Scratched Center Console... Help Needed!

Spartan 1771 · 06-12-2010, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tjlazer

What I've found for this type of stuff, you can use your fingernail to remove some of the scuffing. You can also carefully use some sand paper to smooth it out and don't go too fine as you will remove the textured finish and it will look bad. Maybe try to fine tune the sanding in the areas where the scratch is with your finger/fingernail under the sandpaper rubbing that area. Just work slow and see if you can get it looking better. I did that with my G35 and it worked pretty well on the interior which looks exactly just like the interior of my 370.

If not then no loss and just buy a new one!

What grit sandpaper do you recommend?

Trips · 06-12-2010, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spartan 1771

What grit sandpaper do you recommend?

80

kenchan · 06-12-2010, 08:51 PM

i would recommend no sand paper and use a rounded end of a plastic handle (small screw driver, scissors handle, sharpie pen) to push down on the scratches.

kfscoll · 06-12-2010, 10:57 PM

To the OP -- don't use sandpaper on it. YOU WILL SCREW IT UP and you'll be sorry you messed with it. Just take it to a pro and for less than $50 they'll re-dye it and you won't be able to tell it was ever damaged. If you go at it with sandpaper you'll ruin the textured look of the console and it'll be tougher (if not impossible) for the interior guys to make look as-good-as-new.

A professional fix for this is so cheap it's not worth trying a DIY fix.

tjlazer · 06-12-2010, 11:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spartan 1771

What grit sandpaper do you recommend?

I used 1000 grit and was very gently and it turned out great. Mine was some scratches on the door panel. Not sure if this will help in your situation.

jpit · 06-13-2010, 12:04 AM

I scratched the same part while working on a new head unit (although not quite as bad).
Used a product called Plexus, has a great reputation in aviation for getting rid of scratches and for polishing plastic and fibreglass. Worked great.

Spartan 1771 · 06-13-2010, 12:21 PM

Everyone:

Thanks for your help. I'm going to bring the car to a custom shop one day thise week. I'm going to start there. If they can't hep, then I'm going to see what I can do to remedy the issue.

Again, thanks for all the great suggestions!

kenchan · 06-13-2010, 12:37 PM

yah, just get a replacement.

pedZ · 07-23-2011, 06:50 PM

I just had this same exact problem. Not as bad as the OP but there will still some small scratches that were noticeable. I used an ultra fine tip Sharpie on the scratches and it worked really well. They are barely noticeable now. As I marked the scratches with the Sharpie I would immediately wipe it away so that the amount of ink that is applied is very little.

Vlamison · 10-18-2012, 06:07 AM

I know this been an year thread but i bet yall still have yalls. So last night i installed my gtr start button and scratched at the same place on the picture here. I got a hear dryer and heat it up where the scratches were till it was really hot. Then i scrubbed w my figer with a rag. It went away. U will know when its hot enough, if it doesnt go away its cuz its not hot enough. It wont melt trust me. Also domt try sharpie it wont work and it looks horrible.

Spartan 1771 · 10-18-2012, 08:15 AM

Thanks, but I had this fixed professionally sometime ago.

simota1 · 10-18-2012, 03:33 PM

X2 with the hair dryer trick man i f-uped my back panels a lil and i did it look great after

Nak4mura · 01-21-2013, 05:03 PM

Alright I tried many of the mentioned solutions here and these were my results.
1. Sharpee - dotted and rubbed works okay for a very minor but not great and doesnt work for anything large
2. Hair Dryer- I used a heat gun and for any decent scratches you have to heat a decent amount and it leaves the result a little glossier than the rest of the area and it can/will melt the plastic

3. *Shoe polish= ******WINNER****** Ding ding ding*** wish I would have tried this before all the previous... But now none of you will make any mistakes.

I used a $2.50 can I purchased at wal-mart and just rubbed it on with a microfiber towel heres the before and after:

After

XwChriswX · 01-21-2013, 05:29 PM

I have a small scratch in mine from removing the console trim as well... Glad to see this worked for you. Did you put anything over it as a sealant of some sort?

Gonna go get a can next time I'm there.

Nak4mura · 01-21-2013, 08:59 PM

No nothing over it just rubbed it in and called it good I will wipe the area tomorrow with something white to make sure that nothing comes rubs up but when I checked it right afterwards with the orange microfiber towel it was good. I will try to keep an update as time goes on

06-12-2010, 10:57 PM	#34 (permalink)
kfscoll Base Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 86 Drives: 09 370Z BS T/S/N 6MT Rep Power: 15	To the OP -- don't use sandpaper on it. YOU WILL SCREW IT UP and you'll be sorry you messed with it. Just take it to a pro and for less than $50 they'll re-dye it and you won't be able to tell it was ever damaged. If you go at it with sandpaper you'll ruin the textured look of the console and it'll be tougher (if not impossible) for the interior guys to make look as-good-as-new. A professional fix for this is so cheap it's not worth trying a DIY fix. __________________ 2009 Brilliant Silver 370Z 6MT coupe w/ Touring, Sport, and Navigation packages

06-13-2010, 12:21 PM	#37 (permalink)
Spartan 1771 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Western Maryland Posts: 1,280 Drives: Wife crazy & 09 370Z Rep Power: 105453	Everyone: Thanks for your help. I'm going to bring the car to a custom shop one day thise week. I'm going to start there. If they can't hep, then I'm going to see what I can do to remedy the issue. Again, thanks for all the great suggestions! __________________ ~Rob -DD Air Guide, Stillen G3 CAIs, 63mm Throttle Bodies, Motordyne M370, Berk HFCs, FI TDX CBE (non-res, CF), Sprint booster v3, Ecutek Dyno Tuned, and the list goes on...

