Lan-Trim gearshift console reconstruction

deQuincey

deQuincey

Quousque tandem...?
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these cars are so easy to fix, simple materials, Wood, metal, leather,...

got this central gear shift console from ebay



just remove nails, and peel off the covering



the problem is that bits from the Wood came off too, a pity, wood was partially dissintegrating, so i ahd some of the shapes with really big dents, a challenge, cos if you do not redefine the shapes the upper leather layer will show all the imperfections



so i had to redo the Wood, using wood mastick in excess and then a file and sand paper to redefine all tiny details






it has been a long time, recovering all the bits, including chroming, anodizing,...i chromed the steel supports and the all round plate that fix the gearshift boot, i reanodized the upper aluminium trim plates, extremely delicate pieces, if you break a support, you must find another one,...



leather and a new plastic zip almost the same as original











 
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Excellent job. How did you get the material/vinyl to follow the contours of the wood frame so very well ? I see no bunching or folds as I would expect if I had attempted such a job.

Really very nice.
 
EggUK said:
Excellent job. How did you get the material/vinyl to follow the contours of the wood frame so very well ? I see no bunching or folds as I would expect if I had attempted such a job.

Really very nice.
Click to expand...

material is leather of the best quality, thus pretty thick, i used impact glue, is impossible to take pictures of the process or the work will be ruined

using a nylon and small wood sticks to define shapes and sharp contours
 
vraned said:
Beautiful work, as usual.
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Your work looks better than 9/10 restoration shops I know of in New England.
Imagine what this would cost if you paid $75/hour! Great work and a great inspiration to us shade tree folk.
 
a rough estimate, i would say...

100 euro the console core w/shipping
1/2 hour to dissasemble
2 hours to repair the wood
1/2 hour to cut the leather and sew the boot
1/2 hour to sand finish the aluminium trims
30 eur to chrome/ anodize the metal parts
5 eur the decal
1,5 hours to glue the leather
1 hour to finish assemble

135 euro plus 6 hours @60 eur (360) = 495 eur

no, i can not pay such a big ammount of money i prefer to make it by myself
 
extremely nice work deQ! this is the way that BMW should have done it originally. thank you for chronicling this process. we all have something to live up to.

i have been looking into the same thing - doing research with finding the right black leather - that is thin enough and the right color / finish (sheen / texture). these things vary greatly.
 
deQuincey said:
a rough estimate, i would say...

(snip)
135 euro plus 6 hours @60 eur (360) = 495 eur

no, i can not pay such a big ammount of money i prefer to make it by myself
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Can I send you my center console and a check for 495euro?

John
 
Did you do the anodizing of the aluminum parts yourself or pay someone to do it for you?
 
deQuincey said:
material is leather of the best quality, thus pretty thick, i used impact glue, is impossible to take pictures of the process or the work will be ruined

using a nylon and small wood sticks to define shapes and sharp contours
Click to expand...

Can you make me one? I messed up mine when I asked a friend to help me do the auto to manual cutout. No decal please, the rest is perfect.
 
wiper speed switch

I'm wondering how the wiper speed switch is removed?

I'm tempted to pry it out, but I'm also thinking the round plate (disk) will spin off, but I see no evidence of threads

Option 3 may be to give the shaft a whack but that seems too simplistic.

Do you remember how to get it out??

Thanks in advance
 
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