A few months ago, I bought a 2013 BMW 3 series with a highly worn interior. It was so bad that I contemplated replacing it entirely.
My aunt told me how she used spray paint on her previous vehicle’s interior, which turned out well. It wasn’t just any spray paint; it’s specifically made for leather, vinyl, and hard plastic.
It was worth a shot, so I picked up some ColorBond Leather, Vinyl & Hard Plastic Refinisher upholstery paint in ‘cream beige’ (my interior color) and spent the next four hours spraying my seats, and seat belts, door panels, center console, and even my floor mats.
NOTE: Wear a paint respirator and glasses!
Don’t try spray painting without a respirator mask. I didn’t have one, so I wore a plain face mask. That’s not going to protect you from paint fumes.
After spraying it out, I left the windows open overnight to air it out and aid in drying.
The results were truly astonishing! It was a night and day difference.
While it looked great, the texture was stiff and rough. I was still happy overall, though.
The leather seats and interior softened up over time. I was pleasantly surprised by how well the finish held up even with extensive use.
It took a total of 3 cans to spray everything out. So around $60 for a practically new-looking interior is worth it.
Before Buying ColorBond LVP Refinisher
- Find the EXACT color you need. That might mean looking up your VIN and finding the color it is. For example, there are multiple beige colors for my BMW, so I had to look up my VIN to find the one I needed, ‘cream beige.’
- Better to have too much than too little. Buy more than enough to complete your project; you don’t want a half-done project because you have to order more. You can always use the additional amount for future touch-ups.
- Make sure you have a painter’s respirator and glasses/goggles. Don’t start the project without the necessary protection. Keep your lungs and eyes safe.
Before Spraying ColorBond LVP Refinisher
- Find a well-ventilated area to spray. Outdoors on a nice day is ideal.
- Remove any parts you are going to spray (recommended). For best results, remove any interior parts you’ll be spraying. I didn’t do this since I was dyeing the entire interior, but if you only have a few pieces that need refinishing, coating them out of the vehicle will give you the best results.
- After washing the upholstery, towel dry it. Make sure to clean it well. Wait until completely dry before proceeding.
- Mask off everything that’s not getting sprayed. If you aren’t removing the interior parts first, then make sure you mask off windows and electronic components to avoid getting overspray on these.
- Use a consistent light sweeping motion when spraying. Applying it like this will give you the best results. Three light coats about a foot away from the surface work best.
After Spraying ColorBond LVP Refinisher
- Let it fully dry. While it dries quickly, I waited overnight before sitting on the sprayed seats. I’m not sure if it’s essential but didn’t want to chance getting paint on my clothes. Also, it allows the fumes to dissipate.
- Try to keep it clean. I was overly cautious for the first week. The paint will be soft and tacky in the beginning, so try to be mindful of keeping it clean so as not to affect the finish.
Final Verdict – Was It Worth It?
I have to say it was probably the best investment I made for the vehicle’s appearance. It completely changed my interior from ratty to fresh and clean, seemingly overnight.
While it looked great, I wasn’t a fan of the sandy, gritty feel; luckily, it softened up and felt more natural after a few weeks.
It was 100% worth it!
Q&A
Can I change the color of my interior?
You can — However, it might not look as good as if you went with your original factory color. I contemplated changing my interior color to black; it probably would have worked well, but I didn’t want to spend even more time on the interior if this didn’t work. Ultimately, I chose to spray the factory color.
Is ColorBond LVP Refinisher paint any good?
Yes, it exceeded my expectations. Read the review above! After this is applied, the look and feel are way more natural than expected.
How can I change the color of my interior?
I would buy around five cans (or so) of ColorBond LVP Refinisher in whatever color you want to change it to. It’s easier to change an interior from beige to black than from black to beige. I’m sure the results would look good either way, but you’ll probably need more coats.
Can you paint/dye the interior of a car?
Yes, you can, with the right kind of paint. I had no clue you could until recently. I was shocked at the results ColorBond LVP Refinisher paint had on my car’s interior. I thought the only way you could change the color of your interior was by swapping out the seats, trim, headliner, everything.
What kind of paint do you use on plastic car interior parts?
Don’t use just any rattle-can spray paint. As I mentioned before, ColorBond LVP works well. It won’t make plastic look and feel cheap. I’m not sure if there are any similar products on the market, but I’m happy and won’t be looking elsewhere.
How do I match the interior paint on my car?
You can usually get all the information you need from your VIN. The vehicle manufacturer might have the color code on a sticker found inside the trunk lid or door jam. If you have an Audi, Volkswagen, Porsche, or BMW, you can do what I did and give WolfAutoParts a call, and they will tell you what your interior color is.
You need to find out your exact color because it can make a massive difference with the shade. For my 2013 BMW 3 series, it came in multiple beige colors; “savanna beige” and “cream beige” (there might’ve been more); if I would’ve chosen the wrong tint, I would’ve kicked myself like a bunch of the reviewers on Amazon that didn’t do their research and selected the wrong color.
Can I change the color of my vehicle’s carpet?
My BMWs carpeting was very stained. After cleaning the carpet, I let it dry and sprayed it out. I used the same can of ColorBond LVP (Cream Beige) on my carpet, and it worked well. I decided to go with my factory color and not change it, but I’m sure this would work well for completely changing your vehicle’s carpeting color.
ColorBond makes a ‘Carpet Refinisher’ specially made for dyeing carpet, but I just used the LVP can that I had on hand.
I even sprayed my plastic WeatherTech floor liners to match the interior, which looked great for a few weeks but eventually got scuffed up. The old color was showing through, so it’s not ideal on plastic floor mats unless you’re going to touch up the scuffs regularly.
How much does a can of ColorBond LVP Refinisher cost?
I purchased the cans from Amazon and paid around $20 each. The cost is dependent on the color you choose. You can also buy it directly from ColorBond for about $24 per can.
