I bought my 05 RL used back in January. I noticed shortly after I got it that the main wood dash trim is a light wood color vs the reddish color of the rest of the trim on the doors and such. So I beleive it has been replaced. I really would like to get a replacement peice, but the dealer said I would have to roder the whole kit at about 1500! I really want to install the wood trim wheel and possible shift knob, but it would look aweful if I did not first replace the main dash. I am not talking a subtle difference in color. It is quite obvious. Light tan vs the reddish dark color. The used car dealer had the windows tinted. The more I think of it, I think they did it to hide the color difference by looking in the car. :-/ Any help would be great. Thanks.

 

This is a normal condition and I am not sure a replacement would solve your concern. The dash wood is real wood where the side wood is plastic (plood). I have noticed the difference under certain light conditions. The wood steering wheel is the most dramatic difference as it is plastic. At first it bothered me too, but I grew used to it. Just convince yourself wood is a natural product and varies in shade. You should see my sister's Lexus, she has all sorts of wood colors in here SC430.

 

ehhh.... i think the wood on the dash is fake plastic wood.... and that thing cost more than the entire dash assembly.... the only real wood is the shift nob and steering wheel.... the wood trim on the dash is made up of plastic...... I've seen tech from acura dealer take apart the entire dash assembly.... and those plastic wood trim have to come off before everything else.... oh, and the door wood trim is also fake....

 

To illustrate the difference in color, the dash looks close to this color:

Door trim is this color:
Drives me crazy!!!!

 

I'm telling ya, the plastic trim cost is mad crazy parts alone (not including labor.... than again, it's all clip that held it in so easy to replace and easy to break).... here are some number for the cost: passenger side dash wood panel $1457, driver side dash $455, the entire dash, instrument panel cost $1215.... am I missing something here.... wood looking plastic trim cost more than the entire dash.... that's absurd you know those crashed cars with passenger side air bag deployed..... that's $1215 down the toilet

 

This is correct. The dash is "real" wood while the side panels are plastic. There were a bunch of threads about this a few years back but they probably aren't accessible anymore.

The steering wheel isn't real wood either. There's a reason Acura listed it as a "wood look" steering wheel. I believe the shift knob has real wood in it.

 

I understand that the main dash trim is real wood but the rest is not, but the color difference is huge. It is not a different hue or anything, but a totally different color. I would rather have all plastic if it means having a uniform color.

 

While still expensive, the 2007 and 08 base models deleted wood and used the plastic wood. You only got real wood with the higher end packages.

 

I just tinted my windows 15% yesterday and now it is hard to notice the difference

 

Is anyone thinking what I am thinking? Probably not. But I wonder if the 07/08 plastic trim will fit the 05? All plastic, all colors match. Problem solved... Right? Looking up the cost difference, I would be saving about 500. Still steep, but may be worth the peace of mind it will give me having a uniform color...

 

Most 05-07 RL that i have seen, have the same problem of different color shade of wood trims. I just install the wood steering wheel / shift knob (darker) and they aren't the same as the dash.

 

That is exactly what I was trying to get at!

 

Hate to burst your bubbles guys.... but this 'wood' dash trim is as real as the 'crab' in immitation crab meat.... the only wood that's real in the pictures are my floors.... even that is made from some kinda synthetic wood....












I got this thing for a fraction of oem retail price (~$150) so I jump on it.... I thought I had few scratches on my original trim.... after I swapped it out (same color and everything), I buffed out the so call scratches (never exsisted:P).... any takers?

even the tech from acura dealership told me it's not a real wood regardless of the year and model of RL.....

 

Gotta admit, that's some impressive texture/paint job tho.....

 

Wtf! I thought I had a tree trunk full of curly maple wood wrapped all around my luxury RL. Why did my dealership BS about color formation due to different type of wood if it just fake plastic wood? I wonder if Lexus/BMW/MB uses this same type of quality wood?

 

Well, at least we r saving lot 'o trees I'm sure all of those Luxury car company does the same thing... plus, the real wood won't be as durable as our trim...

 

The center setion is real wood on plastic. That is why it fades, like previously stated.

My center section is slightly faded but not noticeable unless you stare at it.


I figure there are 2 options to try and fix.

1. try and get some cabinet maker to sand and restain to match plus clear. (highly doubt you'll be able to find someone to do this)

2. send your center section here http://www.american-stitches.com/index.htm along with a panel of the correct color you want matched.


