SL400 R231 Aluminium trim to Carbon Fibre look

[Slartibardfast1]

I liked the interior of my recently acquired SL400 but it had the aluminium trim which was my least favourite. I really like the Black Ash (would cost around £1,500 to upgrade) and absolutely love the Carbon Fibre (upgrade cost around £3,000!). Hydro dipping the 7 main trim pieces would cost around £500 and I would have to remove and replace all these and send them off. Another option would be to wrap the trim pieces in a carbon fibre "look". Probably the best carbon fibre look vinyl wrap in the market right now is VVIVID Epoxy High Gloss Black Carbon Vinyl. I did try to wrap some pieces in situ but not very successfully. Also it did take me 2 or 3 goes on some of the trim to get it to near "perfect" as I either wanted it perfect of not at all - would have gone for hydro dipping if it didn't look good. I also decided to wrap the door sill cover rails (cost of OEM replacement = £457 inc MB Forum Discount!) and the "start/stop" button. Here's some info about what I used and some advice on removing the trim.

LINKS:
VVIVID Epoxy High Gloss Black Carbon Vinyl

Air Wedge

Screwdriver Star (TORX) Tip TX20

Car Vinyl Wrap Tool Kit

Isopropanol Alcohol


BEFORE:



NOW:

 

[Slartibardfast1]

 

[Slartibardfast1]

 

[Slartibardfast1]

 

[sl500amgsport]

Fully understand, I waited months to find mine with the black Ash trim...

Sent from my SM-G988B using Tapatalk

 

[Blobcat]

Copied into diy section here

 

[Slartibardfast1]

Copied into diy section here

Thanks. I originally tried to post in DIY but saw that I didn't have privileges to do so

 

[SL63 Mark]

I think black ash or carbon is nice with Porcelain leather. I have the aluminium trim, but it looks OK with my red leather.

 

[daveenty]

That carbon finish looks really good and very well applied. Also saved yourself a good few quid as well, which is what it's all about.

I've just been having a look on the sales brochure from when I ordered my car back in 2019 and the carbon trim was an extra £3,995 even then. I eventually went for the grey ash wood, black ash wasn't available at the time, and even this was £695 over list.

I'm tempted to wrap the sill kick plates now as they're starting to scuff a bit.

 

[AMGeed]

Got to say you have done a cracking job wrapping those parts with carbon vinyl. Well done.
Really nice look with that lovely light interior too.

 

[Bay Leaf]

I looked into Hydro dipping and found a place fairly local who do the process correctly for £200.00 However, to have the trim removed and replaced alone a trim shop wanted £400.00 which I thought was a bit steep. I would not try and remove the trim myself for fear of damaging any of it.
My trim is aluminium and I wanted the wood veneer effect. So the idea was scrapped. Although I would still like to have it done.

 

[Slartibardfast1]

I looked into Hydro dipping and found a place fairly local who do the process correctly for £200.00 However, to have the trim removed and replaced alone a trim shop wanted £400.00 which I thought was a bit steep. I would not try and remove the trim myself for fear of damaging any of it.
My trim is aluminium and I wanted the wood veneer effect. So the idea was scrapped. Although I would still like to have it done.

It's fairly straightforward removing the 7 trim pieces, just time consuming