Tell me which install bezel you like (std or color matched)

Before I invest in a lot of time and effort and $50...

Which do you prefer...

1) Standard black dash kit
2) Custom color matched dash kit (photoshop-ed)

Several who have seen it as it is like the black because it matches the black surround around the instrument panel. Plus they think that the lighter color matched kit will stand out more against the black bezel of the AVIC-D3

Edit: I added 2 other photos, one so you can see it and the instrument panel for comparison and one of a stock radio dash.

Color matched looks best to me.

Color matched looks best to me.

Agree with Mike.

3 for color match
0 for black

Yep... color matched +1

+1 :) :) :) :)

I think the black looks better,just a little too much grey going on there,makes the h/u say look at me.When it is supposed to blend in.
-Jason

color match.....hands down!!!

It Sounds Unanimous!! Color Matched

Maybe some wood trim or stainless style cover ups would make it look even better.

Ok the color match by far, but better yet were can i find that KIT ! Now I know what I want for Xmas. Please if you have time or anyone, post or Email information on the touch screen and the bezel I would really appreciate it.

ROC on Kevin

I think the black looks better,just a little too much grey going on there,makes the h/u say look at me.When it is supposed to blend in.
-Jason

I agree, too much of all one color - I say color match the pocket to the kit (or the whole thing to the rest of the black on the dash if the kit isn't already the same).

May I suggest a darker grey (gray - American spelling)? Black is a little too much contrast and the matched colour (color - American spelling) is a little too much the other way. My RL has a two tone grey interior and it looks pretty good. It's also hard to tell how good or bad anything looks through a camera lens. Since you have two sets of dash adapters, you might want to try both shades of grey.

Mugen1,

You're right about the camera effecting the look. The flash has made the color look washed out. I have the beige interior so the pocket is what Honda calls warm gray. It's more like a dark brown gray color. Supposedly the best match is the SEM paint color Monterey (EDIT See Note Below)

I'm limited to what I see as three acceptable options:

1) Leave it as it is now.
2) Glue the pocket to the dash kit, fill the gap and sand it, then paint it all with the Monterey SEM paint
3) The third option would be to sand down the just Metra kit since it is textured and paint it black (probably more like graphite) to match the black around the instrument panel. This might look a little better than option 1.

I was thinking about doing the whole thing as black/graphite, but the hazard light switch only comes it cold gray and warm gray and it is not easily painted.

EDIT: The best match to the beige interior is NOT the SEM Paint color Monterey

I just went to the Auto Paint Store. The best match is the SEM Paint color SEQUOIA.

I will see if I can get some photos of mine, it has the Olive interior but I think it's also 'warm gray'. Oddly looks like it matches browns better but I couldn't find one that worked well. My goal was cheapness (so 342$ in gas driving to walmart/hd/lowed/etc to buy the 3$ rattle can :D) but I actually did match a nice flat colored rust-oleum textured gray I found. It's not a color that exists in the interior - but my goal was what Mugen1 suggested, just a little bit off but not enough to look like it doesen't belong.

I'll see if I can find a pic for ya.

To answer your original question, I think in real life the black bezel is darker (sans flash) and you need something with a different texture at a minimum - over the black.

As for the color matching, the reason I am opposed is there is a nice piece of what now looks like 'extra' plastic in your dash, but for some reason it matches the factory color (and since it's not a Ford, this doesen't make sense). The dark color of stereo unit contrasts nicely against it, making it more visually unappealing IMO.

In the brownish/grayish interior there needs to be some subtle transition in surfaces and colors before the stereo or it just looks out of place IMO so whatever path you choose, I'd go a little lighter then the black or darker on the warm gray hue.

I like the custom match better...

Another vote for the color-match (now it's eleven-to-one!). :D

I think the black looks better,just a little too much grey going on there,makes the h/u say look at me.When it is supposed to blend in.
-Jason

Yes, what he said!

I found the first photo below in another thread. The photo is the install done by jmcfad24.

I'm leaning toward doing my install the way that jmcfad24 did...

color match, but leave the seam to break up the expanse of solid color between the head unit and the pocket. I would glue them together so that there was a tight even seam between them, just not fill it flush.

I think that the seam helps to break up the color and gives a more visually appealing result, so long as the seam is tight and uniform.

I'm also including a retouched photo to show it without the seam as a comparison.

I posted this in your other thread. This is my matched kit. I glued the two pieces together.

shovelhd,

I saw yours as well. Awesome job.

I definitely like it better with the seam to divide the head unit from the pocket.