I figure if mine gets bad enough and I keep my car long enough I will try to do something about it.

 

I just called option 2 and they restain and clear your wood on plastic center section and to figure on about 2-300 bucks depending on size. 1-2 week turnaround time though.

 

It is wood veneer over the plastic molded component.

It cannot be a solid piece of wood. It would splinter and be deadly in car crashes.

The veneer is very thin, so it can be molded and sealed without splintering.

It is very similar to the aftermarket wood dash kits. The inexpensive ones are photolaminent. The 'real wood' kits are veneer imbedded into the stick-on appliques. They are very pliable (and need to be) to conform to dash curves.

The concept of real wood is that the grain is natural, and unique. Truth is, it is not so unique as one piece of lumbar is shaved into many veneer sheets, and each is nearly identical to the next.

But it is real wood, and there are variations. If you want a lumber laden dashboard, you may need to look at Bently's.

real wood or plood...the only one it should matter to is the one who paid for the car.

 

Word of wisdom.... good to see your articales again where have you been? your write up on RL's SH-AWD is one of the reason I'm so confident in our car

 

^^^^

Thanks for the pix of the dash piece.

 

Yep, I agree with the rest of the gang here -- the dashboard piece IS a real wood but like all cars, it's a veneer. All manufacturers, even Rolls Royce, do that, due to reasons Tampa mentioned in his post.

Not sure whether paying a grand is worth getting the trim to match. I agree its kind of annoying but I have other things to spend a grand on

Chris

 

What TampaRL said. All '05 and '06 have real wood-laminate-veneer-product on the dash. On my '06 you can see a few places where some filler was applied, especially on the curvier sections where I'm sure the veneer doesn't easily fit the contour. The door trim is all plastic (look carefully and you see the cutout molding on the passenger side where the seat memory buttons go on RHD models).

On the few '05 RLs I've seen, the wood dash trim has been a shade lighter than the later RLs sporting real wood, and more of a contrast to the plastiwood on the doors.

As for color match, the wood shift knob is a decent match for the dash. The wood wheel is darker and a bit redder, but since the wheel and the dash are seldom in the same light (the wheel is usually in the shade) I don't notice it anymore. The wheel is such a terrific tactile upgrade, I can't fault the shade differences.

Neat pictures of the dash trim!

 

Thanks for that.

What SHAWD write up are you referring to?

 

Another option is to go to a hardware or paint store and get a can of the stain that's made for fake-wood fiberglass entry doors. My significant other used this stuff over a wood cabinet whose waxed finish made staining "impossible."

I'd stain the dash, for two reasons: 1) that's the lighter color, and 2) you probably rub against or touch the doors more than the dash face, so it should wear less.

Just mask around the area you're staining, then brush it on with a cheapo foam stain brush or a rag. You can go by looks on whether it's the way you want, because it doesn't change color much when it dries. This approach is, among its other advantages, about $195 cheaper than spending even $200.

 

I cant believe they would mix burl and cherry in the same car (unless its been wrecked) (Jus Jokn)

 

The models with real wood trim do not have burled wood nor cherry.

It is curly maple, which has broad variations in color and grain.

Genuine wood paneling made by TENDO CO., LTD. imparts the high-quality feel unique to natural wood (Exclusive Package)
· The genuine wood paneling in the instrument panel is made from curly maple with its distinctive furrowed pattern. Changing its expression with each viewing angle, the paneling offers beauty that only natural wood can provide.

http://world.honda.com/news/2004/4041007.html

 

the one with a TL tried to tailgate you and ended up in the wall write up

 

I remember that one. That was memorable. Lesson learned: don't drive even a good FWD car like the TL aggressively through a curve at higher speed than an RL.

 

Bob, can you help me locate that thread again..... i can't seem to find it anymore thanx again

 

I revived that thread for yor psheu so not to further hijaack this one. It is " SHAWD Sets a Bad Example" on the thread list.

Besided, Bob is on vacation and likely snoring loudly as junior tears down the CTS-V with his Fischer Price toolkit.


*shhhhhhhhh*

 

I think the wood looks nice . I plan to do my TL soon but not the whole kit worth

 

My new steering wheel, new replacement rear passenger door "wood" trim, and the original "wood" door trim, all vary in color. I thought I was the only one with this problem. I guess I'll have to learn to live with it!