Fitting the wood effect inserts
 

I have a 1999 c70 can I replace the start plastic coloured trim with the wood effect inserts that I have seen in other models. Think they are on the centre console dash around the stereo and glove box

gotta take the dash out mate. far too many hidden fixings.

once out it only takes 20 mins to do.

Sounds like a big teadious job then shame about that

its actually very simple. Remove the dash top - about 10 or so t25 screws holding that down. then its 4 10mm bolts in the scuttle hold the dash in, then there a few torx 25 screws near the front door hinges. then undo the big multi plug by the accelerator pedal, remove the centre console and thats the dash out. then its about 12 t20 screws holding the fascias in. Did it for a mate to fit R silver trim and all in it took about 1 hour 20 mins.

I have done them with the dash in place. A real pain of a job.

Also done them with removing the dash. This is easier way. Also you can fix any of the four top mount points that tend to brake and make the dash squeak at the same time.

Or you could do what I did when I had my 'poverty spec' V70 a few years ago.

I shopped around on ebay and found a kit of self-adhesive trim to cover the plastic one. And it came from the USA. Sorry, I can't remember details - it was a while back. But, what made it really good was that the trim was slightly padded so that edges were better 'rounded'.

Just found a typical item... ebay item 181849762053

And, if I were to be truthful about it, it looked darned good because I took the time to do the job carefully and in accordance with the instructions (warmer weather helped as well by making things more flexible). And it lasted for as long as I had that car... about four/five years.

The 'down-side' (?) was that there was too many pieces in the kit for trimming places that would have looked stupid (switch surrounds and the like!).

The general consensus of people who got in the car who thought it looked 'posh' and thought that the wood trim was 'original' to the car.

somebody stuck some of those to my rear window switches in my S70 prior to my ownership. Needless to say they got swiftly removed lol ;)

Don't blame you!

I've used both methods too. Removing the dash is quicker and easier.

My main reason for going the 'stick on' route was the wide range of choice in finishes that was available. I found a 'wood' finish that I liked and that blended in with the rest of the interior. Ok, took a little longer to fit maybe as I was doing it carefully; but it was worth it.

I was also very lucky that, a year or so later, I found a wood finish steering wheel for sale that was almost identical!