CL Dash Trim with Aluminum Door Trim?

[///M///]

I have aluminum trim in my E90 and it looks great against the black interior, especially the doors. However, I do like the CL trim more but wasn't sure if it would get lost against the black interior? Looking at the pictures of cars with CL trim on a black interior, I think it looks really good on the dash. However, can't see it as much on the doors. Was contemplating if I can get away with CF just on the front dash and leave the aluminum on the doors? Didn't think it would look out of sorts. Anyone tried this?

[THE TECH]

If you like the large contrast, stick with the aluminum.

[mdosu]

i just did the AL to the CL swap in my black interior E90. I'm not quite sure if I like it. The AL gives you that high contrast.

If you swap just the dash part, it's the major piece that you'll see on a daily basis. In fact, I rarely notice the AL trim on the door when I had it.

Overall, the CL piece doesn't look great in my eyes b/c it's not rear CF, it's just a plastic weave that looks like CF. The major positive I got out of the swap is apparantly the source of a rattle in my dash was my AL trim. Apparantly the AL is glued onto a plastic frame which bolts on to the console base. It was the AL and the plastic frame that was rattling. The CL is a direct bolt on to the console, so less pieces to rattle.

[M3 Esq]

Not sure how that would look. I'd stick with the aluminum.

[Mike van D]

My pref would be to keep full set of one or the other...just my opinion.

[Wah]

i have carbon leather on black, and it is a little too much black. On the other hand, I don't like strong contrast, so I'm not a fan of aluminum either.

[mdefalco25]

I have the carbon leather on mine as well and I do like it. It looks rich and goes well with the rest of the package. Of course, it is entirely up to you but if you are looking for a change it wouldn't be a difficult one to do I'm sure. Just costly.

[knolow]

My vote is leave it alone. Wanna make a difference with the interior look get a performance steering wheel. That pops!

[turbologist]

Originally Posted by Mike van D

My pref would be to keep full set of one or the other...just my opinion.

Werd...

[lorinzo]

I have the CL trim.... I like it but, thought a little more contrast would be nice.

I considered the AL but thought it might be too much.

So, I purchased replacement trim and had it wrapped with matte black metal.

[peeti]

lorinzo - looks good!

mdosu - it's not plastic, it's leather that has been textured.

I've had CL on my Mcoupe some years back and it was nice and easy to care for, but yea, not much contrast. My e90 has the AL which I can't stand... running my fingers across it gives me the nails on a chalkboard feeling. It looks pretty nice, visually speaking, much better than what Audi had in their B7 series S4, but it's cold and cold feeling. I'm shopping for a full CF, real CF, replacement, or I'm going to wrap with CF. The trouble I've run into, however, is that there is no good CF wrap. It all is fake/printed CF, rather than a weave on a sticker.

Anyone find a good quality wrap? And no, the 3M stuff people are using is not CF.

[///M///]

Thanks guys. Keeping the Aluminum for now

[MKE_M3]

I love my carbon leather with black leather interior. The texture is great.

[MKE_M3]

Originally Posted by peeti

lorinzo - looks good!

mdosu - it's not plastic, it's leather that has been textured.

Not saying you're wrong, but I don't think you should be too confident. This was a hotly debated thread with many folks VERY confident in their opinion of what it is made out of, yet NOONE had proof. IMHO it does not look like real leather, but instead a synthetic weave that is attached to a smaller strip of leather.

[peeti]

scratch it in an inconspicuous spot, leather is pretty telling. I'm basing it on my old mcoupe - perhaps the material has changed, it was leather then.