Aluminum trim gets dinged so easily
 

I hate to sound like a whiner, but I'm bummed about how easy it is to put scratches and dents in the aluminum trim. This is my first BMW, and I have been treating with great care.

Today I got two scratches within 20-minutes. First I gouge the driver trim with my iPhone (no idea how). Then my better half manages to scratch the other side with who knows what. I baby this vehicle, I'm not a careless boob. I gave a friend a ride home from work last week, and he goes for the passenger door with his house keys in hand - scrrrrrrratch! If feel like a turd instructing everybody that gets in my car to "be careful" around my trim. Ugh.

So my questions are:

1) Is there any type of repair I can do?

2) Does anybody know what the cost of these trim pieces are? I feel like I should just go ahead and order a few now, and keep them on hand.

3) I wonder what the cost/feasibility of replacing it all with wood trim would be.

That sucks....
 

How long have you had it? I started a thread awhile back asking about the aluminum trim and although most shared your feelings, I decided to order it anyway. I lease, so I'm hoping I can live with it for 2-3 years. I'll just have to add "Don't touch the trim" to the list of rules for passengers. :rofl:

Sorry I can't answer your questions, someone will soon. :)

3M Clear plastic coating?

To prevent it from getting scratched so easily, you can take the trim pieces off and get them clear coated. Maybe even a couple of coats. I read somewhere that the bamboo wood trim actually has 10-12 coats of clear to give it that glossy finish! To replace all the trim with wood is not difficult to do but the parts alone will cost you around $800-$1K. Maybe you can sell your aluminium trim on ebay to recover some of that cost! :cool:

I've already replaced two trim pieces because of scratches. Was pretty pricey !

We have aluminum on our M3 and I had to have several pieces (door arm rests) replaced when we purchased (CPO) I suspected then and was right - it happened again even though we baby the car. For us it's happening every time the seatbelt retracts if you don't hold it while it retracts it will slap against it and ding it. VERY annoying. I also didn't order it on the E70 but turns our its not technically an option anyway unless you're ordering it.

I have the light poplar - whatever they're doing it is working because my kids in the back have bashed their toys against it no less than 10 times and it hasn't made a mark yet.

I want to change all the trim to the X5 M Carbon Trim =)

Good idea. If you get a price on those parts please post.

BTW, just to let you know. BMW centers charge around 4 hours labour to pull apart the center console and change the trim !!

+1. I'd like to know how much those parts cost too. I love carbon trim.

I'm sure someone on this forum has ithe instructions on how to replace those parts. I imagine it can't be that difficult.