Has any ever painted the interior trim pieces?

[squidzilla]

My 4.6is has Cosmos Black interior trim pieces instead the usual wood. I watched a few videos from some e46 guys and they were able to paint their trim pieces. Sure it looks like a lot of prep work to get it looking right but it sure seems better than just wrapping it in vinyl.

Has anyone tried this and how has it worked out long term for you?

[Ricky Bobby]

Your trim is rare and desirable - don't paint it

On the wood trim you'd need to scuff, adhesion promoter, and primer before paint at a minimum as its very smooth and glossy -

[PropellerHead]

Originally Posted by Ricky Bobby

Your trim is rare and desirable - don't paint it

+1

Sell it and buy some old cracked wood trim on FleaBay. I have a whole brand new set of that cosmos trim just waiting for a time after my seals go and I have 'f you' money in my maintenance fund.

[squidzilla]

I was actually thinking about painting all of the interior pieces Cosmos Black as well. I would not want to sell the pieces off of the 4.6is.

[bcredliner]

Wrapping the trim works fine. I have had my hood and mirrors wrapped for a couple of years and it goes through an automatic carwash once a week and it still looks brand new.

If you wrap it you can always go back and trim will be fine. Regardless of how rare the trim is it will not increase the sell value. Make the mods that please you most.

[crystalworks]

Originally Posted by PropellerHead

+1

Sell it and buy some old cracked wood trim on FleaBay. I have a whole brand new set of that cosmos trim just waiting for a time after my seals go and I have 'f you' money in my maintenance fund.

+2

Cosmos trim is very nice. It won't increase the value of your X5 any, but the trim itself is worth MUCH more than the standard burl or any other wood (excepting the uber rare dark grey wood) for that matter.

[OrangeFurious]

Hell, depending on the extremes of the market the cosmos trim may be worth more than the whole X5. Fully onboard with the recommendation to buy and edit something else.

[bcredliner]

Originally Posted by OrangeFurious

Hell, depending on the extremes of the market the cosmos trim may be worth more than the whole X5. Fully onboard with the recommendation to buy and edit something else.

In order for something to have more value than other option it has to be both special and in demand. Demand means there are significantly more buyers than the product availability and there is no realistic path to duplicate that product.

When demand is significant and forecasted to at least maintain a level of volume to realize a return on the investment there will be aftermarket competition, more often than not, better than the original product. Another indication there is demand is if many of any version of that same product is available for sale in a broad reaching sales network, such as eBay. Finally, there will be indications that, in this case, the X5 will appreciate.

Short story--if you have cosmos trim and you think hundreds of X5 owners are spending sleepless nights trying to find a set, sell it now.

[PropellerHead]

Originally Posted by bcredliner

Short story--if you have cosmos trim and you think hundreds of X5 owners are spending sleepless nights trying to find a set, sell it now.

Really, only one person is needed to buy the trim they want at the price anyone is willing to sell it.

The cosmos trim sells for more than wood trim and does so more quickly on eBay and other sites. This cycle has been consistent in my 3-4 year search for nice, uncracked cosmos trim. During that search, I found that used cosmos goes for only 20% less than new. Wood trim- especially the lighter stuff sells repeatedly for less than 1/2 of cosmos. Put simply, My direct experience is that the market has determined that cosmos is worth more than wood. A fine example is the difference in auction price on wrapped vs cosmos. See the pic below. Note that the cosmos set doesn't come with the shifter. You can get one. For another $250.

All of which is moot since the OP doesn't want to sell his trim.

[bcredliner]

Your example of a new set of trim and a wrapped trim is a cosmos away from apples to apples. "It only takes one buyer" can be applied to the price one person is willing to pay for any color trim, virtually anything.

If you go to vendors store you will find other colors of trim sets for the same price. Also, the price list is buy it now. Show me examples of apples to apples comparisons of sold prices and then you have something.