Painting drivers switch pack trim

[Mikey-S]

Hi all. I've contacted Audi about a replacement switch pack trim as the paint is peeling off, but I've been told they are now obsolete... so I'm looking for either satin paint or plasti-dip in the same colour so I can repair the trim myself. The trim code is WF which is Platinum - Light Silver.

Has anyone managed to repair these with a good colour match? If so, do you have details of the paint/material used??

Thanks in advance.

[The_Laird]

There's a thread about this somewhere which suggests a dilution of PlastiDip used in a good paint sprayer. I have mine at my local paint shop, but it's turning into a 'when a get a round tuit' job!

PlastiDip will match any colour if you send them an item to match, but it's pricey.

If my paint guy does ever get it sorted, I'll give you a shout, as mine are the same colour and there will be loads of paint left!

[Mikey-S]

I was researching last night, I found a thread on the A2 owners club forum where one of the guys complained to Audi about his trims peeling, and it sounds like Audi replied and said he needed to raise an ETKA ticket for some repair paint! I've got my man at TPS on to this already, he's never heard of repair paint but he's raised a ticket anyway and said he'll get back to me as soon as he hears back. Here's a quote from the forum:

'Audi Germany last week launched a Soft Touch Repair Spray! Apparently, we need to contact our local dealer and ask them to raise an ETKA ticket to order said soft touch spray. We need to quote our chassis number and the correct interior colour e.g. Platinum Grey, if we know it. It takes about 5-6 weeks to arrive from Germany. I don't know what the cost, if any, would be, or how it would be applied and what preparation would be needed, but Audi are now doing something about his issue'.

[Adrian E]

That's interesting - I bought new lower handle shells to match the wood trims I bought for mine. I could only get 3 out of 4 as they had no stock for the driver's door. The finish, which I presume is as old as the car as it's doubtful they made newer stocks post-production ending, isn't great and 2 are marked already despite me only doing about 4k miles since they were fitted!

I think the finish goes soft with age?

I went as far as talking to an interior trimmer who said he could refinish them, but wouldn't be surprised if they looked rubbish again after 6 months. In retrospect that's probably no worse than buying new, but would've been cheaper! Don't think he got as far as quoting me but got the impression it wouldn't be ridiculous.

Defo interested in the refinishing paint if they can do it

[Mikey-S]

Well my friend at TPS tried his best. Audi say the parts are obsolete, and they don't supply 'repair paint' in any form.

I think my next step is to maybe get some paint or plasti-dip colour matched. I used a satin black paint on one of my S4's, on the interior grab handles and gear lever surround and you simply couldn't tell it had been painted, the match and finish was perfect. I'm hoping the colour match on the grey will be good or it'll really annoy me!

[Adrian E]

If you've got the part numbers try looking on Audi tradition site. My drivers door switch trim had to come from them. Postage is mental but it arrived and was BNIB as expected

[Mikey-S]

I had a look on there last night. Couldn't see anything. I guess painting is the only option. If I could find wood trims with the exact same trim as the rest of the car then I would buy them, but the last thing I want is two different wood finishes.

[HPsauce]

Originally Posted by Mikey-S

If I could find wood trims with the exact same trim as the rest of the car then I would buy them, but the last thing I want is two different wood finishes.

You'd be surprised, it can actually be fine - mine is like that.

I had the horrible painted, sticky, peeling/scraped door switch panels and managed to get (from A8parts of course) some "wood" versions with the same colour painted areas, but actually a different (lighter) "wood" to the rest of the car.

It looks fine.

What made me think of accepting it was that my old PF S8 had a very different shade between the door switch panels and the rest of the car, nominally the same but practically quite different. That was apparently "normal" and to be fair I hadn't noticed for many years. There's an old thread here somewhere with pictures.
Edit. All in this thread, PF and FL and loads of assorted pictures: http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/showthread.php?t=5807

[Mikey-S]

Some of those trims actually do look good. The amount of trim codes and options is huge, I guess getting the correct ones for my car won't be easy.

[Adrian E]

This thread and the one linked from it might help - the pics showing 2 different wood trims are actually matching trim code so would've been specced together from the factory.

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/showthread.php?t=7038

The biggest challenge is finding the desired wood trims with the corresponding colour to the underside that matches your lower handle shells, which are only available in limited colours now.

I've attached pdfs of the Etka pages and highlighted the range of options, so using the colour code for your car you should be able to ID some options to look for.

I bought a set of 4 from A8 parts for about £100 if memory serves, but the drivers one was in a typical used condition and I decided to splash out for a new one.

Post some pics of your door cards if you want a 2nd opinion on options and whether you're IDing parts correctly

If you're after the dark grey trims like mine I have a driver's one spare if you wanted to try it to see if you liked the effect