Help fixing dashboard carbon trim

My carbon trim on the dashboard is bending and I wonder if there is a way I could remove the trim piece without removing the whole dashboard... Without removing the part, it will be much harder to glue it back together and make it 'stick'. I had great success gluing the air vent that did bend a bit too, but I used clamps and kept the clamp on for 3 or 4 days before putting the part back in. Here are a couple pictures of the problem. I really don't see how the trim can be removed without the dash

I don't know but if the trim doesnt come out easily, then don't botch it up. Think about removing the dash board so you can do a perfect job on the trim. I should imagine that removing the dash is a painstaking job but you may just have to do it that way. You might find a film on youtube on how to remove the dash board on the 996. Good luck and let us know how you go on. BTW is the carbon strip stock or a mod which someone did?

It happened to mine too! I have took the pieces out and it's sitting there. I might try to use the heat gun to make the shapes back.

St911, how did your remove the trim on top of the dash ? dashboard removal ? I had some hope as I see that particular strip at the front of the dash seems to be a separate part, I can see it plugs on top of the dash but I don't see how I could remove it without removing the dash ... or the windshield The carbon fiber trim is stock OEM, really neat looking piece. My car came with the full carbon interior, which is my second preferred feature right after the full leather interior but both seems to require care and if possible parking the car always indoor away from the sun.

I have the same issue, but with the wood trim. I've been looking for some time now, but a whole new left side dash kit is $700, and all I need is one replacement piece since it cracked. Hopefully somone on here has a cheaper solution.

The price of the part is one thing, I am ready to replace it with the base trim anyways. but the BIG QUESTION is ... how in the hell you replace this part

Ok I managed to remove the trim 0. remove the alarm sensor cover. carefull the tabs are fragile. at worst the plate can be replaced for cheap...ask me how I know.. 1. remove the A pillar for this simply seat in the driver/passenger seat, put your finger in between the A pilar and the headliner and you will feel where the pillar attach, pull firmly and it will pop, there are 4 of them 2. remove the side vent (2 screws on the side). you need to remove that piece or the trim may come off but break something from the side vent, the are interlocked together. 3. pull upward the trim, by putting your finger inside the trim vents. it require a firm pull but it will pop. BE CAREFULL, when the trim comes up it will touch the tab located on the alarm sensor base. the tabs that were holding the alarm sensor cover. just slide the trim forward to clear the tab. In the picture you can see the hook that explains why the A pillar to need to be pulled Now I need to see how I can glue it back... I'll try to sand down a bit the surface for better adhesion and clamp it for a while before putting it back on.

FYI on new part number and cost ... I will definitely try to fix my carbon fiber trim ! LEFT: lacquer 996 552 186 04 -> $130 !! leather 996 552 988 05 -> $600 carbonfiber 996 552 988 04 ->$700 RIGHT: lacquer 996 552 186 05 -> $130 !! leather 996 552 989 05 -> $600 carbon 996 552 989 04 -> $700

just keyword for me to find my thread in the future defroster removal installation diy carbon fiber repair

Wow, what a mess. I had the exact same problem but I guess I left mine in the sun a bit longer than you did. When I went to pull the trim parts around the dash it pretty much lifted right off all the way around. Ater a good cleaning I decided to leave it as is, it's just slightly discolored and given the location is almost unnoticeable.

I have the wood trim, but it would seem it doesn't matter which you have as it will eventually start to detach and warp. I looked into repairing it, but as I was taking it apart the wood was breaking apart in my hands. So, I'm having a strip made out of leather to fit the groove. Since the car is Guards Red, I'm having the strip made in red. I should be getting it back together in a couple of weeks.

the strip of leather is a good idea, please post a picture when you get it back, I assume a lot of us will have to repair those strip as they seem prone to disintegration ...

Interesting thread, thanks. I've just fixed the carbon trim on a 996 C4S. Boiling water was useful in making the trim malleable so I could remove the warping. Because it was slightly cracked, I enquired about new parts. Porsche quoted me �480 plus VAT per side - and that's trade! There is, though, the option of black plastic strips for a bargain �50 per side. I suspect you could get a carbonfibre specialist to make some for less. Needless to say, I didn't buy new ones. Cheers Phil

very interesting idea of boiling water because the carbon fiber get hard as a rock sometime. how did you proceed ? did you put hot water on a cloth on then apply the cloth on the fiber ? I put mine on the hot florida sun to prepare them before gluing and it went well. I am done with it now, not yet back on, but my main problem was that I did not remove the whole carbon fiber strip from the trim. The reason why is because on the part closest to the vent, the carbon seem to be 'welded' to the trim, I did not want to pull it as it was setup really tight for me. But without removing the whole strip I hope I will not have to do this again. One remark be super careful how much glue you apply, only a small amount is needed or you will have overspill and it needs to be cleaned up immediately, like in the second to avoid marking the leather. Also the groove in between the carbon fiber and the leather look better if they are not filled with glue. I have some spot I am not happy with but considering the location of the trim that should not be an issue. I wonder how the base plastic trim would look on a full leather car. they are pretty darn cheap. best option might be to buy those and bring them to a local upholstery shop, it is not a difficult piece to wrap in leather.

Hi Phil I found the best thing was to pouring boiling water straight onto the strip. It then went quite floppy. However, on cooling it seemed to retain some memory of the original warped shape, so I had to repeat the process several time. All UK cars have full leather, so I'm not sure what the strip would be like. In fact, I'm not sure non-carbon cars have any form of strip on the dash top. I need to look at one. If you're going to have strips wrapped in leather, probably best to give the leather shop the old ones as a pattern - they could probably cut plastic formers themselves. Phil

pouring boilling water on the leather ? I would think that would damage it ? that is gutsy

Noooo! I removed the the carbon from the car and held it over the kitchen sink while pouring the water on it!

I tried to repair the defroster trim that had dark wood on it. Didn't work well. Seems the only thing is to replace it. I have one passanger side dark root burr in black leather defroster trim if any are interested.

I was quite successful with my DIY. once the trim is fully out I took my sweet time to glue it back and keep come clamps on it for a week or so and it hold since. just make sure you put very little glue under the trim, a 1mm in the middle of the trim is max. It was hard for me to remove the excess that came on the side when I pushed the trim down. I got most of it out and anyways it is pretty far from sight so little mess are not obvious. I had taken some cool pics of the gluing but can't put my hand on them :S Anyways considering the cost of the part brand new, I think it is worth the effort

I have never understood the appeal of carbon fiber trim look over the leather? I think the leather looks much better. Seems like the CFT is a litle gaudy and f's up your dash. Can you just ditch the CFT? And,,Philoo by the looks of your MVI and Reg stickers, you dont drive your car anyway.

I LOVE my carbon fiber trim But it does get old and crack and all that over time. Mine has no crack so far thank god. But unless you keep your car garaged, you will get cracked pretty fast it seems. Anyways, you canNOT remove the carbon fiber and keep the leather only. Under the carbon fiber, it looks ugly.

That is the 'mvi' ?