Redye auto carpet ?

[rfuerst911sc]

Previous owner of my 99 C4 Porsche must have parked the car exposing the rear to the sun . The rear graphite grey carpet is almost white due to UV exposure . Other than the color the carpet is in great shape .

So to correct the issue my options are replace the carpet or redye it . Has anyone had success with dye ? What did you use ? Any tips ? I plan to have the windows tinted and I park the car inside a garage . So minimal sun exposure moving forward other than when being driven .

[GH85Carrera]

Interesting question. I suspect a dye job is the answer, but if you have to remove the carpet to dye it, it might be wise to just put back new carpet.

I guess it comes down how to much new carpet costs. Dye job should be a cheaper.

Let us know what you end up doing.

[wilnj]

I’ve heard of people having good results with SEM vinyl paint in an aerosol can but not sure how accessible that is for you.

If you need to take it out to prevent overspray, it might be easier to get good results with a RIT dye.


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[herr_oberst]

I looked into it; (went a totally different direction), there's plenty of info at the University of YouTube. My takeaway is it would probably work OK, maybe even great, but you wouldn't know until you knew. There's some vids where the model is dying the rug in the car; I'd be concerned about trapped moisture. I think if you really loved the car and expected to have it forever, at the least you'd probably remove the rug and let it dry completely after you did it.

[Zeke]

It's basically lacquer made more flexible. Carpet will be stiffer though. I dyed the passenger seat in my 914 race car and is turned out great. Matched the color of my race seat which I got a deal on.

[rfuerst911sc]

After watching some videos I think using RIT dye or similar is the way to go . And removing the carpet is also the way to go . It has to be thoroughly cleaned for good results .

What I haven't found yet on any video is if you can or should topcoat with something like 3M Scotchgard ? Seems to me that would be a good way to go but I am no expert .

To be honest with the rear seat backs in the upright position you barely see the carpet . But I know it's there and it bothers me . So I will do something . I was even thinking about getting a black towel with a Porsche crest on it and cut to fit .

[wilnj]

I have this one saved for my BMW. It was quite a few steps but I would think the care he took should yield good results.

https://youtu.be/5d7EJb8hfNI


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[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by rfuerst911sc

After watching some videos I think using RIT dye or similar is the way to go . And removing the carpet is also the way to go . It has to be thoroughly cleaned for good results .

What I haven't found yet on any video is if you can or should topcoat with something like 3M Scotchgard ? Seems to me that would be a good way to go but I am no expert .

To be honest with the rear seat backs in the upright position you barely see the carpet . But I know it's there and it bothers me . So I will do something . I was even thinking about getting a black towel with a Porsche crest on it and cut to fit .

Be careful about the "while I am in there" project creep!

On my 86 El Camino I wanted to replace the seat belts that were getting frayed and just worn out after 370,000 miles.



To get the seat belts out, the seat had to come out, and interior panels had to be removed. Well while I was in there, I might as well replace the faded and worn carpet, and while I am in there maybe put in some speakers in the aftermarket door panels that are available now.



And while I am in there, I should re-dye the very faded seatbelt guides that had seen 37 years of sun with the same dye I used on the lower door panels.

And while I am in there, I should replace the door sills that were original and kinda scratched up and ugly with new authorized GM Fisher body door sills.

And while I am in there, STOP, dang it. I still need to get some chrome tape for the upper door panels, but getting it to stick is a challenge. That is for the next little project.

I do want to redo the faded headliner, and the chrome tape for the upper door panels someday soon. It is nice to have freshly rebuilt seatbelts.

[rfuerst911sc]

Originally Posted by wilnj

I have this one saved for my BMW. It was quite a few steps but I would think the care he took should yield good results.

https://youtu.be/5d7EJb8hfNI


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Thank you

[rfuerst911sc]

Yeah the whole I am in there scenario can bite hard 😁. I bought this as a project with a dead engine . FSI fixed me up with a 3.4 to 3.8 Stage II rebuild . So the really expensive stuff is out of the way . She came out of the body shop three weeks ago so the exterior is 90 % done .

The interior is next . Front seats are ugly but the rest of the interior is acceptable except the faded shelf carpet . I am slowly picking away at her while adding break in miles to the engine . It's all good 👍

[wilnj]

Originally Posted by rfuerst911sc

Yeah the whole I am in there scenario can bite hard . I bought this as a project with a dead engine . FSI fixed me up with a 3.4 to 3.8 Stage II rebuild . So the really expensive stuff is out of the way . She came out of the body shop three weeks ago so the exterior is 90 % done .

The interior is next . Front seats are ugly but the rest of the interior is acceptable except the faded shelf carpet . I am slowly picking away at her while adding break in miles to the engine . It's all good

Just an idea, and mostly because mine is my daily. I’m thinking that I will buy a used shelf. Dye it taking my time and then put it in the car. Then since I’ll have plenty of material, I’ll dye the original from my car and sell it.


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