RealOEM.com shows these trim only costing approx. $44 a piece. Dealers seem to be making about 100% profit on them.

Has anyone tried to simply do away with the thin fabric on the trim piece? Meaning just peeling off the thin fabric altogether, thus eliminating the problem from ever happening again. If the glue color (under the fabric) is not very appealing, a coat of paint could easily cure that...just a though.

The BMW AG part costs $30.89, it needs to be shipped to America through customs, then shipped to the distrubution center and then stock piled. and then to the dealer when out of stock. when the parts arrive, then needs to be stocked on the shelf, or special order bin, and then the post card goes out to the customer saying we have the part in stock now. When the customer arrives, he is handed the part, and walked up to the cashier and with a invoice. $89 is excessive, but the dealer is not making 100% profit, with overhead costs ive listed above.

According to the rep at the parts counter, she said that I could probably get the parts for less elsewhere since each dealership is independantly owned. I found that to be unusual for a dealer employee to suggest.

Tischer BMW has them for 36.88 and 40.10 for both sides in grey. Looks like I might just pick up replacements and fiddle with the worn ones to find a cure when I find time.

Do you know if grey the correct color for a non-sport with black interior? The trim I have seems to be so light that I can't tell if it's light grey or light beige :dunno:

2004 x5 3.0i Non Sport w/ Black interior = Grey headliner/pillar covers/sun visors etc...

At least thats in my case. But its more than likely the same for yours as well. Tan on black would really only suit the car if the leather was tan or brown IMO.:cool:

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i8...icture1002.jpg

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i8...icture1001.jpg This is how bad my pillars have become....

Mine aren't far from yours. Someone in a warmer climate...try heating them up and fixing them :)

What I did notice in So.Cal during the summer afternoons, the panels would almost look like they fixed themselves. No more bubbles or loose fabric. Come back to the car at night, sure enough back to sagging fabric.

Ive tried ironing them back on but it doesnt do anything. I wonder what better a steamer would do in this case?

Mine are just as bad as yours, but it doesn't bother me anymore until it completely start flapping around. Only then would I start consider to either replace it or just rip it out altogether.

At times, I've even considered re-wrapping all the upper panels and headliner in grey microsuede. Might cost the same as just replacing the 2 panels and is easier to repair if similar wear occurs in the future.