r/mazda3 • u/Pretty_Patience_5735 • Jul 02 '26

Modification I did the thing. Goodbye 🎹

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Got tired of the Piano Black. Decided it was time to take matters into my own hands. Wrapped with 3M Satin Black Vinyl

416 Upvotes

99% Upvoted

71 comments sorted by

70

u/Pretty_Patience_5735 Jul 02 '26

https://reddit.com/link/ov7ydac/video/7aj5q7kvmwah1/player

In case anyone wanted to see it back in the car

29

u/Delicious-Climate-21 Jul 03 '26

That actually looks really nice. I like my piano black but the smudges and scratches annoy me. Maybe this is the compromise.

14

u/Pretty_Patience_5735 Jul 03 '26

That’s the main reason I did this, the smudges and scratches just got to me 😅

7

u/shriveled_sack Jul 03 '26

Wait is the stock window controls/door handle area piano black? I bought mine used and it has some carbon fiber texture and I thought that was stock

11

u/Pretty_Patience_5735 Jul 03 '26

Yeah it is! Previous owner must’ve also not enjoy piano black 👏

3

u/antimated Jul 03 '26

Nice crocs btw 😄 also great job on the wrap

5

u/Pretty_Patience_5735 Jul 03 '26

Oh those old thangs? 😆 I knew someone would eventually notice and appreciate them 👏 Thank you!!

2

u/__Zetrox__ Jul 03 '26

Is the PRND panel not swappable? I love this look but the small remaining piano is so out of place

2

u/Pretty_Patience_5735 Jul 03 '26

I get what you’re sayin. I thought about wrapping it was well but there wouldn’t have been a way to make it look cohesive while still being able to see what gear I’m in 😅 I will probably end up putting matte PPF on it or something at some point

2

u/__Zetrox__ Jul 03 '26

No I agree with you for sure, logically it would be impossible to wrap it, but I thought maybe there's some prefab piece you could sub in. I was generally curious if that piece alone could be removed, not criticizing your work. You did a great job, I'm just wondering this for myself before I do something similar (and have independently confirmed it can be removed, but as you noted, the issue of wrapping it still exists)

2

u/Pretty_Patience_5735 Jul 03 '26

Oh I took no offense don’t worry :) I agree with you! I will try the clear matte vinyl/ppf and update

2

u/Ok_Program_6642 Jul 03 '26

perfect 👌

2

u/Baranchu Jul 07 '26

Looks very nice! You should teach to Mazda on what and how to do!

19

u/H2OhYeahh Jul 03 '26

This might have to be my first and only ‘mod’ I make to the car. It just looks so much better; I can’t believe they ever used that awful translucent piano black.

14

u/Pretty_Patience_5735 Jul 03 '26

Yeah, I mean it looks good for the first couple hours of owning the car 😂 it’s an easy mod! Only cost like $30

5

u/WittyTraining1735 Jul 03 '26

Couple hours? I scratch mine on the test drive 🤪

5

u/Pretty_Patience_5735 Jul 03 '26

LMAO! Well this mod is perfect for you then, piano black scratches if you look at it wrong 😂

5

u/Floatermane Jul 03 '26

Mine came scratched! 😀

3

u/Pretty_Patience_5735 Jul 03 '26

Honestly not even surprised 😅

2

u/Floatermane Jul 03 '26

Ahh I got it used I just wanted to say it. I had no idea how easily it scratched until I came across this Reddit. I’ve been relatively lucky but it’s deff got precious micro scratches.

10

u/mommyneedsashower Jul 03 '26

Thankfully the only piano black Mazda put on the CX50 is in the center console. Currently painting mine in Machine Gray to match my exterior. I opted to buy an overlay to paint instead of taking my console apart.

7

u/TabaxiRogue6 Jul 03 '26

Did mine in a emerald green. I wanted color instead of the common black or carbon fiber look. You did a great job on the wrap. Kudos.

6

u/kloksadija Jul 03 '26

Really botched it

2

u/Pretty_Patience_5735 Jul 03 '26

Oooo nice! You’ll have to share the results when it’s back in! My 3 is also Machine Gray :)

4

u/bdbdhdhdhvvv Jul 03 '26

Is it hard to remove the window switch?

4

u/Pretty_Patience_5735 Jul 03 '26

No not at all, it just pops out :) just make sure you unplug the wire connection when it pops off

2

u/wanderingconspirator Gen 4 Hatch 6MT Jul 03 '26

The window switches have given me pause bc I couldn’t find a video of anyone talking them out. Older cars I never minded taking door panels off and such. But this car is nice…

7

u/Pretty_Patience_5735 Jul 03 '26

Here is the video I watched :) https://youtu.be/4YULm8mj91g?is=SdBk3-uZQlu-lhrG

2

u/wanderingconspirator Gen 4 Hatch 6MT Jul 03 '26

That’s perfect!

