauge lenses. That helped alot but I did not try it on the textured surfaces, I figured at that point, it was a bit late and it wasnt all that bad anyway.

However, If I were to do it over again, I would experiment with a soft bristle brush, polishing compound and water, like in a spray bottle, before I painted it, just to confirm that I could use the polishing compound on the textured surfaces (with brush and water) after painting and then be able to clean it all out. Using a brush may be overkill, just using the same cotton t-shirt for all the surfaces would probably provide an overall improvement as long as it could be successfully cleaned out of the texture.

If it doesnt come out while softly using the brush, then more effort should get it out and then you would know it's not a good idea to use it after painting. Even though the paint stuck really good, I would be reluctant to go at it with a brush afterwards.

 

lbz

Kudos to your paint job, looks better than stock.

 

Thanks. I blacked out ALL the silver trim except the door releases and the wiper / blinker controls.

The stock shift **** was a bit of an experiment, came out kinda ugly, replaced it after this pic with the black aluminum nismo, much cleaner.