Back in another MR2 - Hi everyone

[Magic Beans]

Might help the handling too Either way they're one of those little "How the hell did everybody miss this one?!" gems you get on eBay from time time

[aj.extreme]

Been a few months tucked in the garage whilst the weather has been wet and cold and i've been really busy in the pub with xmas and new years so now the rains held off for a few days i rolled her out today and cracked on ticking jobs off the never ending list i've written for myself. Not too much more to do really, hoping to have her back on the road come March ready to get too some meets and head too some shows. Anyway heres a quick pic update of my days doing's!

[aj.extreme]

Firstly part of the retrim done, decided to ditch the alcantara and go with leather with a dark red double top stitch. Much easier to work with. First things first strip the covering from the cubby box covers and measure up some 3mm scrim as i wanted a padded feeling to the leather





Same to the centre console and dash although you can cover right over these once they have had a good degrease

[aj.extreme]

The cubby finished in alcantara......decided i didn't like this




Finished Cubby Box and console in leather....... now thats better

[aj.extreme]

Cubby Box and console done it was onto the dash, i did have my reservations and it was by far a harder job then i had first thought lol

-Degreased the whole dash and removed all vents, trim, everything i could see that was attached was removed
-Carpet glue all over and on with the scrim, trim round and tidy it up
-Then more glue and on with the leather, carefully pushing into all the corners and curves

[aj.extreme]

Then had to get this lot



Back in here...........lol



oh and whilst the dash was out thought it would be a good time to wire in the EDFC for the Superstreets

[aj.extreme]

After a few hours it was all back in, i did have a handful of screws left over though.......









Its not 100% perfect but for now will do until i get the car completed then can come back and get the little bits finished that are gonna bug me, like ill fitting vents and further trimming here and there to get everything to fit as it was. Overall though it looks awesome in the car and once all cleaned up and seats put back will give the interior a whole lift......HAPPY DAYS

[aj.extreme]

Also attended to the front end and treated her to a pair of Raybrig Fogs that i was selling. Didn't think they would suit the front end but after a bit of playing around found then to look spot on!

[aj.extreme]

So whats left to do over the next few weeks

- Clean the interior, clean the seats, carpets etc
- Fit the EDFC motors
- Get the front drop links fitted correctly, been using a set of Avensis ones which fit the Teins but need a little tinkering with to fit 100%
- Fit the headlight shrouds
- Wire the sub back in behind the passenger seat
- Charge the battery
- Go for a drive!

But i've yet to wet sand and polish the new paintwork, still looking dull so this needs doing but is a good few weekends worth of work so will wait for better weather!

[Magic Beans]

Nice work with the re-trim, I can appreciate how much work it was to do

What swayed you from the Alcantara? Worried about durability? The Ultrasuede I was to do mine is good but white's a nightmare. It's not nearly as hard wearing as the Alcantara in my 1 Series though.

[aj.extreme]

Cheers it has been a hell of a job, gonna put the door cards on hold for a while until the rest of the work is completed. Easy enough getting it all out and back in but just TIME CONSUMING lol

What swayed me from the alcantara? Cant really comment on the durability as never had it long enough to test but it came down to the look, the cubby box came out good but once i'd done the centre tunnel and put it back in the car to see how it looked i thought "hhmmmmm not sure" so removed and set out down the leather route, plus i opted for some red stitching which suits the theme

When i was in the test purchase phase i brought some samples, one genuine alcantara with all the credentials and one faux alcantara at a fraction of the cost. To the eye very little it in but the genuine article was by far a superior product which had the proper backing and would have no doubt been an easy fabric to work with. I opted for 3metres of the faux stuff at £6.99/metre but found it very difficult to work with. The genuine fabric i found was £30 per metre, last of a roll that the guy was selling cheap

You get what you pay for springs to mind!

[Magic Beans]

Yup, I agree. I couldn't find it in white, which is why I had to opt for the other option. The leather and stitching will look spot on when the interior's finished.

Maybe an LED modded heater too?

[aj.extreme]

yeah maybe lol, a whole new can of worms

Already replaced the led's in the buttons to red but would like to get a nice illumination across the control. Got my mind set on a digital dash 1st though

[Magic Beans]

Well if you do need one and you need someone to make one..

[synXero]

Nice job with the retrim

Rhon (of the gaiters) was kind enough to sell me her own cubby box retrimmed in black leather with red stitch, similar to your own. I keep meaning to get the transmission tunnel done but I really doubt I could do it myself!

[aj.extreme]

Cheers for the likes, it really is coming along nicely now. The retrim was a PITA but well worth the effort, give it a go, if you mess up a 2nd hand tranny tunnel is pennies so nice to climb in with the smell of fresh leather

Been a bit stumped with all the snow over the last week so nothing else going on but i have started thinking about my next little side project

Clues..........Replace these



With.........THESE

[Magic Beans]

Do it!

[aj.extreme]

Already started, love it when boredom strikes



Might have to keep this one top secret

[Magic Beans]

Forget secrets, share

[synXero]

I've got myself a retrimmed centre tunnel from Alan, together with the gear gaiter, handbrake gaiter, and cubby box it really changes the quality of the interior. Much nicer contrast with the plastics (which I've done in pearlescent black anyway).

I'm looking to get a dash retrim in black leather and red stitch, too. I suppose I'll be going to Steve. No time really to attempt it myself

Re your new dash - the guys who are making me my exhaust have a car that's been fully rekitted with Defi gauges in the dash. I'll get a pic for you when I go up there to get my car back if you like!