Windshield trim

wyatth · 06-03-2019, 12:34 PM

Kind of random but I noticed an E90M on Instagram that had the trim next to the windshield painted, and the owner said it was like that from the factory. My trim is black, also from the factory. Looking around more, it seems like early cars were painted and later cars (mine is '11.75) are black.
What gives? When did they change from paint to black?

Early/painted:

Later year/black:

jiggz · 06-03-2019, 03:10 PM

Good eye, never noticed that.

Mine's an '09 and it's painted.

Drifter2090 · 06-03-2019, 03:20 PM

Mine's 09 and its painted as well

CalgaryX3 · 06-03-2019, 03:29 PM

2011.75, and the trim is not painted.

Our 2007 E90 335i has painted trim.

doogee · 06-03-2019, 03:43 PM

Same story with roof rail trim on the 3 series. BMW started really cheaping out on LCI E9x's.

You'd also be missing felt covered door seals, plastic C Pillar trim rather than cloth. The list goes on unfortunately.

wyatth · 06-03-2019, 03:53 PM

^ And visors, etc. Long list indeed. This windshield trim is new to me, though! Although I don’t think of this as being cheaper, think I prefer the black trim. But fabric visors would be nice.

doogee · 06-03-2019, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wyatth

^ And visors, etc. Long list indeed. This windshield trim is new to me, though!

Forgot about that one!

wyatth · 06-03-2019, 03:57 PM

Felt covered door seals .. another new one for me. Sheesh

spazzyfry123 · 06-03-2019, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doogee

Same story with roof rail trim on the 3 series. BMW started really cheaping out on LCI E9x's.

You'd also be missing felt covered door seals, plastic C Pillar trim rather than cloth. The list goes on unfortunately.

Are these specific to 2008 M's?

Drifter2090 · 06-04-2019, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spazzyfry123

Are these specific to 2008 M's?

It's all E9x cars, they started cheaping out on a bunch of little things

spazzyfry123 · 06-04-2019, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drifter2090

It's all E9x cars, they started cheaping out on a bunch of little things

Well let me rephrase. For the E90, <2009 got fancy trim. For the E92/3, <2011 got the fancy trim.

I just never noticed that. Seems crazy, but I prefer the tail light shape of the 2008 E90M cars. This is just one more reason for me!

InnerBlueSkies · 06-04-2019, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spazzyfry123

Well let me rephrase. For the E90, <2009 got fancy trim. For the E92/3, <2011 got the fancy trim.

I just never noticed that. Seems crazy, but I prefer the tail light shape of the 2008 E90M cars. This is just one more reason for me!

I had a 11.75 that I foolishly sold before picking up my 08.

Never understood why some do the conversations. Depends on the color.

wyatth · 06-04-2019, 10:57 AM

I like the details/illumination of the LCI tails a lot more, but also prefer the shape of the 08 tails. OE Blacklines on 08s still look good, but the bulbs/illumination show their age.

spazzyfry123 · 06-04-2019, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wyatth

I like the details/illumination of the LCI tails a lot more, but also prefer the shape of the 08 tails. OE Blacklines on 08s still look good, but the bulbs/illumination show their age.

Not to split the thread’s direction, but I’d go for Mars style lights for an ‘08.

Right shape with some LED updating that is similar to LCI.

wyatth · 06-04-2019, 12:53 PM

Yeah that looks pretty good.

Banana Hammock · 06-04-2019, 01:19 PM

I don't know why but the painted windshield trim makes me feel uneasy.

Helmsman · 06-04-2019, 01:33 PM

How can I've missed that, so clear when I see the pics! Hmm...black trim on my 2011.5 and think I'm happy. Have felt covered door seals though, strange (top bit inside the rubber?).

wyatth · 06-04-2019, 04:24 PM

Can you post a photo of the felt covered door seal? Curious what we're talking about there.

I prefer the black windshield trim as well. The painted trim looks like those cars you see and know the front bumper was repainted because the shop didn't remove the black plastic trim/grills and they come out painted as well with the bumper. Like this, that duct and center grill should be black:

amrazM · 06-04-2019, 06:29 PM

BMW started to cut back midway through production. I have An 11.75 and it’s not painted.

InnerBlueSkies · 06-04-2019, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wyatth

Can you post a photo of the felt covered door seal? Curious what we're talking about there.

