how do you remove woodgrain trim pieces?

[saturn]

I have a 97 subaru legacy outback limited wagon. it's two-tone silver/dk.purple-ish (almost black)... fully loaded with leather and winter weather package.

it has ugly woodgrain trim around the shifter (automatic) and around the switches that control the power windows and locks.

I bought some "real" carbon fiber ... it comes in a kit that you can use to cover plastic pieces to make them look nicer. I was going to use the aluminum kit but it was a little too bright

sort of ricer, I know, but woodgrain is soo soo soo ugly...

anyway, I've already got the shifter done.... but how do you remove the pieces that cover the door switches without breaking them? I've already searched but can't come up with anything...

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/03/3323411803_550d5c862f-1.jpg

[Benfolio]

I just slid a small small screwdriver into the crevice ahread of the switch bezel where no one would see if I scratched anything. I didn't, and they popped right out after working around the bezel a bit.

Did this on the Outback and my GT because I swapped my woodgrain with the Outback's black.

[WinterKnoll]

^Hmmm that seems like a lot easier than what I did...lol, but when I painted mine I pulled the door cards off (there should be some info in doing this in the DIY section) and then there were a couple little tabs holding the panels on the other side of the door card.

[massdrewski]

Im tempted to take mine off and repaint them. I have the know how (painter). If anything, I would prefer a brush aluminum look like what I have in my 08' SE. very sexy.

[Taylor]

I have absolutely no car-know-how and also want to do this with all the woodgrain in my car, but i'll be painting it red to match the exterior rather than black...need to look up some info on painting the pieces though

[saturn]

just a FYI: I've since sold the car but I ended up removing the fake carbon fiber and painting the woodgrain pieces with black plastidip. it gives it a sort of rubberized feel and is very durable (same stuff they put on tool handles).

[bentleyshane25]

that plasti dip sounds like a cool idea, and yea easiest way to get the wood trim off is definitely to take the doors off, they come off real easy, a lil round cover with a screw under it at the arm rest part, and another one i believe right at the door handle, then a small flat head screwdriver will work just fine if you stick it in between the doors metal and the door card itself toward the bottom, starting in the corner closest to the hinge is best, When you put flex on the screw driver you will get an idea where the tabs are that hold it in place, if you work your screwdriver as close as you can to them before you pry (using your other hand to help pull the door card also, they will pop out relatively pretty easy without ruining them!. then you pull the bottom of the door toward ya and work the handle out of the way, and then you have to pop it off the window well, pretty simple and easy and great to know, i have done it about three different times so far on my car for different reasons, once to replace all four door cards, second to replace speakers, and lastly just two days ago replaced my back right window that my dog broke out! Just remember to make sure the tabs are lined up well when you put it back together!!

[Taylor]

Hmm sounds good i'll get the door trim off by that method then, what about the wood trim around the shifter though? I want to paint all the wood trim a red plastidip to match the exterior

[bentleyshane25]

I have a 97 gt manual so i dont have the wood grain around my shifter, but if its something like the pic above with the carbon fiber, You will probably have to open the little console, should be a couple a screws holding the shroud around the e brake, then once thats off, you should be able to lift the surround of the shifter off also, and the bezel probably mounts with tabs on the bottom of that piece. Try it out! its also a great way to really clean that stuff out! I dont know about you guys, but my subaru is also my daily driver to work and i lay tile in jackson hole, wyoming for rich people for a living, so my car gets dirty!!! i have to take my trim out every month or so to get all the hard to reach places clean. Not to mention my dog is always trackin dirt in my ride.

[Taylor]

yea mine looks exactly the same as his, thanks for the help gonna hopefully do that in a couple weeks :)

[Dead91silvia]

The carbonfiber looks cool, but I like my wood grain... yes, I said I like it! :grin:

The easiest way I have found to take them off with out cracking them, it pull the center peace all together. It's not that much more work, takes me about 30 seconds...

[Tlake]

I have absolutely no car-know-how and also want to do this with all the woodgrain in my car, but i'll be painting it red to match the exterior rather than black...need to look up some info on painting the pieces though
Check this site out should help you out. I plan on doing the same thing just haven't gotten all the materials and i'm short on time right now due to school and working.
http://paint-car-interior.howtocar.net/