E21 Project Thread - Part 2
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So I got the ellipsoids all sealed up with newly painted trim rings and adjusters installed.

Next thing was deciding what to do with the empty high beam holes. Can't install the lights since the intercooler charge piping goes through it. I decided to take some chicken wire I had laying around and making mesh inserts with the high beam trim rings.

Paint them black and they are good to go.

Then came the scary part for me. What did I get myself into?!?!?!

Following a tutorial on r3v, I disassembled the passenger e30 sport seat first to see how hard it was. Wasn't THAT hard, but still a lot of little things to get wrong. I cleaned up all the vinyl with some prep cleaner and tested the vinyl dye in an inconspicuous spot. I chose a Walnut brown as tribute to my old e21 seats. First test coat is light, but it will darken up with every extra cost applied. I think it's gonna look great!


To be continued.....
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I am using a professional leather/vinyl dye called rub-n-restore (giggity).
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After some trial and error on the passenger seat, here is what 4 coats looks like.

After 3 coats it still had streaks from the cellulose sponge they say to use, so I blotted a 4th coat on. This helped a lot! There are still a few spots that need touchup but overall way better than wiping it on. I will remember that for when I do the driver seat. What a difference!
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Yeah this is the first set I've done. They are actually the ones I bought from you a few years ago.

haha wow that was a while ago!
the seats look great so far. it looks like the seat back vinyl absorbs the dye too? i might have to get some of that stuff for my ugly green leather recliner
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haha wow that was a while ago!
the seats look great so far. it looks like the seat back vinyl absorbs the dye too? i might have to get some of that stuff for my ugly green leather recliner
Bassboy3313 said:
Yeah this is the first set I've done. They are actually the ones I bought from you a few years ago. [emoji106]
Thanks! Yes the dye will soak into the vinyl. It is guaranteed not to peel, chip or rub off either. It would work great on your recliner for sure.
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It was getting super intense. The pants had to go!
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So I'd like your guy's opinion on what you think the interior should look like in my car. I have decided on putting carpet back in so I have a color decision to make.
As of right now this is what it is .... no carpet, black door cards, black dash, brown seats, tan headliner
This is what I am thinking, comments? ... black carpet, black door cards, black dash, brown seats, tan headliner and maybe some brown floor mats to tie in the seats
What do you guys think it should be? Keep in mind that I can always replace/dye the door cards or headliner if it would look better in a different color.
Open to all your creative imaginations!!!
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seats need to match the door door cards like stock e30s. get some that were the same tan color as the seats and dye em the same way.
black dash (there is no option there) black carpet and black headliner.
brown and black look great together. putting tan in there too will clutter it all up.
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The base material color does not matter when using the dye that I have. Whether the base color is black or tan, the brown will still turn out the same shade with complete coverage. Here is what the door cards look like (although mine arent as shiny).

Now would a two tone look best with black on outer and brown on the inner "stripped" section or would 100% brown look best? Examples below.

Then I take it people agree to dye the headliner black instead of keeping it tan?
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Which door card?
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If you put speakers in your door like that I'm deleting your number from my phone
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We're talking about color here, not speakers. Stay on subject! Ay ay ay!!!!
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Only problem I see with two tone on your door cards is you'd have to mask the stripped section off and I wonder how clean the lines would be.
this. the e30 had some factory door cards with two-tone, but it worked because it was stitched in that way.
and for your headliner, you could probably leave it tan, no one notices headliners. its like when people obsess over a crack in the ceiling of their house. no one sees it but you, because our eyes arent on the top of our heads.
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