How to change the interior trim....step by step..

[wynne71]

I've finally been brave and set aside a morning to fit my new aluminium interior trim.

Here is my breakdown of how to do it, if anyone is thinking of doing the same job.

Overall time: 3 hours
Tools required: T15 hex key (I used an allen key), flat blade screw driver, phillips screwdriver, 12mm socket.

Disconnect battery, quick release on the - 12mm socket and phillips for the +

Undo the pressstud holding gaiter trim, undo the velcro side. Slide flat blade under the gear trim from the handbrake end, ease the trim up, repeat both sides, this simply unclips. Carefully remove until the cables can be seen, remove these. Slide gaiter over top of gearstick.

Remove the switch unit from the old surround and fix to the new one.

Undo the two lower screws on the centre console, these can only be seen when the gear surround is out.

Remove the stereo.

Remove the top3 airvents. I used a simple piece of metal bent into a hook to slide into the vent and pull forward with a sharp tug. Repeat this with each one.

Undo the 2 screws that can be seen though the left and right vents.

Undo the 2 screws either side of the stereo hole.

Carefully pull the console out, there are clips at the top and bottom to undo, a sharp tug brings them out.

Unclip the electrics for the air con, the start button and the key slot.

Once removed, take off the air con control and the key unit. Then unscrew the cage/bluetooth unit from the console. These then need to be attached the the new console.

Fitting is the reverse of this. Console first, then gear surround.

I will add the other trim as a reply to this, run out of picture space...

[wynne71]

And to continue......

Small trim under the dash board...

Remove the drivers side dashboard side trim, unclips with a flat blade screwdriver. This will show the T15 bolt. Remove this bolt, use a screw driver to prise the trim from the dash, be careful, the metal retaining pins are held in firmly.

The passenger side trim above the glove box is very simliar. This one seems to remove much easier.

The airbag removal is a pain. Make sure the battery is still disconnected!!!
Using the T15 hex key remove the 4 bolts under the lower steering column trim. Unclip the trim, this needs prising from the top section.

Turn the steering wheel 90 degrees to access the small hole in the rear of the steering wheel. Using a medium flat blade driver, push into the hole and turn. After much faffing and many attempts the clip on the inside of the wheel should release. Do this for both sides.

Carefully unplug the electrics for the airbag, place it on the floor, airbag side up.

The steering wheel trim then unscrews from 3 points behind the wheel, find them via the small holes in the leather. Unclip the electrics.

Add new trim as a reverse.

Reconnect the airbag electrics, push firmly back in place.

Refit the lower column trim.

Job done....

[rbt2005]

well done. I would love to change mine as well but where to get it from??

[andypj]

Wow - very brave! I'm not sure I would have taken that on! Having experienced both though I can understand why you'd want to change it.

[twissler]

Good work there mate. I bet your well pleased with yourself.

[jbsmith1]

wow your a brave man Wynne71, great write up and pics, will come in useful for me in the future, thread saved.

[wynne71]

Im chuffed to bits actually. Thought I might have bitten off a bit more than I could chew, nearly gave up on the air bag!
Rest was okay though.

This difference is staggering. Not just to look at, but it is far more tactile, much more pleasant environment.
Glad I bothered.

I got the new trim from a breakers in Oxford, absoute bargain. New the pieces come to over £300 easily. Mine was all in for about a sixth of that..

Ended up with the slightly bronze tint on the aluminium, with the slight stripes set in. I think it sets the Stromboli Grey off a treat.

So, what once was a Tourismo is rapidly turning into a Tourisso, or is it Lussismo??

[wynne71]

Oh, and much appreciated over the phone help from John at SimplyAlfa. He gave me the confidence to have a go. Cheers!

[johns159]

Thats really useful..... did you notice any float of any parts behind the airbag? Mine floats about all over the place and is causing knock through steering as the wheel rotates and something heavy moves about.... will have to get dealer to investigate first when they change the rack!

[wynne71]

Sounds to me like one of the clips has snapped or come loose. The airbag unit is pretty heavy. Once it is clipped into the proper fittings it is pretty solid.
Hope you get it sorted.

