Question about exterior Pillar Window moldings?

[Meestahbig]

Does anyone know the options for these that the car came with. I've seen Matte Black on mine.

Was there also a piano glossy black? Chrome?

Are these easily replaceable? Are they available as sets?

My matte black ones are okay, look decent for the age.

Recently saw what was maybe a glossy black trim car and they looked quite bad. Any ideas about improving them or replacing. Was kind of distracting to the car appearance, not just looking consistent for the age.

Thanks.

[X5chemist]

Mine are the same way. I was looking at fiberglass type tape to cover them up. The roof racks also need painting. Aluminum is starting to show on small spots.

[Meestahbig]

I'm just talking about the pillar trim pieces. I now am looking more closely at used cars and seeing that sometimes the pillar pieces don't match the window trim pieces. Like sometimes the window trim is chrome and the pillar is black. I believe that was factory.

Any decent way to remote the glossy black trim that's now looking like an iridescent oyster looking rainbowy patina color. Has like pinks and blues and in it. Reminds me of an oil spill.

[X5chemist]

One side is worse than the other.

[Meestahbig]

Those are like mine. I would call it a matte black. Looks okay

I can't seem to ever post pics from my phone to here. Sadly!

[haigha]

On my 04 4.4i with the sport package they are piano glossy black. No chrome on the window or mirror trim.

Since it's a garage queen they still look almost new

[Salty B.]

Originally Posted by X5chemist

One side is worse than the other.

Maybe Cerakote trim restorer would freshen those up? Mine look about the same.

I used that stuff on all the graying formerly-black outside trim and it really works amazingly well. Still looks good two years later.

But I never did these pieces. I think I ran out of the stuff.

[Meestahbig]

Thanks. I have the cerakote black and planning to use on my 2006. Will also do the headlights.

[Henn28]

Originally Posted by X5chemist

Mine are the same way. I was looking at fiberglass type tape to cover them up. The roof racks also need painting. Aluminum is starting to show on small spots.

Mine are looking more sun baked than factory matte now too. Not sure how they come off, but they could use a re-spray for sure.

Regarding the racks, they come off pretty easily. I cleaned mine off and resprayed them with a rattle can of flat black rustoleum some time ago. I figured I could sand them down and try again easily if they looked bad after my first attempt, but they came out ok. The rubber seals under each “foot” on the rails were all shot and I suspect leaking into my roof, but fortunately these are still available from BMW.

[Salty B.]

Originally Posted by Henn28

Mine are looking more sun baked than factory matte now too. Not sure how they come off, but they could use a re-spray for sure.

Regarding the racks, they come off pretty easily. I cleaned mine off and resprayed them with a rattle can of flat black rustoleum some time ago. I figured I could sand them down and try again easily if they looked bad after my first attempt, but they came out ok. The rubber seals under each “foot” on the rails were all shot and I suspect leaking into my roof, but fortunately these are still available from BMW.

I need to do mine too. The paint is flaking off. Is there a way to plug the mounting holes? I don't ever plan on using them.

Actually the paint on the roof and hood needs to be stripped off and repainted. The vertical panels anre't bad and could benefit from a correction. I was thinking of doing the roof and hood in a medium beige-y color