07-23-2011, 06:50 PM	#39 (permalink)
pedZ A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Southern California Posts: 3,366 Drives: 11 Tour/Spt/Nav/6MT Rep Power: 27	I just had this same exact problem. Not as bad as the OP but there will still some small scratches that were noticeable. I used an ultra fine tip Sharpie on the scratches and it worked really well. They are barely noticeable now. As I marked the scratches with the Sharpie I would immediately wipe it away so that the amount of ink that is applied is very little. __________________ 2011 Brilliant Silver Touring/Sport/Nav/6MT --- Build Journal F.I. SS 18" CBE \| Takeda CAI \| Z1 25-Row Oil Cooler \| Swift Springs \| Hotchkis Sway Bars \| H&R 15mm DRS Spacers F&R \| RJM Clutch Pedal \| UpRev Tune

10-18-2012, 06:07 AM	#40 (permalink)
Vlamison Base Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Frisco,Texas Posts: 20 Drives: 370z sport package Rep Power: 12	I know this been an year thread but i bet yall still have yalls. So last night i installed my gtr start button and scratched at the same place on the picture here. I got a hear dryer and heat it up where the scratches were till it was really hot. Then i scrubbed w my figer with a rag. It went away. U will know when its hot enough, if it doesnt go away its cuz its not hot enough. It wont melt trust me. Also domt try sharpie it wont work and it looks horrible. __________________ Stillen G3\|Berk HFC\|Top speed pro1 exhaust\|Bc Br coilovers\|SPC camber & toe\|Evo-r fog light\|Gtr start button\|Z1 15mm&20mm spacers\|Blue led all around\|Plasti dip fangs, diffuser & emblems\|35% tint\|Redline 75w90\|Motul-85\|Eibach sway bars\|

10-18-2012, 08:15 AM	#41 (permalink)
Spartan 1771 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Western Maryland Posts: 1,280 Drives: Wife crazy & 09 370Z Rep Power: 105453	Thanks, but I had this fixed professionally sometime ago. __________________ ~Rob -DD Air Guide, Stillen G3 CAIs, 63mm Throttle Bodies, Motordyne M370, Berk HFCs, FI TDX CBE (non-res, CF), Sprint booster v3, Ecutek Dyno Tuned, and the list goes on...

06-12-2010, 08:51 PM	#33 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141520	i would recommend no sand paper and use a rounded end of a plastic handle (small screw driver, scissors handle, sharpie pen) to push down on the scratches.

06-13-2010, 12:04 AM	#36 (permalink)
jpit Enthusiast Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Washington State Posts: 440 Drives: 370Z Tour MT w/Spt Rep Power: 16	I scratched the same part while working on a new head unit (although not quite as bad). Used a product called Plexus, has a great reputation in aviation for getting rid of scratches and for polishing plastic and fibreglass. Worked great.

06-13-2010, 12:37 PM	#38 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141520	yah, just get a replacement.

10-18-2012, 03:33 PM	#42 (permalink)
simota1 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2009 Location: Dededo, Guam Posts: 6,642 Drives: solid red 370z 6mt Rep Power: 404	X2 with the hair dryer trick man i f-uped my back panels a lil and i did it look great after __________________ *TOP SECRET/POWERHOUSE AMUSE/ARC/DAYTONA RACING/VARIS/MINES/GANADOR/J-LINE/WORK EMOTION CR KAI/GT SPEC/CARBON SIGNAL/ZOOM ENGINEERING/ CARBON FIBER ELEMENT/STILLEN/*

01-21-2013, 05:03 PM	#43 (permalink)
Nak4mura Base Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Puyallup WA Posts: 48 Drives: 2009 Nismo370z Rep Power: 12	No more B.S. heres the straight answer Alright I tried many of the mentioned solutions here and these were my results. 1. Sharpee - dotted and rubbed works okay for a very minor but not great and doesnt work for anything large 2. Hair Dryer- I used a heat gun and for any decent scratches you have to heat a decent amount and it leaves the result a little glossier than the rest of the area and it can/will melt the plastic 3. Shoe polish= ***WINNER** Ding ding ding* wish I would have tried this before all the previous... But now none of you will make any mistakes. I used a $2.50 can I purchased at wal-mart and just rubbed it on with a microfiber towel heres the before and after: After redline727 and Glambutang like this.

01-21-2013, 05:29 PM	#44 (permalink)
XwChriswX WFLYIDNNE Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: In The Fastlane Posts: 50,648 Drives: 02 GDB WRX Rep Power: 451	I have a small scratch in mine from removing the console trim as well... Glad to see this worked for you. Did you put anything over it as a sealant of some sort? Gonna go get a can next time I'm there. __________________ Bonnie - Stage 2, Audio build coming this fall! R.I.P. Abby 3/29/10 - 3/30/14

01-21-2013, 08:59 PM	#45 (permalink)
Nak4mura Base Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Puyallup WA Posts: 48 Drives: 2009 Nismo370z Rep Power: 12	No nothing over it just rubbed it in and called it good I will wipe the area tomorrow with something white to make sure that nothing comes rubs up but when I checked it right afterwards with the orange microfiber towel it was good. I will try to keep an update as time goes on

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