Nav bezel scratches - Cheap, easy solution!
 

Let's all join hands and go to our safe place, where no one is ignored.

Fortunately, my car doesn't need this, but your solution appears to be a good one.

Great job! this is exactly what I've been looking for. sign me up for the kit.
BTW, I tried looking into # 2 option but what Im understanding is that they don't just sell the bezel, you have to buy a whole Navi screen.

Are there any precut seams for the corners?

Nice solution. Mine is still in good condition, but It's only a matter of time......

Maybe put a layer of clear satin wrap on yours to protect it from getting damaged!

You're asking if there is a way to hide the seam in an already-existing panel seam, right? I wish there were a way.

I played around with this for a while and I couldn't come up with any solution that did not involve the edge of the film showing. You can wrap the entire top portion of the trim (everything above the vents). That leaves a single horizontal line across the unit just above the vents, but this is 10x harder and it seems to accentuate the slight color difference. You can also run a horizontal strip of about 1" just at the level of the area that is scratched, but the horizontal lines on the far sides then draw the eye. You could also wrap everything, top to bottom, but that would cover the vent flow symbols.

Making the film follow the lines downward from the buttons and then in a curve that mimics the natural curves of the panel seems to be the least noticeable, at least to my eye.

Buy 5' of the film and go wild, experimenting with what works best for your tastes. It's cheap, kinda fun, and relatively easy to work with.


If, however, you're asking about a template or such for the curves at the bottom, let me see if I can scan my template into a PDF file... I'll follow up momentarily.

Here's the template I used. Be sure to print it at "ACTUAL SIZE".

The bottom edge sits just at the top of the vents and the sides line up with the edges of the button panels.


I made a quick video, but it will take me a little bit to get it uploaded.

What an awesome idea LexRex...

My old one was very scratched and faded, so bought a newer one from yahoo auctions japan...

Old one:
https://i66.tinypic.com/23mpkb9.jpg

new one:

https://i67.tinypic.com/69nnr8.jpg

Either way that color match is nearly perfect, and its nice of you to have made a template!

Thumbs up!

Yann.

BRAVO. Simple and easy! Looks awesome man.

Fantastic work. The scratched bezel is the only visable flow in my 04. I have replaced, fixed, every flaw except one. I have ordered the film and look forward to doing the procedure. Can;t think you enough for this very reasonable solution. Very well done, my man!

very nice, this def should be included in FAQ for our cars

Thanks-My 2002 81,000 mile LS is perfect with no deferred maintenance-except for the bezel. Mine is not in bad shape at all, but the OCD in me wanted to find a solution and you have provided it! Just ordered the wrap and printed the PDF and hope my 69 year old eyes will allow me to do as good as you have done with the installation.

Thanks again!

I'm confused. When I use the link for "3M 1080 Matte Graphite Metallic (M211) Vinyl film , I get "3M 1080 Matte Metallic Charcoal Air-Release Vinyl Wrap". In you video you call the wrap "Graphite". I can't find the Matte Graphite Metallic anywhere on the web. Did you actually find and use Matte Metallic Charcoal? If so, can you help me find that so I can order some. Your video shows a really good color match and I want to do the same thing and not order something that is not the color you used. Thanks.

You're right. I made a mistake. The link is correct. It should be charcoal. M211 is the specific model number you should look for.

I've been researching color codes to refinish a steering wheel, trying to find a decent match. So the words "charcoal", "graphite", and such have been swimming in my head lately. Sorry for the confusion.

Thanks for the quick reply. I ordered and received the charcoal and am anxious to get to work on the project today. Knowing virtually nothing about vinyl wrap, you video is excellent in providing all the questions I had about applying vinyl..

Nice solution to the problem you had.

I installed mine today and it looks great!

I installed the vinyl wrap in my 2004 UL today. Looks really good. The video really helped me in knowing just what was involved in the project. Many thanks to LexRex for a most useful post. Delighted with the results!

I'm in on this one. Need to eventually do this.

I did it. Looks great, and took less than 15 minutes. I would say to also have a pair of tweezers handy, to pull off any small slivers.

Will the JDM console work after plug in? The car now speaks Japanese? LOL, probably not but interested in what happened to it after your installation.

Looks great. Best idea for not having to repaint or replace the entire unit. The picture does still reveal a seam on both sides, but only the owner would notice. Great Job! PS. Fortunately my bezel is flawless so no need at this time for correction.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.clu...74c8049333.jpg

Fixed mine today. Didn't do a perfect job like you but good enough. It is finally looking great!

Another way of doing it, if you want to try broader coverage without a template...

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.clu...1a2a0ee53c.jpg

i will have to do it that way since there are scratches on the side of the buttons also. i hope mine turns out ok, lol.

awesome fix
 

Did this today. I love vinyl wrap, its so forgiving unlike window tint. Came out pretty good.

My fix
 

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.clu...8a2b3c881.jpeg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.clu...85ec9f6ef.jpeg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.clu...6264f47d7.jpeg

looks awesome

I ended up having to do this to make mine look better. It looks like the picture above. SO I got the repair kit and making the template was the most challenging, I like the curved look better. But the issue is the corners in by the nav screen keep peeling up.
Those who have done got any secretes you'd like to share? It does look so much better. Thanks to the original poster for taking the time to do this and post it.

Dave

Does anyone have the missing (deleted?) details on vinyl wrap to do this repair?

3M 1080 Matte Metallic Charcoal Air-Release Vinyl Wrap Roll (1/2ft x 5ft)

Thanks! Any idea what the template looked like? The curved portion looks tricky. I’d be tempted to use knifeless tape and do it in two separate pieces.

Team. As the video attached to this awesome repair method is no longer available could you please advise if the bezel needs to be removed / disassembled to apply the vinyl film or ic can be done on the assembled one?

No, the bezel does not need to be removed. I suggest you have a sharp Exacto knife, to trim out the edges, careful not to cut the plastic bezel. You WILL mess it up at least once, so be prepared for that, I did. The hardest part for me was forming the corners, at the bottom of the nav screen. I used a hair dryer to soften up the vinyl, and pushed it down with my finger. That is the trickiest part. If it doesn't sit just right, I put a slit in it, to help it form properly.
Good luck. I did mine a long time ago, and it still looks great.
Steve Q.

Thanks Steve. That helps a lot! I was afraid I will be forced to unscrew everything from the bottom to the top to get the bezel out