All, my MY02's silver-ish panel is dirty/faded, and the silver paint on it kind of looks terrible as it's all stained and uneven after all these years.

I got a nice black panel instead from a MY08 from Majestic, as the shipping on my TCT was kinda high ($20) and so I got this panel for $80 along with a crank bolt (will be doing a SOS SC soon, may as well have a bolt if I need it).

This is more than just 2 screws and sliding the panel in/out, as the steering wheel and signal/wiper stalks are in the way

It looks like I'll have to drop the steering column to get the panel out (just doing the wheel isn't enough...and I already replaced it doing with another one as the leather was ragged).

Any interest in a DIY thread??

 

Pic of new panel...and yea that's a Kindle with the service manual in PDF on it

The part is only sold with the vents. $80 or so for the part, but each vent is sold as a ~$34 part too...if it were sold separately it would be a ~$15 part and a no-brainer. So, it is kind of expensive, but for a part you see every day that is one of the things that makes your car look old, it's worth it IMO. The AP2 panel is finished pretty nice; it's not paint from what I can tell. The 00-01 was black also (used to own a MY01) but this panel looks better...and not because it's just new. I had considered the MY02 silver panel too, but I know within 2 years it just won't look good (as I had a MY03 at just 1 year old and it looked bad, too).

 

IIRC, the installation instructions for Qube's LED dash has the relevant steps to take that piece out + install it again

 

wow, thanks!

 

That can be removed and replaced without dropping the steering wheel. It takes some care, tape, and force. You will need to tape the lower coners and force in. It is way easier to remove than to put it back in.

I have done this 2 times for the same reason. The first time was to pain the bezel gunmetal - the second time was to paint it to match my Silverstone.

 

any itips on pulling out the dash?

 

The area that creates an issue is the center where it is deep. The plastic is pliable enough to deform it to work it out. It takes a little time and effort.

 

All,
I did this last week.

Dropping the steering column enough to get the panel out took all of 15 minutes.

My car now looks MUCH better on the inside

 

Did the same on mine not too long ago! Looks way better than the silver.

 

I've been meaning to do this because mine is a bit scratched.

Did you use the 02 controls? Any pics of installed?