I was installing my new stereo the other day and - like an idiot - I scratched the dashboard. It looks awful.



A friend of mine that used to professionally install stereos told me they used to take a torch (gulp!) and lightly toast the area to turn it black. Has anyone tried this? Does anyone know of a better or less risky way to make this not look like crap? I can't see spending probably $200 on a new one when there's probably an easy way to make it look good.

Thanks!

 

Exterior polish. I've seen guys use it on interior plastic with "fair" results. Try a real fine cut, like swirl remover and do the entire glove box door. If you dont, you'll see a shine where you applied it.

You should get most of it out, but you'll probably end up seeing a little bit of scratch when your finished. If it fails, It's new glove box door time...

 

Cool, thanks, I'll try that. FYI, it's not the glovebox door, it's the fixed piece above that.

 

If your using a swirl remover, you may have to repeat the process a couple of times to get the "rash" out, so be patient.

 

It looks like that is a plastic piece. I use Novus Fine Scratch Remover #2 on all plastics (gauge faces etc.) w/ excellent results. This stuff can usually be found locally at Fine Boat Shops. Highly recommended!

 

I scuffed up my E-brake removing/replacing that center console piece. It has a bunch of little scratches that are about 0.5mm deep. Do you think that scratch remover work on this?

 

It's possible. As stated, I'm able to get fine scratches out of plastic bezels for gauges and the plastics pieces on my 96 GT. Give 'er a go! It'll only set ya back 6 bucks or so. If you're like me, it's just another bottle in my detailing box(es.)

 

You think your's is scratched, check this out!

 

OMG! Wahappened?

 

Installed gauges- I was trying to be funny

 

Don't quit your day job.

 

wow...same thing happened to me about a year ago

i will have to try that scratch fix

oh and BTW...that piece isnt a replaceable piece...well unless you want the entire dash replaced

 

I tried the scratch remover. It took two tries, but it worked well. Thanks all.

 

can we get some after pics?

did you go in circles?

 

Where did you get that dash plaque? Ebay? If so, I personally know that guy that makes/sells them. He gave me one at a car show this year. I don't know how he got all the information on my car, I suspect through a mutual friend somehow. They are a pretty nice item, I put mine on the rad support.

 

Are you saying that the piece in this picture is not replaceable? What else needs to be replaced with it?

 

That piece unfortunatley is part of the 'whole' dash. You can replace it - if you buy used for a minimum of a few hundred dollars (I replaced mine when I changed the interior colour from gray to black).

To get scratches out, I scubbed the hell out of the area with Vim. That worked ok. Then I used a Norwex magic eraser. That worked really well for taking out scratches. I then wiped the area with baby wipes (all I had) to clean the area. Worked well.