Center console ideas and pics

[Valkster]

I had looked in the past for inspiration for my center console/center hump. I found several nice photos then. Has anyone done anything different lately? I have been using a 3D printer for some really cool stuff (not much on the car) and had thoughts of using it for an arm rest, and for the center under-dash area for a stereo and maybe cup holders or cell phone bin. I'd try to wrap it in padded vinyl after it was printed. Any pics or thoughts on consoles would be appreciated.

-Mark

[Rebostar]

I bought a sheet of carbon fiber from Bezo. I cut two strips for the sides and cut out the top. I cut two 90' angle aluminum. I bonded the carbon fiber the to angles then drilled the side mounting holes. I used hole saws for the cup holders and shifter opening. The carbon fiber completes the look of the CF Dash and CF Ciucit Breaker Box.

Happy Trails
Allyn

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[NJMike]

Allyn, The carbon fiber console looks great.

[Wayne r mckee]

223858223856223857 added cup holders and a raised arm rest

[RJD]

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[JJK]

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[BEAR-AvHistory]

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=124123&d=1584368600
First version with radio, vent pulls & blower switches.
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=193593&d=1703303543
Same sheet metal with a satellite unit, vent blower switches & no vent pulls.

[Valkster]

Thanks much for the info...a lot of nice ideas and consoles out there.

[Rebostar]

Thanks Mike,
In my post I forgot to mention I bonded on some lateral stifeners to the underside of the top sheet to pevent any "oil-canning".

Happy Trails
Allyn

[John Ibele]

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52637691238_a5013deeb7_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2ocpVJE)
Untitled (https://flic.kr/p/2ocpVJE) by John Ibele (https://www.flickr.com/photos/familycobra/), on Flickr

[Grubester]

John Ibele -- I like the degree of cushiness and look of the gauges & switches. Ques: where did the glove box come from...? Constructed or...?

[John Ibele]

John Ibele -- I like the degree of cushiness and look of the gauges & switches. Ques: where did the glove box come from...? Constructed or...?

Constructed. More details start at post #59 (https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?27168-John%92s-Mk4-Build-Thread&p=439881&viewfull=1#post439881) in my build thread.

[cdurbin328]

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[Bob 5.0]

I went a little different

[John Ibele]

I love these sorts of posts. So many different kinds of awesome.

[Valkster]

I agree, John. It has my creative juices flowing for something on mine. Hopefully all of these pics and ideas will help me come up with something unique but fitting for my build. Thanks to all for the input so far.

-Mark

[Valkster]

Here is my latest model of the console. The armrest still needs work to blend into the rear bulkhead but so far it looks good to me. It will be a vinyl wrapped base, with a 3d printed radio/cup holder console under the dash (vinyl wrapped), a 3D printed angled shifter surround that will be body worked and painted in satin black, and a 3D printed arm rest with USB ports. The shift surround will have some chrome and blue trim from eBay to help accent it. Shown is a test print of the forward left corner of the surround with the accents. I also bent the factory shift lever and relocated the mount holes to give better clearance and a more comfortable shift position for me. Thanks to all for the inspiration. I'll post the finished product when it is installed.

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-Mark

[OSU Cowboy]

Recommend that you make the height of the arm rest portion around the level of your arm with hand on the shifter. I did that with mine, and it's very functional and comfortable. I also added a hinged door on top of that to make it a small cubby area that' been extremely handy.

[mrglaeser]

I added a little padding for arm/elbow too but a little more shallow than your diagram.

https://photos.smugmug.com/Home/9999-Factory-Five-Roadster/i-NhZk3ZK/0/NBVP66K3xkPcwChgrK97RPLNRhgjHGzcJgnDRKd67/XL/20250920_170013-XL.jpg (https://mattglaeser.smugmug.com/Home/9999-Factory-Five-Roadster/i-NhZk3ZK/A)


How are you planning on covering the cover? What material are you planning to print in? Do you have a printer big enough for that piece or are you going to outsource the printing?

[Valkster]

Sorry, mrglaeser...I missed your question at the end of your post. I plan to attach an MDF board to the aluminum hump cover. They will be shaped the same and I will vinyl cover the two together. Then, the front piece (radio location), the shift surround, and the armrest will be separate 3D printed pieces. The armrest will actually be multiple pieces itself, so I have a lid over the storage base of it. The radio piece will be vinyl covered with 4-way stretch vinyl (I hope it works), the shift surround will be prepped like the car body and painted satin black with the chrome and blue accent pieces added afterwards. The base of the armrest will be vinyl covered, while the armrest lid will be vinyl covered with padding underneath for comfort. That is the plan anyway. I hope to start printing the finished pieces in the next week or so. I have done several test pieces and so far, so good. I have access to a 16" x 16" x 19" printer at work, but it is not an enclosed printer so I will be using PETG because ABS/ASA have warped badly when I have tried it on an open printer. I have had good luck with PTEG, and it should take the heat of the console since the car is open-top. I'll post pics of the finished parts, and eventually the finished console. Nice layout by the way!

[nucjd19]

I skinned mine with CF. Super happy with the results. I finished it in the matte finish to match the dash....https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=149906&d=1624747050https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=150465&d=1625606688https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=151301&d=1627327004
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=169832&d=1658542495

[TrackDay17]

I skinned mine with CF. Super happy with the results. I finished it in the matte finish to match the dash....https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=149906&d=1624747050https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=150465&d=1625606688https://thefactou give ryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=151301&d=1627327004
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=169832&d=1658542495

Can you give me more details ?
This is exactly what I've been thinking of doing to match my carbon dash on my MK5.
Is it a wrap ? where did you source your material ?

It looks great.

[Mike.Bray]

I skinned mine with CF. Super happy with the results. I finished it in the matte finish to match the dash....https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=149906&d=1624747050https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=150465&d=1625606688https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=151301&d=1627327004
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=169832&d=1658542495

Did the same and happy with it.

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[F500guy]

I Kept it simple. I had planned to replace the screws holding it in place, maybe this summer. I did shorten it about 5 inches and carpet the portion under the dash. Once the driving starts, all the details faded out of the picture because for me it is not a show car.
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[Blitzboy54]

I also used a wrap to mimic the CF dash. The cover I purchased from Intatrim along with the seats and door cards. The shift boot was from Redline goods. They also do tunnel covers (all fully customizable)

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=220685&d=1761359383

[nucjd19]

Can you give me more details ?
This is exactly what I've been thinking of doing to match my carbon dash on my MK5.
Is it a wrap ? where did you source your material ?

It looks great.

Thank you. Fun project. Got the center aluminum from FFmetal. I have a build out picture file at my profile page. It was a skin of the FFmetal center console. I used epoxy and CF to wrap the aluminum. There is an issue with galvanic corrosion with dissimilar conductors ( CF and Aluminum ) but I have not noticed any issue.