5 3D PRINTED CAR PARTS AND TOOLS YOU CAN MADE IN 1 DAY
Making your own car parts used to be impossible.
But thanks to today’s 3D printers car parts from dash panels to wheel caps are totally within reach.
3D PRINTING CAR PARTS | CAR PART FILAMENT SELECTOR | 3D PRINTER FOR AUTOMOTIVE | SCANNING & 3D PRINTING CAR PARTS
In this post, we’ll walk through five 3D printed car parts you can make in a single day (no engineering degree required).
You’ll also learn which materials, printers, and design tools actually work — plus how to avoid the most common mistakes that wreck 3D printed car parts.
But if you’re ready to design your first car parts in just a few hours…
I packaged everything into a 1-Day Car Parts Design Workshop so you can build the parts no one else has in just a few hours.
Or continue with the FREE 3d printed car parts below ⬇
1️⃣ CUSTOM INTERIOR PARTS (MINI DELETE PLATES)
For our BMW E30 project build, we needed custom switch mounts and gauge plates. So we found some pre-made parts, but then I decided to design my own.
If you’ve never made one before, here’s the trick:
Search online for existing delete plate models for your make.
If you can’t find them, recreate them in CAD — it’s easier than it looks. Here’s a complete on-demand workshop on how to start designing your very own.
Adjust mounting points or openings for your own switches.
Once printed, they pop right into your dash and give your dash that OEM-plus finish look.
2️⃣ THE RIGHT MATERIAL FOR 3D PRINTED INTERIOR CAR PARTS
If you print interior parts with common PLA filament they will fail fast. PLA can warp, fade, or even melt in summer heat.
After dozens of tests, ASA filament is my go-to choice:
🌞 UV-resistant
🔥 Heat tolerant up to ~200°F
💧 Water/Chemical resistant
You’ll need a [filament dryer] and an enclosed 3d printer for best results — ASA doesn’t like moisture or to be printed with an open 3d printer.
OUR TOP BUDGET 3D PRINTER FOR CAR PARTS?
The [Centauri Carbon] — it’s enclosed, budget-friendly (~$300), and perfect for ASA once you tweak the filament profile (higher bed temp, fans off).
💡 PRO TIP: Add a small [fume extractor] for ventilation, and you’re set.
3️⃣ XL 3D PRINTED CAR PARTS: DASH CLUSTERS
When you move from small parts to big ones, like a dashboard cluster or large exterior trim, you’ll want more build volume.
That’s where the [Bambu Lab H2S] comes in — roughly 30% larger build area than the Centauri Carbon and still fully enclosed.
With 5% infill and 3 wall layers, a full-size dash cluster took around 7 hours to print.
And ASA’s water resistance means you can confidently 3d print exterior car parts like hitch covers, mirror caps, or badges that hold up in the elements too.
4️⃣ 3D PRINTED WHEEL CAPS MULTI-COLOR
We even designed and 3d printed a [wheel cap cover you can find more about here] for our E30 in Shapr3D — quick measurements, simple extrusion, done.
We started the prototype in white PLA for testing fitment, but moved onto printing the part in ASA. But you can make your part even better…
WHICH IS WHERE MULTI-COLOR 3D PRINTING CAR PARTS COMES IN.
If your 3d printer supports an AMS or Automatic Material System like the [Bambu Lab H2S] or [P1S], you can print in multiple filament colors simultaneously — perfect for adding logos or accents onto your car part prints.
No AMS… You don’t have to print with just black. ASA comes in different solid colors like red, green, orange, and blue too.
5️⃣ TOOLS & SHOP UPGRADES YOU CAN 3D PRINT
Not every print has to go on the car. Some of the most useful 3D prints are tools that make your build easier.
🧰 Wheel Fitment Tool
For these parts I used lower cost PETG (oil-resistant and durable) filament as they won’t be exposed to the hot sun.
The [wheel fitment tool] mounts directly to your wheel hub to test offsets, clearance, and tire sizing before buying new wheels.
🔧 Gridfinity Tool Organizer
This free modular system lets you rearrange socket and tool holders inside your tool cart.
You can create a [custom grid layout here] and download tons of different Gridfinity organizer designs on [makerworld.com here].
But Gridfinity isn’t the only thing you can 3d print when it comes to organizing your tools.
I even designed a custom air tool hanger that locks onto the side handle and holds up to three air tools.
All parts were designed in Shapr3D, only taking under 2 hours and using just 10% of one filament roll to print.
Can’t find the 3d printed part you want to make? We have just the thing for you ⤵️
DESIGN YOUR FIRST CUSTOM CAR PART IN JUST ONE DAY
Want to level up your ride with a skill that lasts a lifetime, then this workshop is for you.
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