[wynne71]

Nearly a week on and I am going to tempt fate.....all is still well, nothing has fallen off or snapped since messing with the gubbings of the interior.

I had a huge problem with what I thought was the B and M, but was infact an issue with my phone, sorted now.

Everyone who has seen it has commented on how much better the interior is. Happy.

Davey_Saxo bought the plastic stuff off me and is planning on fitting carbon fibre trim to these parts, then re-fitting to his car. I am very interested in the results of this experiment. Hope all goes well!

[rjzim23]

Thanks for your update and thanks again for such an informative thread. Fantastic stuff!!

[lanceshaw]

Fantastico - I've got a new aluminium console to fit as I knackered my current one when I removed the stereo to fit a Parrot system. Looks easy enough......

Got mine from Autolusso for £70 inc postage - they had a brand new spare one.

Hoping to make a slight nick to channel the wire from the Parrot screen - at present it runs round the binnacles. No-one notices but I know its there.

[Hunter]

Wow!

Fantastic 'how-to' guide Well done! Gold star award

Getting my Ti trim taken out and carbon fibre jobbie put back in....

...and no, the Ti trim won't be for sale Its being sold with the car at some point along with all the other bits and bobs Ive upgraded over the last year

[wynne71]

Hunter, looking forward to the photos of the new trim. I dare not even ask how much the cost to do the job is!
And I haven't had a Gold Star in ages, cheers! It is usually me giving them out in assembly, not the other way round...

[mariusioo]

Great job!!!

Would it be possible to post some pictures "before and after"?

Thx

[wynne71]

No problem mariusioo!

The pictures don't really do it justice, but the feel is sooooo much better.
See what you think of these:


I think you can see the difference in colour, the last photo shows the trim effect. Am still smiling about it!

[mariusioo]

I'm sure it feels as good as it looks...

Could you direct me to some websites where i can buy this kit or similar (maybe you did some research before finding this one)

PM if it's against forum rules

[wynne71]

I searched on Ebay to find parts for a 159. I came across a breakers who were splitting a crashed 159, they had the cream leather seats and door cards in an auction. As part of the auction they had all the metal trim. I emailed to ask if they were willing to split the parts if the auction was not successful.
As the lot din't sell I phoned up, made an offer and the trim was with me the next day!
It really is worth keeping an eye open on auction sites, there might just be that bargain out there.

This is where I found my bits:
http://autos.blue-sock.com/clients/9...nt=0&make=ALFA ROMEO&model=%&trimlevel=&fueltype=%&pics=pics&orde rby=makemodel&value=82015

Hope this is useful.

[mariusioo]

Very helpful indeed. Thank you.

Hope to find what I need. I really want to do this.

Enjoy your new interior!!!

[chrispie]

Hi,

I refurbished my steering trim as well. It is indeed a pain to remove the airbag! I took pictures of the clip and the close up of the airbag and the steering interior. So you know what u are dealing with in case u need to remove it as well.

If u look at image 169, the protruding plastic (with the wound from the screw driver) are the clips that hold the airbag down. When u insert the driver through the hole as instructed in previous replies, you are actually poking through the hole as seen in pic 183, to push the 'clip' inwards and thus releasing the airbag on one side. Img170 showing the side profile will illustrate better how the clip works.

oh..may i add also, apart from turning the steering 90 degrees, you have to remove the column housing (top and bottom) in order for the screwdriver to go through all the way. The housing prevent direct access into the airbag unit to unclasp the clips. Also, i only managed to poke the hole on the underside. AFter that side came out, i had to reconnect the batt, start the car, and turn the steering the other way to access the other hole from the underside.

[wynne71]

Nice one Crispie, you are right, air bag removal is not for the faint hearted!

Glad you got it sorted. Certainly not a job I look forward to doing again.

[chrispie]

now my turn to show off..

[Gurjit]

What's that at the corner of the gearstick? A blue tooth device?
BTW where did you get the CF coating done in Singapore?

Thanks & Cheers.

[wynne71]

Wow! That looks very, very cool indeed.

Did you fit the CF yourself or buy it ready made?
And whats with the auto box?!