Fixing the sticky 355 interior is not that expensive!

Hey Dave, Sounds like you have done a top job with your interior but I hate to say it

This Thread is useless without pics

 

Yes, let's see those new pieces!!!!!!!

 

I'll second what he has said. I replaced all of the center console parts except for the switches and they look fantastic. The AC cover was a little bit of a pain to clean and get ready, but the new parts from Daniel at Ricambi are awesome and very cheap by Ferrari standards. I have the steering wheel cover waiting at home for me, so we will see how that goes tonight. All of the center console parts took less than an hour to install. I'll post some pictures after I finish the steering wheel cover. I'll take some before and after pictures tonight.

 

Replacing the steering cover turned out to be pretty easy. I can see how you had a problem with the top part, but if you take the two screws out of the gauge console and pull it out it comes right off. All total, it took 15 minutes from start to finish.

http://www.ricambiamerica.com/product_info.php?cPath=2_736&products_id=239774
Steering wheel cover $145

http://www.ricambiamerica.com/product_info.php?cPath=2_736&products_id=240820
Trim around shifter $65

http://www.ricambiamerica.com/product_info.php?cPath=2_736&products_id=261153
Replacement cover for HVAC $75
(this required stripping of the old one down to the clear plastic)

http://www.ricambiamerica.com/product_info.php?cPath=2_736&products_id=243403
Trim around mirror $22

Those are the parts I have done so far on the interior........
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Last pictures of the other interior parts. I will take a better picture in the daylight over the weekend if it quits raining here.
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Looks fabulous!!!

 

I just joined the Chat group yesterday (bought my F355 Spider 2 weeks ago) and already the postings have been beneficial.

I went the 'clean it' route with the housing on the steering column, and will post some pictures to show the before and after (assuming I can figure out how to add pictures!).

I did want to ask if anyone can point me to a thread that talks about how to take out all the various 'sticky' components in the center console. I saw the above posts with the replacement parts, but first wanted to start with general clean up to see what's really bad and wha't okay... but they all have to come out first.
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Take the ashtray out first.
Take the screw out from underneath the ashtray.
Then all of the pieces will come out, it's pretty easy to get all of the center console parts out. If you get to something thats stuck, just post it here and we'll walk you through changing it out.

 

HAHA! I was just quoted $6646 to replace all the sticky components on a '99 - $5896 parts, 750 labor. I mean what are they thinking???

 

Gulp, were those sticky parts including a total major, all belts, tires and brakes?!

Whoa, reality check needed.

 

They were hoping "S U C K E R"

 

Looks great Dr..

 

Are the replacement parts made of a different material or over time will they get sticky also????

 

I heard someone got their new parts already "sticky" . They were returned of course, though that says their materials were not changed on replacements...

 

If thats the case---why buy new pieces--strip them down, paint them and never worry about sticky again or buy CF pieces.. maybe Daniel can chime in to let us know..

 

I ordered new window switch surrounds from daniel. They seem to have the same coating as original. They are nice now but I believe they will suffer the same "sticky" fate as the others with time and sun exposure. So cleaning and painting is a good option.

 

Yes this is great to know - I had thought that Ferrari changed the coating process after years of complaints - I guess not..

 

My guess is that the 355 parts are new "old stock" and were made during that production run. Maybe on the newer 360/430 they took note and changed their material? I would sure hope so.....

 

Has anyone ever bought similar replacement parts for the sticky 348 consoles et al?

 

I talked to Daniel about this today, and for those new parts that are Ferrari parts, apparently they will eventually have the same problem (he sited an example with a guy that replaced the entire A/C control unit). For that reason, I am using the approach Ferrari of Washington uses, which is to clean the old parts and paint them only if necessary.

With my first 'experiment' (shown dis-assembled in the previous post), after those pics were taken, I did a final polish with Griott's Vinyl & Rubber Dressing, and there was no need to paint (and run the risk of the new paint scratching). The attached picture is the re-installed result, and the little scratches you can see in the picture only show up due to the flash.

Thanks again for the posts, and the feedback comments on the work in progress. Tonight I tackle some of the switches.
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So you cleaned the old part of all the sticky coating, then what??
Primed, sanded, painted??

 

No I actually did not paint the piece shown above. That picture is after cleaning with 'Spray Nine (available at Home Depot) and a good amount of elbow grease. Then I washed it down with water and treated it with a little Griott's Vinyl & Rubber Dressing to get the 'water spots' off, and give a slightly polished finish. The resulting color is a perfect match for the rest of the black interior.

Now, with the ash tray, there was some damage (chipped paint). I took that apart last night and I am in the process of painting the cover. It is coming out with more texture than I expected from the paint, but I actually think it looks better that way.

I do have an ash tray question, but will leave that as a different post.

 

iF THAT IS WHAT THE PLASTIC looks like after cleaning the coating off - looks great - WHY the heck did Ferrari put that crappy coating on the pieces??? Anyone?? Bueller??