Instrument Bezel Just Arrived, Now What?
 

I have been one of the members who has been unhappy with the look of the plastic aluminum instrument bezel cover. I've painted the fuel temp gauge black and am happy with the results (yes the cover can be pulled off easily and painted). I ordered ($70 from dealer) and have received the instrument bezel. As you can see it is a one-piece part.
Now there are two objectives. the first is to investigate what options are available and decide what to do with covering or painting the instrument bezel. Specifically the two sides with the aluminum look. I purchased the carbon fiber shifter ring and love the look. However I'm not married to having the bezel covered in CF. I'm fine having it painted black.
The second objective is to investigate how complicated will it be to remove the bezel? Does the panel between the steering wheel and bezel need to be removed. Has anyone removed the instrument bezel? Can the bezel be pulled out without having to remove the panel in front of it?
Suggestions, recommendations.
Thanks.
Cheers.

wait, the brushed aluminum looking bezel is actually plastic? Guess I never paid attention enough to notice :ugh2:

:rofl2: not just you. 99% of the people dont look at that trim.

Tagged, I'd really like to paint all my silver pieces a dark gunmetal.

What trim? :confused:

The ugly silver Fuel gauge piece can be removed easily? As in pull straight back and it snaps out? I guess it's time to look at the FSM, but I doubt it shows that level of detail.

yah, per another member he yanked it off with a tug. there's only snaps (per his post).

but we're not talking about the fuel gauge here. we're talking about the outer cluster trim where only two people noticed.

Yeah I see the pic but wanted clarification on the fuel gauge, not trying to hijack thread.
Thanks, I'll search.

Every time I've considered painting my silver interior trim pieces a different color I realize that if I do some, I have to do them all - and that seems like a marvelous pain in the ***. If it was a show car, sure (it's all in the details). But in a daily driver that barely ever even has passengers it just seems like the juice ain't worth the squeeze.

I simply don't like the fact that that bezel has a brushed finish.... It's a detail that has always bugged me. That is the only brushed aluminum piece in the entire interior. Just sticks out. I'm interested in this. If it's fairly easy, I'd like to paint mine. Either match it to the black door switches or something similar...

I've sent e-mails to CF fabricators including EVO-R to see if the carbon fiber bezel were possible. There are actually only two pieces on the bezel that need CF and they are removable via screws from the back. I'm not a fabricator but compared to the other things that are being CF'd for the Z this would seem like a doable product.
The issue, for me, is the installation. It requires removing the "steering wheel column mask" which is not a problem, but after that the instructions go fuzzy. The upper part of the column mask is what needs to be removed to separate the bezel. According to the service manual in IP-19, the instructions and picture do not provide enough of an explanation (for me) to follow. If one of our resident experts who know this section of the car could walk us through it I think the instrument bezel installation could become a doable DIY. However, I believe there's enough room between the bezel and the column to have a product similar to the CF shifter ring to overlay the bezel and slide into place (but I could be wrong).
In the end, if CF isn't possible, I'll paint the wings bezel black to match the rest of the interior and remove the lipstick that should never have been there in the first place.
Cheers

Here's one of the aluminized bezel covers removed from the instrument bezel I purchased. It is plastic, and cannot be pulled off while the bezel is in place. The two covers are held in place by a couple of screws and clips. Therefore, access would require removing the steering column cover.
However, I believe a Carbon Fiber cover can be constructed for each side and drop or slide into place with the two-sided tape like the shifter ring and radio cover, etc. The piece does not have to be more than a few mm's near the steering column cover, just enough to so the driver does not see the plastic.

CFelement, EVO-R, ConceptZ, Carbonsignal, etc. I can send you the instrument bezel to use as a mold. Any takers?

We bought a whole interior set once we started selling the interior kit 3 years back, so we can do test fitments on all the items shipped out. We did this weeks back once we posted on the other thread, its just been busy with other projects so couldn't post it here, will do it today or tomorrow and people interested can offer it as well.

And no need to open the whole piece if anyone wants to use ours as it will be clipped on the existing one :)

Carbonsignal, we are very excited about purchasing the CF bezel from you and are looking forward to a very high quality product.
When you said you were going to post the CF bezel today and tomorrow in your most recent post, did you mean today or tomorrow, or can this post serve as a friendly reminder? Looking forward to the reveal!

Ok pics are old not sure if we posted on other thread for these. And we made a prodcut which sits on top of silver one with holes cut and wrapped it in carbon but resin as in pics is not sanded, it must be lying somewhere in the shop after current projects can sand and clearcoat it and post pictures.

If guys who need it and there are atleast 5 people committing then we can offer these as a GB

This side piece without holes done

http://www.the370z.com/attachment.ph...1&d=1394683924

http://www.the370z.com/attachment.ph...1&d=1394683924

With holes cut for adjustment button and warning lights still not sanded and clearcoated.

http://www.the370z.com/attachment.ph...1&d=1394683924