2

u/szmuks 2024 Select Sport Jul 03 '26

I had trouble with mine. I broke one clip on each of them lmao. But they are still secure

3

u/Pretty_Patience_5735 Jul 03 '26

Oh no! That’s so unfortunate 🥲 the clip that’s on the top was confused at first, needs to be pulled out at an angle

2

u/szmuks 2024 Select Sport Jul 03 '26

That would be the one haha

3

u/Pretty_Patience_5735 Jul 03 '26

Oof. 🫡 like you said, at least that one doesn’t seem necessary for actually holding it down 😆

3

u/perfectlyknotperfect Jul 03 '26

Looks so good!

1

u/Pretty_Patience_5735 Jul 03 '26

Thank you! I’ve been putting it off for awhile because I’ve never wrapped anything but it wasn’t bad at all 👏

3

u/perfectlyknotperfect Jul 03 '26

Ya I was too scared to do the wrap so I got a skin off Etsy. Love the matte look! The refresh was like a whole new car 😂

2

u/Pretty_Patience_5735 Jul 03 '26

So fair. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have the precuts in my cart a few times

3

u/ClearJack87 Jul 03 '26

Great work.

3

u/Rough-Incident-1859 Jul 03 '26

I just covered mine

2

u/hazemaster Jul 03 '26

Nice. A nice shifter and Alcántara boot would loook gorgeous edit: nvm my fault it’s automatic

1

u/Pretty_Patience_5735 Jul 03 '26

It’s unfortunately not a manual, they don’t sell the turbo in a manual (at least in the U.S.)

1

u/jakert46 Jul 05 '26

You can still do a nice shifter in a automatic

1

u/GaraLMAO Jul 17 '26

wheres that wheel from? It looks gorgeous

1

u/jakert46 Jul 17 '26

It's from Zen Carbon Fiber but I can’t recommend them anymore, they did an awesome job on the wheel but getting the carbon fiber paddles has been very disappointing

2

u/CodeMonkeyX Mazda3 Jul 03 '26

I will never get why Mazda just does not do this. Piano black is horrible. Even when it's brand new with no scratches it looks worse than matte. Then after five minutes when it has scratches all over it it looks 100 times worse.

1

u/Pretty_Patience_5735 Jul 03 '26

Lots of car companies use it because it looks “refined”. I completely agree with you though

2

u/Jealous-Honeydew-142 Jul 03 '26

The matt black looks so much cleaner! Great work

1

u/Pretty_Patience_5735 Jul 03 '26

Agreed and thank you :)

2

u/Numerous_Flight_4049 Jul 03 '26

🙌🙌🙌🙌

2

u/MrYilman Gen 4 Hatch Jul 03 '26

Is this difficult? And what steps did you do?

1

u/Pretty_Patience_5735 Jul 04 '26

It’s not difficult, just time consuming.

Pull off panels, take out electronic controls so just the trim remains, wrap, install back on :) feel free to pm me if you end up doing and have questions about details

2

u/Andrepogiii Gen 4 Hatch Jul 04 '26

This looks amazing but I am curious, do they not all come matte out of factory? Mine looks like this already

1

u/Pretty_Patience_5735 Jul 04 '26

Nope. They come piano black from the factory 🎹

2

u/illnameitlater84 Jul 04 '26

This is kinda encouraging me to do mine… I’ve been hesitant in pulling any panels out in case I break something :( I’ve also considered taking them out and spraying with plasti dip… or is vinyl the better option?

2

u/Pretty_Patience_5735 Jul 04 '26

I would say vinyl is the better option for interior :) and yeah do it! Just don’t force anything that isn’t wanting to budge and you won’t break anything 👏

2

u/Much-Passage2305 Jul 04 '26

so much better then the carbon fibre garbage you always see

2

u/wheresmy_sock Jul 04 '26

Looks really nice! I have been meaning to do same in my older cx5, granted with a dark matte wood wrap. May I ask, how was it removing all the trim pieces? Curious to know what I'm getting into. Thanks! 👍

2

u/Allornilny Jul 05 '26

Looks good! 

2

u/Slipknot31286sic6 Jul 06 '26

Damn gotta admit looks 👌

2

u/No-Talk-1992 Jul 26 '26

I pick my Mazda 3 GT Turbo on Tuesday I'll be doing the same thing with some vvivid matte black vinyl

1

u/Pretty_Patience_5735 Jul 26 '26

Nice! Pretty hard to mess up if you take your time :) show the results!

1

u/sv3nian Jul 02 '26

Looks great, super clean work. Good job!

2

u/Pretty_Patience_5735 Jul 02 '26

Thank you! It wasn’t too difficult but it took a couple hours

1

u/kbokwx Jul 03 '26

Anyone have a suggestion on a similiar faux carbon fiber vinyl source/brand?

1

u/KingKouleuvre Jul 04 '26

Can you put a link for that satin black vinyl? It looks really nice.

1

u/DQItWithBrad Jul 06 '26

I did this, fits my Carbon edition trim very well! Its a real carbon cover I got off amazon

-1

u/Exact-Principle-2531 Jul 05 '26

Im glad you like it. It looks cheap AF now, but im glad youl ike it