I thought I'd share some pics of my new interior. Previously I had wrapped the A Pillars, Door Switches, and Waterfall in 3m Di-noc Carbon Fiber, but in some spots the wrap was beginning to bubble up (even with Primer 94) and I had just grown tired of the look. I had been toying with the idea of switching over to suede, but I coudn't find any good examples/DIY threads so I pretty much gave up on the idea. Then I ran into Mike Berggren, who owns and runs Dark Dog Customs, at Forged's Open House. After drilling him with questions, I decided it was time to pull the trigger and go with suede.

The suede is called Synergy Suede and it is rated at 175,000 double rubs. One double rub basically means that the suede is touched once when you get in the car and once when leave the car.

Here's a breakdown of what he wrapped for me:
Upper & Lower Waterfall
Console Box
Door Switches
A Pillars
Headliner & Visors (plastic pieces painted black)
Upgraded Dome & Trunk Lights (a friendly surprise)

The quality of his work speaks for itself. I'm more that happy with the outcome and highly recommend Mike and Dark Dog Customs! The only downside is now I have to carry a lint-roller around with me





The scratches on the black plastic are from me when I took the switch off to wrap it in the Di-Noc.

 

Looks great Andy!

 

Wow, very nice!

What are your initial thoughts of suede, do you notice it gets oily from your hands and do you think this is something that would hold up over time?

 

Looks awesome

 

Looks great!However,I don't know how practical a suede would be for a
everyday driver.Also,its just me,but the marks on large areas like the headliner
would drive me nuts.It'd make me want to take out my suede brush and at least keep the marks even.I do like the color scheme.Very understated.

 

Thanks Danti, I can't wait to see yours when its all done

As of right now the suede seems very durable and I haven't noticed any oily marks on it. You can "brush" the suede in different directions, sort of like the picture of my headliner. My only real concern is for my door switches, because they are an area of high contact, but at 175k double-rubs rating I think it won't have any problems holding up over time.

Thanks dude!

Thank you for the compliments! The marks on the headliner from peope (myself included) brushing it aren't really too noticeable because my interior is all black. I couldn't even see most of the marks until looking at that picture. That being said, the suede does pick up and show objects easier (dog hair etc.), but its nothing that a lint-roller can't clean up. But you're right, it has the potential to drive someone crazy

 

Looks pretty good man!

What is your gauge pod covered in? It kinda looks like a black marble that is offered in BMW's that I have seen.

 

What did that end up costing you? It looks REALLY nice.

 

It's actually a hydo-drip pattern. I scratched the pods when I took them out to wrap the waterfall in di-noc and I decided to have little fun with them. It's not the classiest pattern (it has skulls in it), but whatever


Thanks man! Pm'd

 

Reminds me of when I had my headliner done. I LOVE the smell of fresh suede! I didn't roll down my windows for weeks to keep that smell in, lol.

Just a suggestion...
Have you thought about adding some stitching to the suede to match your seats? I think something like that would add a little more detail to your center console. I see you have the newer door panels as well. Maybe doing that small leather area with suede and stitching like your seats would add a nice touch to tie in all the interior?

 

Looks good man. I have thrown this idea around for a long time now. But I keep thinking the whole dash as well. What are your thoughts on that?

 

i just wanna rub it.









































"thats what she said"

 

Uhhhh I love the smell too! When I first dropped my car off and was talking with Mike, I told him if he wanted to do some stitching, go for it but if it was just easier to wrap it without, that was cool too. I hadn't thought of that small leather area, but now that you mention it...especially if I get matching stitching done...hmmm

Thanks I know the whole dash can be done, but its like a 9 hour job though, I think bmccann101 has his dash wrapped. After seeing my center console, I would love to get it done.

 

Looks great OP!

I agree with the others that some stitching could set it off, but overall, it looks like a really well-done job. My one rule for interior mods is whether they look factory quality or not and yours definitely does.

If you ever do the "door cards" (the pieces that are currently leather), you should make a pattern. No vendors currently sell them for 06+ door panels (except thezstore, but theirs are only OEM colors).

And I've done some parts in suede (headliner, B pillars, strut bar cover, etc...) and after a while, you stop noticing the handprints and such. Eventually ou realize that it is supposed to look like that.

 

One of the best features of this treatment is that the big, bright, ugly air bag warning signs on the sun visors get covered up. Your interior now looks like the Alcantara interiors of Ferraris, Lamborghinis and high end Porsches. I like the subdued color and lack of extra doodads, shows restraint, class and good taste. Who would thunk that could exist on this forum. I kid, I kid, everyone (excepting me) is classy here.

 

Thanks! I actually got the idea of stitching from your center console. From the size and shape (no crazy bends) of the "door cards" I would think that getting those covered would be fairly straight-forward. I'm really interested in them now.

I wasn't too sure where that was going at first, but thank you! I definitely agree with you in that less is more. And don't worry, you'll get there, just take baby steps to being super classy like everyone else on here

 

Awesome thanks. Stitching sounds like a good idea as well. Me personally I may stick with just suede though. By sure yet. My boo and wheel do have red stitching on black suede though. We shall see.