What did you do to / for your E53 today??

[nick325xit 5spd]

Damn it. Now I have something else I want to do.

[crystalworks]

Originally Posted by roaringpanda

Update on the wrapping. Finished the doors, center console, flip outs, and anything that had the cracked wood trim. Wood shift knob replaced with zhp knob.

Also installed the Avin Avant 4. Excuse the plastic surround sticking out. Not sure if I'm going to install the backup camera and the plastic looks like it'll snap if I add/remove it too much.

Looks pretty good roaringpanda. Nice work.

[Henn28]

Originally Posted by crystalworks

Looks pretty good roaringpanda. Nice work.

I agree. I was skeptical at first, mostly because I like the wood trim, but it looks great! I'm shooting for an OEM+ look on my X5 and I think you hit it. How did you secure it so it doesn't/wont bunch up? I've enjoyed the motor and exterior stuff on my project, but am excited to turn to refreshing and updating the interior. Its uncharted territory for me so I'm thankful for the lessons learned.

I finally sourced the A, B and C pillars in black so now I've got a complete set of bits and pieces (handles, front/rear overhead consoles, etc.) to install with the new black headliner. I wanted the pillars so that the plastic parts in them (B and C) will not be tan against a black liner.

Working with Garaham of BMW Fabrics on headliner material, and although I've always dreamed of Alcantara in a car, the cost is just not in the cards for this X5. Maybe the next project.

[Effduration]

Originally Posted by roaringpanda

Update on the wrapping. Finished the doors, center console, flip outs, and anything that had the cracked wood trim. Wood shift knob replaced with zhp knob.
.

Nice work on the wrap....Did you fill cracks first ?
Also, the center console re-wrap required you to remove console, right?

[nick325xit 5spd]

Originally Posted by Henn28

I finally sourced the A, B and C pillars in black so now I've got a complete set of bits and pieces (handles, front/rear overhead consoles, etc.) to install with the new black headliner. I wanted the pillars so that the plastic parts in them (B and C) will not be tan against a black liner.

Working with Garaham of BMW Fabrics on headliner material, and although I've always dreamed of Alcantara in a car, the cost is just not in the cards for this X5. Maybe the next project.

I'm not looking forward to my headliner job. And yeah, one thing on my to-do list is to harvest all the plastic parts and pillars for a grey to black conversion, because I'm sure not re-doing it in grey!

[crystalworks]

Originally Posted by Henn28

I agree. I was skeptical at first, mostly because I like the wood trim, but it looks great! I'm shooting for an OEM+ look on my X5 and I think you hit it. How did you secure it so it doesn't/wont bunch up? I've enjoyed the motor and exterior stuff on my project, but am excited to turn to refreshing and updating the interior. Its uncharted territory for me so I'm thankful for the lessons learned.

I finally sourced the A, B and C pillars in black so now I've got a complete set of bits and pieces (handles, front/rear overhead consoles, etc.) to install with the new black headliner. I wanted the pillars so that the plastic parts in them (B and C) will not be tan against a black liner.

Working with Garaham of BMW Fabrics on headliner material, and although I've always dreamed of Alcantara in a car, the cost is just not in the cards for this X5. Maybe the next project.

Honestly, any automotive suede (must be UV treated) looks and feels great. Here is the E61 I did. Wrapped the pillars myself and removed the headliner to have a pro do it. Cost was $300 for the headliner and sunroof shades because I took them everything disassembled. Original interior was grey.

Not pictured but I also bought the E60 M5 suede sun visor mirrors to match. Also bought all the black trim pieces (grab handles, hooks, etc).

[roaringpanda]

Originally Posted by Henn28

How did you secure it so it doesn't/wont bunch up?

Went slow. Sprayed, waited until the adhesive went tacky, then applied from center out, kind of like vinyl wrapping.

Originally Posted by Effduration

Nice work on the wrap....Did you fill cracks first ?
Also, the center console re-wrap required you to remove console, right?

Nah, I could barely feel the cracks with my fingernails, so filling them wouldn't have made much difference. And yes, needed to take out the center console. Even with the console out, made a few mistakes wrapping around the curves.

I used suede microfiber and fabric spray adhesive. I'm not sure how it'll hold up in the summer heat and UV, but I wanted a thin fabric so panels and trim would fit without modifying fasteners. I was 50/50 on vinyl wrapping, but wanted to try something different.

[Henn28]

Originally Posted by crystalworks

Honestly, any automotive suede (must be UV treated) looks and feels great. Here is the E61 I did. Wrapped the pillars myself and removed the headliner to have a pro do it. Cost was $300 for the headliner and sunroof shades because I took them everything disassembled. Original interior was grey.

Not pictured but I also bought the E60 M5 suede sun visor mirrors to match. Also bought all the black trim pieces (grab handles, hooks, etc).

Attachment 81870

Love that look. I may spring for a steering wheel in Alcantara or similar material for the X5.

Doing any part of that work requires patience and precision, and definitely doesn't play to my strengths! So I'm going to have a pro do the whole headliner and all 6 pillars.

Unrelated (beyond being an X5 issue): For those that may need one, I just ordered a new intake "suction hood" (PN 13711437101) from Pelican. The top half of mine has separated from the lower half that fits into the tube going to the air filter box, and no amount of epoxy seems to hold it. $56 bucks, which seems like a pretty good deal for a specialty order BMW part that I was expecting to have to get on EBay and take my chances, or get raped by BMW for.

[Henn28]

Originally Posted by andrewwynn

If the threads are ok but a screw works loose use thread lock

Late reply I know, but this thing is driving me crazy. Screws are holding in the expansion fasteners, but the fasteners themselves work themselves out of the square holes in the trunk lid that they fit into. A tiny bit every time I close the trunk, but eventually the grip becomes loose enough that the weatherstripping falls out.

I’m going to pull the trunk lid apart from the inside and see if I can use some appropriately sized washers and nuts, or other backing material on the interior side. I suspect the answer is “no” or BMW would have gone this route.

Nice drive to the beach in MS yesterday in the X. She ran great, but popped the Airbag/SRS light on the cluster on the way home just to remind me who is in charge. Haven’t read any codes yet, but I’m hoping it isn’t a door bag as the cards need repair with epoxy every time I pull one.

[andrewwynn]

Originally Posted by Henn28

Screws are holding in the expansion fasteners, but the fasteners themselves work themselves out of the square holes in the trunk lid that they fit into.

Sounds like a job for epoxy to hold the threaded block that holds the screw if I'm reading correctly.

Send a photo next time you fix it.