Need Advice - Dash Garish Touch Up

[rdswriter]

Need Advice - Dash Garnish Touch Up

So... I'm wondering if anyone else with at 2014+ Trail or TRD Pro 4Runner has accidentally scratched their "garnish" dash panel. This is the piece between the glove compartment door and the top of the dash. The piece looks like dark metallic brushed metal... but in actuality is simply a wrap-type finish bonded to plastic.

I have already had to replace one garnish due to a vehicular break-in. The part alone was about $325 and I did the labor. That piece (unless HEAVILY damaged) isn't worth that.

So.... fast forward and now the same damn piece is damaged again (unfortunately through just stupid negligence). Mine now has a scratch that is about 1/4" long and about as wide as a #2 pencil line. The scratch is dull grey and contrasts highly with the fake brushed-metal finish. I figure my options are:
1) Fill in with Toyota Factory Metallic Grey paint, or a paint that better mimics the metallic color of the garish.
2) Buy some "brushed metal" vinyl wrap off the internet and wrap the small center section of the garish.
3) Buy a new garnish... but I'll likely damage that one... so I'm not keen on this option due to the price.

Having already disassembled the entire glove box assembly once, I really don't feel like doing it again. Both the second and third options require that. So... has anyone touched up this part with a very fine line of paint? If so, did it look okay? Basically, I'm wanting an easy way out without having to spend the $$ or time to disassemble the glove box and garnish assembly. That being said, I also don't want it to waste my time if it's going to come out looking like a pre-schooler repaired it.

Any thoughts?

 

[jaboki]

3M Brushed Aluminum | eBay

 

[El_Todo_Terreno]

If you use your truck regularly is bound to get scratches. If you want it to be showroom quality park it in your driveway enjoy the eye candy and never drive it.

That being said if you want to fix it I would vinyl wrap it. Especially since you stated it may happen again. Then just remove the old vinyl and reinstall a new piece.

 

[rdswriter]

Thanks for the FYI on the ebay 3M vinyl wrap. I ordered sample sizes of:
- Brushed Black Metallic
- Brushed Steel
- Brushed Titanium.

My guess is that the Brushed Steel will be the closest to the Trail/TRD garish. Anyway... I'll see what they look like and then I'll decide which one. In the mean time, I think I may try some metallic grey paint... just to see if it fills and minimizes it to the point that it's hardly noticeable. If no... I'll be going the wrap route.

 

[jaboki]

Thanks for the FYI on the ebay 3M vinyl wrap. I ordered sample sizes of:
- Brushed Black Metallic
- Brushed Steel
- Brushed Titanium.

My guess is that the Brushed Steel will be the closest to the Trail/TRD garish. Anyway... I'll see what they look like and then I'll decide which one. In the mean time, I think I may try some metallic grey paint... just to see if it fills and minimizes it to the point that it's hardly noticeable. If no... I'll be going the wrap route.

Tell me how it goes. I was thinking about doing the same thing.

 

[Brandonium]

I really do dislike answers like this which assume that those who try to take extra care of their vehicles are somehow not using it to its full potential or they must be using it as a mall crawler/garage queen.

Most owners probably understand that to use a vehicle means things will happen to it.

Some of us (this includes me) feel that you can use your vehicle without abusing it and to repair damage that might have happened is not a bad thing..it's simply taking care of ones investment.

Perhaps I feel the same way about people who spend 40k+ for a vehicle then treat it like the garbage can they put out to the curb once a week.

If you use your truck regularly is bound to get scratches. If you want it to be showroom quality park it in your driveway enjoy the eye candy and never drive it.

That being said if you want to fix it I would vinyl wrap it. Especially since you stated it may happen again. Then just remove the old vinyl and reinstall a new piece.

 

[Brandonium]

I'm curious if putting a clear wrap on it like the paint protection stuff you find on the exterior would help prevent this in the future. I'd like to think that I'll never get scratches but fact is that things happen especially when you have other people that travel with you.

Girlfriends and friends in general can be rough on things that are not theirs.

It also seems that some vehicles are more susceptible to this than others either by design or quality (sometimes both). I never had a scratch in my Touareg as the plastics almost seemed self healing. My ford on the other hand is a different story.

Thanks for the FYI on the ebay 3M vinyl wrap. I ordered sample sizes of:
- Brushed Black Metallic
- Brushed Steel
- Brushed Titanium.

My guess is that the Brushed Steel will be the closest to the Trail/TRD garish. Anyway... I'll see what they look like and then I'll decide which one. In the mean time, I think I may try some metallic grey paint... just to see if it fills and minimizes it to the point that it's hardly noticeable. If no... I'll be going the wrap route.

 

[Antman]

It's a garnish, not a "garish" BTW.

 

[ColoradoToyota]

It's a garnish, not a "garish" BTW.

Or is it both?

 

[Brandonium]

I dunno about you guys but I prefer parking in the garash... :reddance:

Or is it both?

 

[rdswriter]

It's a garnish, not a "garish" BTW.

Thanks Antman... I corrected the reference to the part.

 

[simple]

I want to paint this part, does anybody have a clue on how to remove that garnish piece?

Thanks

 

[Engineer]

If its anything like the center console trim all you do is pull with a good strong grip. Towards you while sitting in the passenger seat.

*If you are worried about breaking something or are not familiar with how much force is enough feel free to wait for someone to chime in that is certain there are no other attachment points etc

 

[rdswriter]

It's not hard, but you do need to remove the glove box to get to this piece. Once you remove the glove box, there are 9 Phillips head screws that hold this piece to the glove box.

A complete write up is as follows by Dingo79. This is the write-up I used to previously remove my garnish. But note the initial center stack trim removal is much simpler in a 2014+ 4Runner (no HVAC control knob removal needed).

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/187169-how-14-dash-11-how-drop-glove-box.html

Have fun!

 

[Rimless]

did u found any way to solve the problem? sane thing happened on my 4runner as well...sad