Harbor Freight has a cheap handheld plastic rivet tool that is great for working on these things. Have used it with OE plastic rivets as well as aftermarket ones ordered on Amazon and it works great with all. The rivets it comes with are cheap and have a failure rate of about 10% but even they work for somethings.
It's compact too, though still requires wheel/tire removal to do the fender arches.

https://www.harborfreight.com/hand-t...ets-97757.html

https://shop.harborfreight.com/media...mage_12526.jpg

the e-brake switch broke and I was able to find a replacement on eBay for $14!! The new part has the Auto-Hold switch too which my old one didn't! I had read that e70's manufactured after a certain production date can be retrofitted with ebrake Auto-Hold. I was surprised and happy to see that working on my 2007 x5 4.8.

The quality of the aftermarket part is really good. Fit is 100%.

It took me close to 20 mins to finish the job.

Thought I'd share since this seems to be a common issue.

Attachment 75722

Attachment 75723

swapped out the worn ignition button..

https://i.imgur.com/iIVfwpE.jpg?1

Did you use one of the aftermarket buttons caps available on eBay and elsewhere, or did you use a BMW OE button?

HI. I actually replaced the whole switch with a OE BMW unit.

I used an ebay button on mine. I had to remove the button and push in on some tabs that hold it in. It might be possible to do it with sticky clay but I was taking it apart to wrap it anyway.

I also wrapped the wood with 3M 1080.

Attachment 75754

I might have went a little crazy on the center console by doing it in addition to the rails but it had some slight pocks and peeling in the coating so I did it to see how it would work. I had to cut it out around the recess but it came out pretty good. It is basically impossible to align the weave on the pieces so I didn't try and it came out close enough to look good IMO.

I may still remove it from the cup holder and shifter surrounds (and get new black trim pieces but I haven't decided yet)

Now if there were only ebay shifter park buttons.... The OEM park button replacement kit that costs $75+.

Attachment 75755

For my "what did I do today" here are some more wrap pictures.

Steering wheel trim:

This took a bit of work but came out pretty good. My steering wheel is heated but I didn't bother to cut the wrap for the LED indicator which is now just covered.
Attachment 75756

example door panel (driver is in the opposite direction)
Attachment 75757

It is necessary to buy a 3ft x 5ft section of the wrap to get the BMW carbon fiber direction on the dash (has to use it on the short side) with the 1080wrap. It would have to be in the other direction with a long narrow piece.

-Rich

Added another quart of oil.

Coded a few things including full angel eye brightness, deactivated rear daytime lights, folding/unfolding mirrors with remote and disactivated safety warning upon starting.

Bought Carly and the app for about $150. Codes my brothers e91 so it was worth it for me already.

I just coded almost the same as you but I also did the trunk lock/open with key fob, euro hazards, vehicle speed in cluster and some other tid bits I cant remember at the moment.

Anyone have the torque specs for the alternator bolts on a N62? And the idler pulley?

I've found 38Nm for the alt bolts, but it was a different vehicle and alternator pictures looked completely different.

Have it all snug and taking a break.