Write-Up: BD Trims and Sherwood Dash Kit Installation

Wrapped. You can see the plastic bosses and tool marks on the back side. Nice job, though.

I'm not a huge fan of CF, real or fake.... got burned out on it being on every tuner car and motorcycle in the 2000s. BUT I do like that pattern and the black color would probably really help break up the monochrome door panels.

Is that a decal or?

Very interesting

vinal wrap. thats the only one i got done (yep thats all me with my hands some scissors and a heat gun) before i got called in for work. now itll be at least 5-6 weeks before i get to play with my riv again

call out man.....haha...

?????stan????

My REAL WOOD dash kit arrived today. And the arm rest pieces are NOT stenciled! Where does the manufacturing process break down? I'm sure at least two people handled the final product before it was sealed in the shipping box, and neither of them noticed it wasn't labled? I'll call them Monday and complain. What a PITA. I bet at least HALF of everything I buy from auto vendors is incorrect or poorly made.   

It might just be me but I seem to recall reading somewhere that Sherwood kits aren't labelled?

:Edit: this is incorrect. The sherwood kits are in fact labeled.

llamalor2112 wrote:

It might just be me but I seem to recall reading somewhere that Sherwood kits aren't labelled?

My Sherwood kit sure was.  In fact, the passenger side piece was labeled wrong, and I didn't realize it until I tried to use the lock button, and found that they had reversed the "Lock", and "Unlock".  Sent them a photo, and they sent a replacement.  To remove the one I had installed, I had to use a heat gun, and pry it off.  Came off in about 50 pieces. The BD kits are the ones that aren't labeled.

Larry, What did you do to get your Riv logo onto the dash aplique? Did you pry it off before and then glue it on? Or are they available new from the dealer?

My Sherwood was labeled. I suppose I was lucky...no problems at all.

Yardley wrote:

Larry, What did you do to get your Riv logo onto the dash aplique? Did you pry it off before and then glue it on? Or are they available new from the dealer?

I did pry it off. I removed the dash panel to install the 2 pieces that cover the dash.  The holes for that logo are in the stock dash along with the recess for it.  I drilled the 2 holes all the way through to the back side.  After I had installed that part of the dash kit, I again drilled the two holes from back to front, through the just installed dash kit piece applique.  Then just pushed the logo on in the stock location.  I drilled the holes for a press fit, so it doesn't need any glue.  It stays in place, and that is the exact stock location.  Hope that helps.

man.....

ghpcnm wrote:

My Sherwood was labeled. I suppose I was lucky...no problems at all.

 
Mine was also labeled, there are pics of it on a couple of pages in this write-up.

LARRY70GS wrote:

Yardley wrote:

Larry, What did you do to get your Riv logo onto the dash aplique? Did you pry it off before and then glue it on? Or are they available new from the dealer?

I did pry it off.  I removed the dash panel to install the 2 pieces that cover the dash.  The holes for that logo are in the stock dash along with the recess for it.  I drilled the 2 holes all the way through to the back side.  After I had installed that part of the dash kit, I again drilled the two holes from back to front, through the just installed dash kit piece applique.  Then just pushed the logo on in the stock location.  I drilled the holes for a press fit, so it doesn't need any glue.  It stays in place, and that is the exact stock location.  Hope that helps.

On mine I took the clips off from the backside and reinstalled it with two sided tape, the pins/clips wouldn't work after adding the thickness of the dash kit. I just had to trim the 3M tape to fit, drilling the holes smaller for a press/interference fit was a good idea though.

Sorry you had installation issues. My wood lamitated kit is so beautiful, did not make an attempt to apply the Riv. script on the dash. Riviera 'Script' is in a zip lock bag in the glove box.

No installation issues yet... haven't even begun. Won't start until I get replacements with stenciling. And I will drill interference holes and use a small piece of double-sided tape to hold emblem in place.

What is everyone cleaning their kits with? I know I saw someone mention a Zaino polish, but I can't find that info anymore and nothing on Zaino's site looks quite right. I'm not seeing any cleaning info on BD Trims site either.

I just use the spray Armor All for plastics. It works great as long as you wipe it all off, otherwise it will smudge. The stuff also works great for the external grey trim.

Jack the R wrote:

What is everyone cleaning their kits with?  I know I saw someone mention a Zaino polish, but I can't find that info anymore and nothing on Zaino's site looks quite right.  I'm not seeing any cleaning info on BD Trims site either.  

I just "dust" mine off and use ... "Z-2 PRO Show Car Polish" ... on it!

I figure it is some kind of acrylic finish that just needs a good polish to keep its shine, so that is the polish I use. Of course if you aren't already using Zaino products for the rest of the car it would be pretty pricey to just get their polish for the dash kit. I would guess any quality polish would work fine though.

Mine doesn't really get dirty so dusting it works OK for me, if is does actually need cleaning I wouldn't use anything more than a damp cloth, it shouldn't need more than that I wouldn't think? You don't want to do too much or it will probably have an adverse effect on the finish?

Okay. Who makes the BEST REAL wood dashes for 1996 Rivera? Sherwood, BD or B&I? (am I missing any choices?) I am not interested in vinyl wraps or fake wood options.   I will read through this thread in the meantime, but any help would be appreciated. Thank you. Okay, it seems Sherwood is the way to go.

Someone wanted to know how these look with a blue interior.

No one has mentioned B&I so here is a link:

https://www.wooddash.com/category/BUICK_Dash_Kits_BUICKRIVIERA

I just received my Sherwood kit today. It is supposed to be real rosewood. It looks like photo paper to me. I guess I expected what Cadillac had for real wood. Aluminum and real wood veneer covered in polyurethane. This looks like vinyl through and through with photo paper under more clear vinyl. I ordered from Auto Accessories Garage out of Canada. Very quick shipping however. So is it real wood? It is so flexible I cannot imagine even the thinnest veneer standing up to any bending this can stand up to. It is almost like taking very hot chocolate chip cookies off the bake sheet. It bends under its own weight. Comments appreciated please.

I have the Real Rosewood Sherwood Dash kit.  Bought mine 10 years ago at least.  Does it look like this?

Yes, it LOOKs like that. BTW, how do you get the factory trim off from around the shifter quadrant?