Interior Exterior
Q:
Just finished installing my leather center console. The instruction from Stan was great. Thanks. I just want to add a few more tips I've learned from this installation.
- For me, the removal of the old one was pretty easy (It was the re-install that was tuff). The only difficult part was getting the e-brake high enough.
You need to push the shifter to third gear to give you more room to play with.
- Be very careful not to drop any screws while removing them! Especially the set screws for the shift knob and e-brake handle! If you do, it might take you more time to retrieve it than the whole job would take. Keep all the screws in a little plastic bag once you get them out.
- Also be very careful not to drop the screw retainers. Almost all the screws have them and they come off very easily!
- Some people have difficultly removing the shift knob and left it on. Mine came off very easily and I can't imagine being able to complete this job with it on.
- After getting the old one off, I was going to try Stan's shifter frame re-enforcement mod but mine seems very rigid. I try to wiggle the frame and it doesn't move at all. Maybe Lotus made some improvements later in the year?
- To re-install, start by flipping the shift boot inside out. Then slide it down the shifter shaft.
- Make sure the e-brake is high enough for the console to pass through it.
- Putting a new tie-wrap for the shift boot was very difficult because you have so little room in the car to work with. Once you get it on, you need to cut the remaining part of the tie-wrap. MAKE SURE you cut as much as you can!! If you don't, it might push against the inside of the shift boot and make it appear bulky. I didn't do it on mine and after the installation, I had to lift the console up and try to cut more of it and while doing that, the tie-wrap slipped off the boot and I had to start all over again.
- The only remaining part that was difficult was re-installing the two screws up front that fasten the console to the shifter frame. It was very difficult to get them align to the hole. Maybe the console will be secure enough without them? I don't know since I already punched two holes through the leather for the screws and I had to use them. If I were to do it again, I will not punch the holes in the leather first. I'll mark the location with tape. If after the installation, it seems secure enough then its done. If not, just punch the holes in the leather and insert the screws.
- Overall it wasn't so bad. If the car gives you more room to work with that is.
A:
Great post...thanks for sharing.
A:
Where did you get your leather console from. A black one with the white high lights would be the ticket.
A:
Where did you get your leather console from. A black one with the white high lights would be the ticket.
Do you have a white car? I think most people who have the leather console(myself included) prefer to match the paint or interior color.
A:
Do you have a white car? I think most people who have the leather console(myself included) prefer to match the paint or interior color.
Well it will be white. I could see a black leather kit looking nice as well. On the other hand I could see the white shift boot looking nice as well.
A:
Well it will be white. I could see a black leather kit looking nice as well. On the other hand I could see the white shift boot looking nice as well.
No doubt. I think the black with white stitching, magnolia boot and e-brake cover would look great!
A:
Where did you get your leather console from. A black one with the white high lights would be the ticket.
Like most people here, I also got mine from Aston Martin of New England. $323.16 including everything and shipping.
A:
Like most people here, I also got mine from Aston Martin of New England. $323.16 including everything and shipping.
Thanks for info. Sorry if this has been asked before as this is the first time I have seen them, I am still new. If I ordered this, are you able to spec the stitching or boot color?
A:
Thanks for info. Sorry if this has been asked before as this is the first time I have seen them, I am still new. If I ordered this, are you able to spec the stitching or boot color?
Both.
A:
Thanks Serobo1, I really like the finish product. Definitely on my long list of "to dos"
A:
Thanks for info. Sorry if this has been asked before as this is the first time I have seen them, I am still new. If I ordered this, are you able to spec the stitching or boot color?
Yes. I also ordered mine with the perforated leather shift and e-brake boots.
A:
You can also order door panel inserts (the egg-shaped insert in the middle of the door panel) in any color, perforated or non-perf. leather. The cost is
reasonable (less than$100, through Aston of New England same as the console). You can specify the color of the stitching on the console, and which sections should be in perforated / non-perf. leather. All this and more from the Lotus trim shop. They will do whatever you want for the interior, so have at it.
Jim
A:
You can also order door panel inserts (the egg-shaped insert in the middle of the door panel) in any color, perforated or non-perf. leather. The cost is
reasonable (less than$100, through Aston of New England same as the console). You can specify the color of the stitching on the console, and which sections should be in perforated / non-perf. leather. All this and more from the Lotus trim shop. They will do whatever you want for the interior, so have at it.
Jim
Thanks Jim for the info. This really is great to know. I LOVE having options. Although I don't know if I would do preforated leather on the boot and the e-brake. I really like the yellow example in the first post and they both look non-preforated. Not the door panel might be really neat preforated. Anyone have any pics of the door panels?
A:
I really like the yellow example in the first post and they both look non-preforated.
If you are taking about my post, the boots are perforated. Its just hard to tell in the picture.
A:
If you are taking about my post, the boots are perforated. Its just hard to tell in the picture.
Understood. The preforations must be really small? How do you like them? Would there be reason to choose non vs. preforated other than personal choice? They really look great.
A:
I had a leather console installed recently through Lotus of Newport in California. I paid a little over $300.
The match to my red interior is perfect. I chose the same off-white thread color used in the seat to maintain consistency and a factory look. But as others have posted, you can chose any color combination you want.
I ordered this after seeing Alan's and knew it was a must-have.
A:
The perforations are the same size as in the leather on the stock door panel inserts. Since the Lotus trim shop is doing the work, the leather is an exact match to the leather used in the rest of the interior. Also, if you do a search on leather consoles, you will find pix of a red leather console and door panels done last year. Looks extremely nice.
Jim
A:
The perforations are the same size as in the leather on the stock door panel inserts. Since the Lotus trim shop is doing the work, the leather is an exact match to the leather used in the rest of the interior. Also, if you do a search on leather consoles, you will find pix of a red leather console and door panels done last year. Looks extremely nice.
Jim
Point taken about Lotus actually doing the work. It really does sound like a top shelf upgrade. Being that the leather matches the stock interior, I will surely go for the preforated option. Hell, may even do the doors. I will also track down the pics of the red interior. Thanks a bunch for all the info.
A:
where do u order the handbrake leather cover
A:
where do u order the handbrake leather cover
If you're ordering the console from the Lotus trim shop, you can specify a handbrake cover in the color and type of leather (plain or perforated) that you prefer. Otherwise, you'll have to find a cover somewhere else.
Jim