3D printing for car enthusiasts — from mounts to tuning

In short

• For cars, people print phone and dashcam holders, bumper caps, buttons, clips and boot organisers.
• Parts outside and in the sun are printed in PETG (up to +80 °C), interior parts in PLA, anti-vibration parts in TPU.
• A part is ready in 1–3 days instead of weeks of waiting for the original, and it often costs many times less.
• We print from a ready-made 3D model; if there isn’t one, we’ll tell you where to find it or who can make it.

Why car enthusiasts choose 3D printing

Sooner or later every car owner runs into the same problem: an original part breaks, it’s no longer made, and universal alternatives don’t fit. Or you want to add something unique — a phone holder that fits your car perfectly, or a stylish number plate frame. This is where 3D printing for cars comes in — a technology that lets you make any part for a specific car model to within tenths of a millimetre.

In Lviv, custom 3D printing is becoming more and more popular with car enthusiasts. And no wonder: instead of waiting weeks for a part from abroad, you get the finished part in a day or two.

What can be printed for a car?

The range of things 3D printing can do for a car is much wider than it seems at first glance. Here are the most popular solutions our customers order:

Holders and mounts for gadgets

Universal holders from a shop rarely sit perfectly — they wobble, cover buttons or block the view. With 3D printing you can create a phone holder that matches the shape of your car’s dashboard exactly, as well as a dashcam mount that holds securely without a suction cup and doesn’t damage the windscreen coating. The same goes for dashboard gadget mounts — sat-navs, radar detectors or extra displays can be fixed neatly and safely.

Body parts and exterior tuning

A broken bumper cap is a classic problem when the original is unreasonably expensive or simply not available. 3D printing solves it quickly and cheaply. You can also make number plate frames with a unique design, tow hook covers, trim overlays and other exterior parts. Parts are printed to the exact dimensions of your car, so the fit will be perfect.

Interior parts

Over time, small but important things break in a car interior: buttons and knobs on switches, compartment covers, latches and clips. It’s almost impossible to find such parts separately, and replacing a whole unit is too expensive. 3D printing can recreate any interior spare part — from a climate control knob to a USB port cover.

Organisers and practical accessories

Boot organisers are another hit among our orders. Every boot has its own shape, and standard shop-bought solutions rarely use the space efficiently. A custom-printed organiser fits the recess in your car perfectly, with compartments for your tools, first-aid kit or car care products. Protective covers are popular too — for OBD2 connectors, cigarette lighter sockets and open holes in panels.

Which material to choose for car parts?

The choice of 3D printing material depends on where the part will be used. For car parts we recommend three main materials:

• PETG — for exterior parts. This material is UV-resistant, withstands high temperatures (up to +80°C) and doesn’t deform in the heat. It’s the ideal choice for bumper caps, number plate frames, exterior mounts and any parts in direct sunlight.
• PLA — for interior parts. Easy to finish, with a smooth surface and a wide range of colours. It’s great for buttons, knobs, organisers, decorative trims and other parts inside the car where temperatures aren’t extreme.
• TPU — for parts subject to vibration. A flexible, elastic material that dampens vibration and absorbs impacts. Indispensable for gaskets, anti-vibration mounts, protective bumpers for gadgets and seals. A TPU part won’t crack even under a hard knock.

Not sure what’s right for you? Read our detailed comparison of PLA, PETG and TPU to make the right choice.

Custom design for your car

The main advantage of 3D printing over buying universal parts is the ability to make a spare part to the exact specifications of your car model. We work with any make: from popular Volkswagen, Skoda and Renault models to rare ones whose parts are no longer produced.

The process is simple: you send us a ready-made 3D model (STL, OBJ, STEP or 3MF) — we work out the price, and once it’s agreed we print and ship the finished part. No model? We’ll tell you where to find a ready-made one (on Printables, Thingiverse or MakerWorld) or who can make it: a modeller will need photos and measurements of the part, including the mounting points and the seat.

Advantages of 3D printing for car enthusiasts

• Speed: the part is ready in 1–3 days instead of weeks waiting for a catalogue order.
• Price: a printed part often costs many times less than the original spare part. When exactly printing is cheaper is covered in the article print a spare part or buy it.
• Precision: the item is designed for your specific car, not “roughly fits”.
• Uniqueness: you can bring any idea to life — from a logo on a cover to a non-standard mount.
• Iteration: if the first version isn’t perfect, you can quickly make changes and print an updated part.

Real examples from our work

One of our customers ordered a set of GoPro mounts for the roof of his SUV — no off-the-shelf mount fitted the rails on his model. Another ordered a set of blanking caps for a Volkswagen T4, long out of production. And someone simply wanted an organiser for the armrest of a Toyota Camry with compartments for coins, cards and glasses. All of these jobs were solved with 3D printing — quickly, with quality and at a reasonable price.

How to order 3D-printed car parts in Lviv

Ordering is as simple as it gets:

• Send us a 3D model of the part you need via the form on the site. No model? We’ll tell you where to find a ready-made one (on Printables, Thingiverse or MakerWorld) or who can make it.
• We’ll choose the best material and prepare the model for printing.
• We’ll agree the price and lead time.
• We’ll print the part and ship it by Nova Poshta.

FAQ

What can be printed for a car?

Phone and dashcam holders, bumper caps, number plate frames, interior buttons and knobs, clips, compartment covers and boot organisers.

Which plastic can handle the heat in a car?

PETG — it withstands up to +80 °C and UV. PLA softens at just 55 °C, so a PLA holder left in a car in summer can deform.

Can a part that’s no longer made be printed?

Yes, if there’s a 3D model of the part. If there isn’t, we’ll tell you where to look for one or recommend a modeller who can make it from photos and measurements.

How long does production take?

Usually 1–3 days after the model and price are agreed.