Carbon Fiber applique
01-22-2016, 07:18 PM
#1
New Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: 04-01-2009
Location: San Antonio, TX
Posts: 26
Carbon Fiber applique
My wife thinks the interior of our HHR is dull, so I went looking for a way to upgrade inexpensively. I found 3M Di-Noc to be the solution as the custom fit appliques were expensive and the reviews were not all that great. I wrapped the Waterfall, and both front door handle/ bezels plus the darker "stripe" in the door panel that was really scratched up. Total cost: about $60 including replacing the window switch bezels because I thought black ones would look better than the gray in the car.
To do this, watch as many videos on YouTube as you can stand (search for Di-Noc and you'll find plenty. You can get the vinyl and the primer from Amazon. All of the other tools are described in the videos. I also built a "holder" for the door bezels (just a board that you can fasten the bezels to using screws in the mounting holes in the bottom of the cup)
The Waterfall will require another person the help you hold the part while you stretch the vinyl over it.
Passenger Door
Driver's Door
Waterfall
Tips: Use the hair dryer/ heat gun liberally and often.
Make sure switches fit in their holes and operate before re-assembly ( a real problem with the hazard warning switch.
This is not that hard to do but take your time. If you mess up, you've only trashed a small piece of vinyl, the part should be undamaged, try again.
I found this better than spending $250 on the pre cut parts, especially since I wouldnt use all of the parts anyway.
To do this, watch as many videos on YouTube as you can stand (search for Di-Noc and you'll find plenty. You can get the vinyl and the primer from Amazon. All of the other tools are described in the videos. I also built a "holder" for the door bezels (just a board that you can fasten the bezels to using screws in the mounting holes in the bottom of the cup)
The Waterfall will require another person the help you hold the part while you stretch the vinyl over it.
Passenger Door
Driver's Door
Waterfall
Tips: Use the hair dryer/ heat gun liberally and often.
Make sure switches fit in their holes and operate before re-assembly ( a real problem with the hazard warning switch.
This is not that hard to do but take your time. If you mess up, you've only trashed a small piece of vinyl, the part should be undamaged, try again.
I found this better than spending $250 on the pre cut parts, especially since I wouldnt use all of the parts anyway.
Last edited by Bookman257; 01-22-2016 at 07:19 PM. Reason: add info
02-01-2016, 10:16 AM
#10
New Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: 04-01-2009
Location: San Antonio, TX
Posts: 26
The door bezels are a bit more difficult, but with practice (and a failure or two) it worked out. I ordered new ebony bezels (my interior is gray) for the front, but just did the standard rear ones. Still can't figure out why the gray drivers door bezel was $40 and the black one $14. Same part, different color. I also did the horizontal strips on the door since the get scratched up. Figured that if scratches happen to the CF vinyl, I;ll just replace it when it gets bad. That part is really simple.