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Making fake wood trim less shiny

8K views 33 replies 14 participants last post by  Djeazie 
#1 ·
What is the best way to make fake wood trim less shiny (Laredo X)?

I am referring to 4 long and narrow trim pieces - 2 across the dashboard and one across each of front doors.

I looked into it and it seems there is a lot of options of new finishes to be glued on top of existing trim. I don't really like this approach.

What I would like is either complete trim replacement for these pieces only (however, I haven't found anybody online who sells that for 2011 or older models) or just sanding them with sand paper (or similar process)

Any suggestions? Any quality shops in NYC area that could be contacted about sanding approach?
 
#2 ·
You could probably have a matte clear sprayed onto those pieces after masking them, but you are probably facing two problems: 1. sanding to scuff the surface for the clear to adhere may quickly get into the wood grain appearance, and 2. the pieces are probably bonded to the dash and door panels rather than being easily removable so masking the edges may be tricky.
 
#7 ·
Of course the WK2 is too new, but this will give you the sense of what was available for the WK, and its various materials. Yes, they are a substitution piece, and not a decal to apply. Some kits are molded to adhere over the existing material, so you don't remove the existing to apply the new material.

http://www.wooddash.com/item/JEEP_Dash_Kits_GRANDCHEROKEE_2008_UP
I am new to this but if it adheres over the existing material - doesn't it mean this is a decal? My understanding is if original trim isn't removed then it is decal
 
#20 ·
I agree, I have the Laredo X with black interior. I'll have to take a closer look at mine later but I never saw it to be a "fake wood" look. It doesn't really look like wood grain to me, almost like a swirl pattern with a light reflective fleck to it. Hard to explain but I really like it. More of a tech like look maybe a cross between CF and woodgrain.
 
#23 ·
The trim on the limited is not real wood. However, when I visually compare the Limited and Overland I do not see a big difference. To me, the Overland wood trim is so highly finished that it does not look real. The wood trim on the steering wheel and leather wrapped dash are the most noticeable differences on the Overland.

I wish the Overland included a wood shifter knob.
 
#24 ·
I'm pretty sure the limited is also real wood, just different kinds of wood. Can't remember where I saw that. The laredo/LaredoX has the composite. I looked at mine closer on the way home and I guess it does kinda have a wood grain look to it but with the Black interior it's done in black and charcoal so it doesn't look like it's coming off as cheap fake wood.
 
#27 · (Edited)
The Limited does not have real wood. It's the same as the Laredo, except different color. If you compare the Limited trim to the Laredo, they even have the same wood grain design; the only difference is in color. Chrysler refers to the Limited and Laredo's wood trim as "appliques" in their literature. (btw, they also say "bright" instead of "chrome" when it's chrome painted plastic instead of chromed metal). They make a point of always prefixing the Overland's wood trim with the word "real" and like to note that it's Standard on the Overland.
 
#29 ·
The trim is almost certainly plastic in the limited though, i own one with just about every option. The trim is wood color and has a chrome strip, unlike the laredo, that has a more subtle black wood-grain trim with no chrome, and is not as thick or wide so to speak. The overland, from what I can gather, has real wood and a leather trimmed dash.
 
#31 ·
i was shocked to hear it is real as well. jeep has been known to go the cheap route on little details from time to time.Always great trucks overall, but sometimes small things that really dont matter get overlooked i guess.... i know a guy who has a overland commander with, get this, plastic clad rims. unreal. but true. he dropped 45 on that thing and he got plastic rims. another thing im glad jeep did was put solid rims on this overland. thank you jeep for real wood and real rims......
 
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