Has any ever painted the interior trim pieces?

[Joshdub]

Originally Posted by squidzilla

Or you can just paint your own. Now everyone is happy. Joking aside, I think I will get that sander that kid used in the video and use that to do the prep work. I think hand sanding these trim pieces would be a pain. Maybe I can get one that will run off of my air compressor.

Do you have any cracks in your wood? What are you going to use to fill them? All of my pieces have hairline cracks that I am sure will show up once scuffed and painted.

[squidzilla]

Originally Posted by Joshdub

Do you have any cracks in your wood? What are you going to use to fill them? All of my pieces have hairline cracks that I am sure will show up once scuffed and painted.

Yeah I have some hairline cracks as well. I was going to buy both of the primers in the video and use that to fill them up. And I am googling what other options I have. I really think if you have the right sander, this is not too bad even with needing to fill up the cracks.

[crystalworks]

Originally Posted by squidzilla

Yeah I have some hairline cracks as well. I was going to buy both of the primers in the video and use that to fill them up. And I am googling what other options I have. I really think if you have the right sander, this is not too bad even with needing to fill up the cracks.

Just like painting anything... sand them out, and then use bondo, or better yet, evercoat to fill/smooth the trim.

[bcredliner]

Originally Posted by crystalworks

I'm just having a hard time wrapping my head around your position. Wanting sales figures rather than believing those who have been looking, for years in some cases, seems a bit stubborn.

I KNOW tiag, cosmos, imola, dark poplar wood, and estoril trims sell for (and are much more coveted) more than wood through experience. I don't need sales figures for an enthusiast product. The forums are a much better gauge for demand on things of that nature. And this same holds true in all chassis mind you, not just the e53. Over my almost 20 years on different BMW forums the wood trims are consistently considered the less desirable and cheaper when sold.

And I'm not trying to offend by saying you are being stubborn... just that through my experience wood trim IS worth substantially less, I am trying to understand how that could not just be a known fact to a seasoned enthusiast.

The key to your conclusion is that it is your experience and observations. You may be absolutely correct but it is by no interpretation near enough to be a "known".

Look at it as if you were going to invest in the cost to sell one 'color' trim but only one. And in order to make a profit based on the investment cost you have to determine a price that it would sell within a specific amount of time and generate a profit that makes it worthwhile to invest your time and effort.

When a decision is made to enter a market or offer a specific product there is always risk that any criteria for a decision is misinterpreted or inaccurate. In a corporate environment getting funding is a competition with other requests. Over the years that has caused a evolution/expansion of criteria that became a requirement because those inclusions resulted in more and better returns on investments. A decision based on just my experience and observations would never make the agenda.

Anything perceived as stubbornness is based on 20 years spent preparing documentation to secure funding for new product and several more as the final say on who would got funding.

My input started with suggesting to do what you want without any of this but that got challenged based on the perceived value of Cosmos trim. I continued since my input is the part of the technical process to calculate sales volume and profit potential of product in fortune 500 companies. It is not an opinion it is small part of what must be done to be reduce the risk to the level that funding will at least be considered. Quite often new product suggestions begin with sales input that a competitor is selling a 'ton' of a certain product, making a s^%tload of money and we are "missing the boat, they can't make enough." Sales dept. has huge influence on product lines so it either took a few 'tons' of additional research and documentation to get the funding to move forward or pleasantly change sales priorities without a war.

I don't want sales figures or any other info. I couldn't care less who is right. Since at least currently there is no indication it increases X5 sell price I don't know why anyone cares. But I am not of the mind to be silent when readers may buy in to what anyone says is a certain truth, a known, when it simply isn't. You can certainly have an opinion, but a declaration this it is a known- none of us know for sure.

My input is to do what you want to whatever trim you want and enjoy the look that you created because it is what pleases you the most. I would also recommend hydro printing for a very durable perfect finish. I would never buy used trim. I did my engine cover and radiator cover in carbon fiber several years ago. Still looks new.

https://www.google.com/search?q=hydr...w=1010&bih=554

[Joshdub]

Originally Posted by crystalworks

Just like painting anything... sand them out, and then use bondo, or better yet, evercoat to fill/smooth the trim.

I was thinking of bondo but I am wondering if there is something more fit for the application that'll expand and contract with the wood/coating to prevent further cracking.

[PropellerHead]

Originally Posted by bcredliner

The key to your conclusion is that it is your experience and observations. You may be absolutely correct but it is by no interpretation near enough to be a "known".

But it is. If you know it. See?

[bcredliner]

Originally Posted by PropellerHead

But it is. If you know it. See?

At one time people knew the Earth was flat--and even with proof it wasn't some were still sure it was. I'm done.

[Scott ZHP]

Originally Posted by Joshdub

I was thinking of bondo but I am wondering if there is something more fit for the application that'll expand and contract with the wood/coating to prevent further cracking.

What you want is flexible polyester glazing putty; any good bodyshop supply/jobber will have it... something like Evercoat Polyflex.

Or save yourself the hassle and just start with a set of trim from a 3.0i non-premium; it's not wood and the topcoat doesn't crack.

[PropellerHead]

Originally Posted by bcredliner

At one time people knew the Earth was flat--and even with proof it wasn't some were still sure it was. I'm done.

Well, OK. Like I said it doesn't bother me what people accept versus what they won't. Anyone is welcome to continue thinking the world is flat despite the folks around them providing proof and experience to the contrary.