A couple of other options--DIY plast-dip or have it hydro dipped. Hydro dipped will look the best and be the most durable.

A singe random auction of any color used trim at any price does not confirm the going price in the market. Doesn't mean you are wrong but your examples are not applicable.

Rational thought is do what you want and you can get whatever color you want without buying used or new trim by several color changing application options.

I'm not really in this to be judged right or wrong. I *know* what I know and others know it as well. The idea that someone does not know the same things bothers me no more than the idea that someone wishes not to know.

There is no judgment. I fully understand your position and I am not challenging whether or not the trim is rare. My point is simply the examples you are using to substantiate your position do not. If those examples are the basis for your conclusion that the trim is rare that conclusion is flawed.

okie dokie

Yes the Smoke Poplar wood if the X5 E53 is very rare and expensive new!!!. It costs more than the cosmos black trim if you were to outfit the X5 interior with it. Just price out new sets of both and anyone can see.

Bah. It's a lot easier to make up impossible ways for others to demonstrate things like the cosmos being black and lit with stars. Craning that neck toward the darkened sky or using fingers to literally *look up* what is obvious is just too much work. :rofl:

BMW Genuine X5 Light or Dark Poplar Wood Trim Kit NEW | eBay

BMW OEM E53 X5 2000-2006 With Factory Navigation Cosmos Black Interior Trim Kit

BMW Genuine E53 X5 2000-2006 Graphite Metallic Interior Trim Kit Without NAV OEM | eBay

Three sets of new trim from the same Company.

Poplar is the highest price though we don't know if that is due to the cost of mfg. of poplar that is driving up the price, if it is cost and higher margin of profit or the demand is such that it will still sell with a much higher margin of profit.

It is an assumption that each of the offerings will sell at the buy it now price. However, it is a very good assumption that they have not priced their offerings so high they won't sell.

Unfortunately we don't know the sales volume of any of their offer which would give us some indication of the demand.

Since all three colors are still offered in new vehicles (not limited to BMW) we can also assume pricing of new OEM trim is not based on one being a classic, dated or still a current color in the marketplace.

If we could get everyone who is as member of the forum to 'vote' on the what trim they like the best by individual model and year all three were offered it wouldn't be statistically large enough sampling to draw a conclusion based on demand.

If we knew how many of each were in the BMW build numbers it would tell us how many sets of each were produced. While a good indication of current rarity we would not know how many of each has been offered for sale which would also help determine demand based on the largest number of a color purchased.

It is impossible to determine if demand is driving up prices of used trim. Condition, level of motivation to sell, actual price they sell are significant variables that would determine actual sell prices.

Watching the used market pricing over an extended period of time and drawing a conclusion that one color sells at a higher price than another certainly seems logical on the surface. However, it doesn't factor in that one color could consistently be in better condition than the others which could drive up pricing.

If BMW built a significantly less number of, let's say a 2002 X5 4.4, and, an X5 with that trim will sell at a higher price because of the trim that would be demand based pricing.

This perhaps unless effort is not to say anyone is right or wrong but that it is an opinion from individual perspective and experience. Doesn't matter if anyone agrees with all, some or any of this. In the end, each of us will pay some amount for what we want. If it was the least amount built in our particular year and model I can see an opportunity for bragging rights. I don't see any part of the decision making that should be based on an return on investment.

If you are wondering why I have taken the time to post this. I have the time, I'm having fun and most of my career was in marketing and brand management. It is certainly not to be offensive.

:dunno: 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.

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.