Anyone thinking of center console upgrade?

[Cessblood]

Originally Posted by sadiqawos

One relatively easy interior mod for Fr-s owners should be swapping the center console of the fr-s for the one in the GT-86 or even the Brz. it looks a lot nicer, it has the push to start button that can be wired into the stock harness and you also don't have to worry about cutting holes into the original bezel.

fr-s center console


GT-86 center console


Another mod that can be done is building a car computer with touch screen display instead of the crappy stock one.

I was thinking the same thing.

[arbnpx]

Originally Posted by Honeydew

Wow i would wish i could do that dont know how pricey it could get though. I thought that the Fr-s doesn't have dual climate control so you just dont wire up some of those buttons??

I'm starting to research a dual zone climate swap as well. One of the guys in the JDM parts buy topic started by Carson mentioned that the heater box would probably have to be changed out. I looked at the FR-S heater box, and it has two gears turned by the cables on the two front dials: temperature, and HVAC mode (the fan speed dial is an electric switch dial). I got a chance to take a picture of the BRZ Limited heater box side, and there's a motor that turns a gear, though I'm not sure which one it is.

I'm thinking of starting a topic to research what it would take for an FR-S dual zone climate conversion. One thing I have to get past, first: how to remove the center console panels. The radio one is probably easier to remove, but I'm not brave enough to try yet without proper trim tools. The HVAC one might be a bit harder, but again, I'm not brave enough to start pulling at panels.

[Cessblood]

Originally Posted by arbnpx

I'm starting to research a dual zone climate swap as well. One of the guys in the JDM parts buy topic started by Carson mentioned that the heater box would probably have to be changed out. I looked at the FR-S heater box, and it has two gears turned by the cables on the two front dials: temperature, and HVAC mode (the fan speed dial is an electric switch dial). I got a chance to take a picture of the BRZ Limited heater box side, and there's a motor that turns a gear, though I'm not sure which one it is.

I'm thinking of starting a topic to research what it would take for an FR-S dual zone climate conversion. One thing I have to get past, first: how to remove the center console panels. The radio one is probably easier to remove, but I'm not brave enough to try yet without proper trim tools. The HVAC one might be a bit harder, but again, I'm not brave enough to start pulling at panels.

I just P.M. Carson Toyota to see if he can get any info on this for us.

[TheChopShop]

I'm on the fence about this. I like the gt86, however I like the simplicity of the FR-S. I guess it depends on the cost and difficulty of the swap. I've done a RHD swap (Lexus GS300) and a couple 5-speed swaps, so difficulty isn't a problem, more of a hassle on a brand new car.
But a dry carbon piece behind the dials might be in the works for me.

[Ess Vee]

I called my local Subie dealer to see if I could order the BRZ's ac-control unit (since it's the same as the GT86's) but supposedly you can only order individual parts and would have to assemble the unit yourself.

[arbnpx]

Interesting; I'll have to see what the total cost of all the parts would be. I imagine that it includes the control panel, at least one servo unit, maybe two, and maybe some harnesses and boxes.

[|-Goku-|]

I will be replacing the orange LED's for the climate controls when I get my FR-S.

[JiB]

Just saw a youtube clip of this car cruising around Suzuka and i was admiring the dials in the dash, anyone seen these for sale anywhere or thought about doing it themselves? i really like the look, and it would be handy knowing what your temps are running at

[|-Goku-|]

That looks awesome!

[TRD_86]

I think just wait for few months the complete GT86 JDM center console kit will be available to make it ez swap. That cheap black plastic around the knob & dials need to be upgraded w/ nicer trim like from lexus IS sedan; and then upgrade the stock HU to top of the line Alpine or Kenwood NAV. There will be tons of coming accessories available for the market of this car itself. It's a hobby to own this car and proud to play with it !

[xcelir8brz]

Considering mounting small tablet flush there with obd ii driving virtual gauges.

[deucethemoose]

I have the Torque app on an android tablet and I sync it up to an ELM327 bluetooth OBDII adapter to pull live OBD data for my MR2... I haven't been able to use it since I went to a LinkECU, but I will definitely be setting it up on my FR-S for random OBD info + datalogging. Well worth the 5 dollars, IMO.

[LSxJunkie]

Climate Control swap is probably far more invasive than you think. With the GTOs, the US market manual climate control was vacuum operated, while the Australian market dual zone was electrically actuated. I believe there was Body Control Module programming that needed to be done as well. Those units are very rarely self contained.

[BugeyedWagon]

Originally Posted by JiB

Just saw a youtube clip of this car cruising around Suzuka and i was admiring the dials in the dash, anyone seen these for sale anywhere or thought about doing it themselves? i really like the look, and it would be handy knowing what your temps are running at

I was just thinking about gauges in the plastic panel this morning. I would love for someone to come out with a carbon version like this one though!