Beetle interior: Reborn!

[low4x4]

Well guys thought Id show my beetle off. When I got her, the interior was a sticky mess. All the rubber coatings had melted down and would hold hair and grime and get all over your hands. I pulled it all out all the way down to the carpet, and then pulled that out. hung it on the fence and pressure washed it. steamed all surfaces and blasted off the grime, and used purpple power degreaser and a stiff brush also. The two panels up closest the the windshield I scrubbed and they came out a flat black, I left them like that.

Then I painted the center area silver, as well as the speedometer surround, the steering column, the end caps for the grab bar on the pass dash and the fuse end caps on either side of the dash. I painted the center lower console a gloss black. Now everything is clean to the touch and no longer nasty!

crud coming off the center console


crud on the center radio piece


sticky crud on the steering column


crud on the rear panels


crud coming off on my hands just touching it






ANd done! Notice the painted silver and the black console!

[Chef Nails]

Great work! And yes that soft touch interior substance is a mess. I used alcohol and 3m green scrubby pads to remove it in my car, then again I already had plenty of both. Greased Lightning is great stuff. I use it for bug & tar remover on all my rides and it has never hurt the paint. How difficult was it to remove the read interior panels? I am replacing my speakers soon as was wondering how much of a job it was going to be. Any advice?

Thanks,
Chef

[low4x4]

Originally Posted by Chef Nails

Great work! And yes that soft touch interior substance is a mess. I used alcohol and 3m green scrubby pads to remove it in my car, then again I already had plenty of both. Greased Lightning is great stuff. I use it for bug & tar remover on all my rides and it has never hurt the paint. How difficult was it to remove the read interior panels? I am replacing my speakers soon as was wondering how much of a job it was going to be. Any advice?

Thanks,
Chef

Thank you, it helps to have the front seat up and the rear seat folded down. As far as I can remember there are no screws, just clips. Pull outs on the section by the front door, and the rest should follow. It's pretty straightforward, once you get it going. My speakers also need to be replaced, they are all blown

[OmahaTDI]

Great work. Your hard work really paid off. That looks factory.

[scarabY2k]

Absolute stellar work!
Been where you were. What a relief to get rid of that rubbery crud. Enjoy the fruits of your labor

[TechnoTrix'd]

Wow really nice work. Came out very clean and looks OEM with the blending of silver and black panels.


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[dnyed]

Looks great! Nice job!

[Dee-Bug]

I plan to get to all those pieces,but my wife wont give up her beetle long enough for me to be able to do it.I told her at the end of the month I am parking it in the garage for the winter and then I may have time to hook up the 3 gauges in the gauge pod and the sender unit in the upper radiator hose..You did a very nice job..

[Volkswoman]

Nice job! I got tired just looking at the pictures! I have done that much work and more on my '65 Squareback, so I KNOW how much effort it takes. Luckily I have not had to do anything like that on my NB and probably won't ever again.

[Bratgirl]

Looks really good! You did a great job. I agree with TechnoTrix'd, it does look OEM.

[caveboy]

That carpet looks sooo good.

What type of paint did you use for the center console near the shifter?

[beetlejimhojn]

Excellent work! And yes that smooth contact internal material is a clutter. I used liquor and 3m natural scrubby shields to eliminate it in my car, then again I already had a lot of both. Oiled Super is excellent things. I use it for bug & tar cleaner on all my trips and it has never harm the colour. How challenging was it to eliminate the study internal panels ?

[diehard]

that looks really sharp! better than new dash