Refinishing interior plastic

[lancerr]

Question for the detailing experts - the plastic trim on the center console and various bits are scratched, discolored and generally look horrible. They also seems to be different color. You could almost say there are 50 shades of grey trim in my car.

Is there any way for me to
1)get the trim looking like new
2) die them or stain them to look black.

Thanks

Sriram

[swagon]

Jesus, how is this even possible. I had a peeling steering wheel trim and door pulls after 9 years of daily use but none of this disgusting crap.

It is possible to repaint some of the trim, it's pretty use to peel the old layer off, and then you have to spray a coat of interior plastic paint or whatever it may be called, but regarding the buttons and iDrive controller you're probs better of replacing them.

Search through E90Post as there are DIYs for this.

[georgebmwM3]

I would suggest e-bay and see if you can find replacements. This product is extremely difficult to repaint/finish.

[lancerr]

Originally Posted by georgebmwM3

I would suggest e-bay and see if you can find replacements. This product is extremely difficult to repaint/finish.

Figured it out. Here are the refinished pieces.

Basic sanding to 3000 starting at 600. 3 layers of flat black and 2 layers of matte clear

[georgebmwM3]

looks nice

[MILLER335I]

Which manufacturer? Paint id number?

[nyc_dude]

You should just get new BMW OEM trim pieces at Black Friday sales.

The Start/Stop Switch was the Limited Edition with blue button from IND.
The A/C controls trim was an OEM part
The steering wheel trim will go leather covered (CF or Alcantara are options) -- OEM peels
The center console was replaced with the carbon fiber GTS piece (IND) or Autotechnik CF product
The switches for EDC, DSC, Power are OEM
The iDrive controller can be purchased OEM or on ebay or from Deansbimmer (Mporium)
since I think it is the same as any other 3-Series

Interior door hand pull in the arm rest...is not available as a separate part, so either repaint or wrap it in vinyl matte black.

Interior looks like the set of a porno film. HaHa.


Cheers

[EDWYER]

Jesus that looked awful.

[chief]

So, this past weekend I redid my interior door trim pieces, replaced the console switches (new power & DSC on/off switch set), and have ordered up additional parts to replace the pop out cup holders, surrounding bezel and interior door trim floor plates. I used Colorbond BMW #258 black paint.

Here is the Drivers Door, rubbery soft touch black BMW paint removed and repainted with Colorbond BMW 258 paint. Repainted upper door trim (driver and passenger), door handle and window switch bezel.

[InnerBlueSkies]

Originally Posted by chief

So, this past weekend I redid my interior door trim pieces, replaced the console switches (new power & DSC on/off switch set), and have ordered up additional parts to replace the pop out cup holders, surrounding bezel and interior door trim floor plates. I used Colorbond BMW #258 black paint.

Here is the Drivers Door, rubbery soft touch black BMW paint removed and repainted with Colorbond BMW 258 paint. Repainted upper door trim (driver and passenger), door handle and window switch bezel.

Looks great. What method did you use for the hand pull?

[jellydoughnutt]

Any before pics of the door panel?

[chief]

Originally Posted by jellydoughnutt

Any before pics of the door panel?

No, but it looked like all the other ratty, peeling trim you see on older e9x M3s.

Originally Posted by InnerBlueSkies

Looks great. What method did you use for the hand pull?

I removed the driver's side window switches and took the bezel to my work bench for a good bit of sanding with 220 and 320 grit paper. I left the door handle and upper door trim on the door panel in the car. For these areas I used a towel, my finger nail, a plastic interior trim tool, sand paper (220 & 320), a metal spackle knife, and a screw driver to get the black rubber coating off. It was a pain the @$$ and took forever (get a 12 pack, you'll need it ). Once I got it all off, and cleaned the area with alcohol, I taped off and covered everything with plastic and large painting tarps. Then it was a series of 4 to 6 coats of paint on each piece with Colorbond #258 black spray paint. In all the project took a day and half, with the majority of the time spent removing the rubbery BMW paint.

[chief]

Originally Posted by lancerr

Question for the detailing experts - the plastic trim on the center console and various bits are scratched, discolored and generally look horrible. They also seems to be different color. You could almost say there are 50 shades of grey trim in my car.

Is there any way for me to
1)get the trim looking like new
2) die them or stain them to look black.

Thanks

Sriram

For the switches, I couldn't find a good method for 'repainting', so I purchased new ones. They are pricey, but look factory fresh and ready for another 10 years.

[InnerBlueSkies]

Originally Posted by chief

No, but it looked like all the other ratty, peeling trim you see on older e9x M3s.



I removed the driver's side window switches and took the bezel to my work bench for a good bit of sanding with 220 and 320 grit paper. I left the door handle and upper door trim on the door panel in the car. For these areas I used a towel, my finger nail, a plastic interior trim tool, sand paper (220 & 320), a metal spackle knife, and a screw driver to get the black rubber coating off. It was a pain the @$$ and took forever (get a 12 pack, you'll need it ). Once I got it all off, and cleaned the area with alcohol, I taped off and covered everything with plastic and large painting tarps. Then it was a series of 4 to 6 coats of paint on each piece with Colorbond #258 black spray paint. In all the project took a day and half, with the majority of the time spent removing the rubbery BMW paint.

Interesting, never seen it done before. I'm tagging someone on this Cyberdemon