I prefer the black windshield trim as well. The painted trim looks like those cars you see and know the front bumper was repainted because the shop didn't remove the black plastic trim/grills and they come out painted as well with the bumper. Like this, that duct and center grill should be black:

My car

Local Pimps Car

06-03-2019, 12:34 PM	#1
wyatth Colonel 3549 Rep 2,824 Posts Drives: E90 ZCP Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Bay Area iTrader: (0)	Windshield trim - painted or black? Kind of random but I noticed an E90M on Instagram that had the trim next to the windshield painted, and the owner said it was like that from the factory. My trim is black, also from the factory. Looking around more, it seems like early cars were painted and later cars (mine is '11.75) are black. What gives? When did they change from paint to black? Early/painted: Later year/black: Last edited by wyatth; 06-03-2019 at 03:52 PM..
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06-03-2019, 03:10 PM	#2
jiggz Brigadier General 2141 Rep 3,647 Posts Drives: E90 M3\|F15 X5 50i Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Seattle iTrader: (2)	Good eye, never noticed that. Mine's an '09 and it's painted.
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06-03-2019, 03:20 PM	#3
Drifter2090 Colonel 910 Rep 2,091 Posts Drives: E90 M3 \| E92 335i \| E90 335d Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Ontario, Canada iTrader: (1)	Mine's 09 and its painted as well __________________ MGM F82 M4 DCT / MPerformance / Swift / CSF / IND / Turner / BimmerWorld BSM F87 M2 6MT / Fabspeed / MPerformance / Turner / AutoID - SOLD JB-NB E92 M3 6MT / IND / RTD / Alpine / KW / ActiveAutowerke / 360Carbon - SOLD SS2-FR E90 M3 6MT / IND / AFE / ActiveAutowerke - SOLD AW-FR E90 M3 DCT / ACM / IND / AutoTecknic / K&N / H&R / Bilstein - SOLD
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06-03-2019, 03:29 PM	#4
CalgaryX3 Captain 169 Rep 659 Posts Drives: 2007 E90 335i / 2011 E90 M3 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Calgary, Alberta Canada iTrader: (0)	2011.75, and the trim is not painted. Our 2007 E90 335i has painted trim. Last edited by CalgaryX3; 06-03-2019 at 03:38 PM..
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06-03-2019, 03:43 PM	#5
doogee Major 748 Rep 1,256 Posts Drives: '08 M3, '09 328xi Sport Wagon Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Ancaster, ON, Canada iTrader: (0)	Same story with roof rail trim on the 3 series. BMW started really cheaping out on LCI E9x's. You'd also be missing felt covered door seals, plastic C Pillar trim rather than cloth. The list goes on unfortunately. __________________
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06-03-2019, 03:53 PM	#6
wyatth Colonel 3549 Rep 2,824 Posts Drives: E90 ZCP Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Bay Area iTrader: (0)	^ And visors, etc. Long list indeed. This windshield trim is new to me, though! Although I don’t think of this as being cheaper, think I prefer the black trim. But fabric visors would be nice.
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06-03-2019, 03:57 PM	#8
wyatth Colonel 3549 Rep 2,824 Posts Drives: E90 ZCP Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Bay Area iTrader: (0)	Felt covered door seals .. another new one for me. Sheesh
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06-04-2019, 10:57 AM	#13
wyatth Colonel 3549 Rep 2,824 Posts Drives: E90 ZCP Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Bay Area iTrader: (0)	I like the details/illumination of the LCI tails a lot more, but also prefer the shape of the 08 tails. OE Blacklines on 08s still look good, but the bulbs/illumination show their age.
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06-04-2019, 12:53 PM	#15
wyatth Colonel 3549 Rep 2,824 Posts Drives: E90 ZCP Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Bay Area iTrader: (0)	Yeah that looks pretty good.
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06-04-2019, 01:19 PM	#16
Banana Hammock Beefcake 3769 Rep 711 Posts Drives: NA Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (2)	I don't know why but the painted windshield trim makes me feel uneasy.
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06-04-2019, 01:33 PM	#17
Helmsman Major General 4465 Rep 7,109 Posts Drives: 2011 AW E90 M3 ZCP Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Stockholm, Sweden iTrader: (0)	How can I've missed that, so clear when I see the pics! Hmm...black trim on my 2011.5 and think I'm happy. Have felt covered door seals though, strange (top bit inside the rubber?).
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06-04-2019, 04:24 PM	#18
wyatth Colonel 3549 Rep 2,824 Posts Drives: E90 ZCP Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Bay Area iTrader: (0)	Can you post a photo of the felt covered door seal? Curious what we're talking about there. I prefer the black windshield trim as well. The painted trim looks like those cars you see and know the front bumper was repainted because the shop didn't remove the black plastic trim/grills and they come out painted as well with the bumper. Like this, that duct and center grill should be black:
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06-04-2019, 06:29 PM	#19
amrazM mTekMods 2142 Rep 2,901 Posts Drives: like a granny. Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Manhatan iTrader: (1)	BMW started to cut back midway through production. I have An 11.75 and it’s not painted.
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