Alcantara wrapped console
07-19-12, 05:21 AM
#16
Acantara is utrasuede. Which is a spun polyester material made to look like real suede leather. It's extremely durable and resistant to stains and mildew. It is also very easy to clean.
It is VERY inexpensive and I always laugh to see how expensive Alcanara parts are. I have suppliers that carry 50-70 different colors that price out at about 4-5 dollars a yard. That's 4-5 dollars for a 54" x 36" piece. I have even bought it china direct for about $2.50 a yard.
You can go to a fabric store or furniture store and buy it cut yardage. You will find different thicknesses and quality of it. Good Alcantara/Ultrasuede will look the same on both sides. Cheapos have a knit on one side and suede on the other and will be thin and flimsy.
You won't find prices this cheap at these stores as they sell retail and the price is higher.
It is VERY inexpensive and I always laugh to see how expensive Alcanara parts are. I have suppliers that carry 50-70 different colors that price out at about 4-5 dollars a yard. That's 4-5 dollars for a 54" x 36" piece. I have even bought it china direct for about $2.50 a yard.
You can go to a fabric store or furniture store and buy it cut yardage. You will find different thicknesses and quality of it. Good Alcantara/Ultrasuede will look the same on both sides. Cheapos have a knit on one side and suede on the other and will be thin and flimsy.
You won't find prices this cheap at these stores as they sell retail and the price is higher.
07-19-12, 03:46 PM
#20
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Thread Starter
Thanks everyone for all your comments, glad you like it. The more I drive the car and look the more i'm pleased with the result. It would be a very expensive option to try and replace the side trims as the whole unit including the armrest mechanism and storage compartment come as one.
I think slimjimtel got it smack on. The material I brought from Ebay for £12, and I think its good quality. I removed the console and and glued the alcantara using a fabric glue spray, same as an aerasol. Again the adhesive was very inexpensive.
IceIridium, removing the whole unit was not too hard, but time consuming. Remove the console trim, ashtray and stereo/sat nav inc CD changer. You then need to prise the rear airvents from the back of the console. The whole rear panel including the rear airvents/ ashtray will come off in one. This will reveal two screws and two wires. Unplug and unscrew these. You will see two screws of the same size in front of the arm rest and directly under where the CD changer was. Bright silver, you will see them straight away. Once everything has been unscrewed (6 bolts) and the plugs taken out, 3 including the light in front of the armrest, pull the whole unit out towards the rear seats. It will simply un clip and come away. I then sprayed the glue onto the parts and fabric, trimmed the material and folded it over to full cover the console on both sides.
Hope this helps. I hoping to have a go with the glovebox over the weekend. Just trying to work out where to tuck the material
I think slimjimtel got it smack on. The material I brought from Ebay for £12, and I think its good quality. I removed the console and and glued the alcantara using a fabric glue spray, same as an aerasol. Again the adhesive was very inexpensive.
IceIridium, removing the whole unit was not too hard, but time consuming. Remove the console trim, ashtray and stereo/sat nav inc CD changer. You then need to prise the rear airvents from the back of the console. The whole rear panel including the rear airvents/ ashtray will come off in one. This will reveal two screws and two wires. Unplug and unscrew these. You will see two screws of the same size in front of the arm rest and directly under where the CD changer was. Bright silver, you will see them straight away. Once everything has been unscrewed (6 bolts) and the plugs taken out, 3 including the light in front of the armrest, pull the whole unit out towards the rear seats. It will simply un clip and come away. I then sprayed the glue onto the parts and fabric, trimmed the material and folded it over to full cover the console on both sides.
Hope this helps. I hoping to have a go with the glovebox over the weekend. Just trying to work out where to tuck the material
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amilkar350
IS - 2nd Gen (2006-2013)
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09-21-12 01:12 AM
