BMW steering wheel trim scratches fix

bimmertips — Mon, 02 Apr 2018 21:47:35 +0000

BMW E46, E39, E53 X5 sport wheel trim scratches fix:

The black rubberized coating on the BMW E46, E39 & E53 X5 interior plastic parts are notorious for scratching and peeling as the vehicle ages. The plastic steering wheel trim is one of the most common spots for this defect to happen. With the steering wheel being one of the main jewels of a vehicle's interior, it is a magnet to your eye every time you enter your vehicle. Restoring this eye sore will bring back a clean interior look. Below we will go over some of the main causes for this issue as well as typical fixes.

What are the main causes for this defect?

Scratches are the number one cause. Dragging your keys, watches, nails, purses etc. across the plastic steering wheel trim will easily create irreversible damage.
Hand lotions contain many chemicals that react with the rubberized coating and break it down to the point where it wears off completely.
Interior detailing / cleaning products. When detailing the inside of your vehicle ensure to use non harmful cleaners which will not react with the plastic in an irreversible way.
Smoking. For all you cigarette smokers out there, the chemicals in the smoke you exhale will find their way on your hands and can be transferred to the steering wheel trim to expedite the wearing reaction.
Excessive touching with your hands. Your hands contain many natural oils (or unnatural oils: grease monkey) which will again react to the coating and deteriorate the finish.

What are the OEM BMW part numbers to replace steering wheel trim?

The obvious fix is to just replace the worn part. The below part numbers are for BMW E46, E39 and E53 X5 models with either the sport or mtech wheels. The standard 4 spoke wheels do not have a replaceable cover. The 4 spoke wheel trim pieces are part of the button assembly.

Sport wheel: OEM BMW Part: 32306756514, $162, fits E46, E39 & E53 X5
Mtech wheel: OEM BMW Part: 32347833355, $175, Fits E46 M3 & E39 M5
E46 M3 CSL: OEM BMW Part: 32347833354, $175, Titan Shadow color

What are other options besides replacing steering wheel trim?

A popular solution to the peeling coating is to remove all the coating in its entirety and vinyl wrap the existing plastic trim. This allows for the customization of many colors and patterns. Best of all it is reversible. If you get sick of a color, just remove and replace the vinyl with a new one. You can get a whole 6 foot roll of vinyl for around $5
Plasti dip is another cheap solution to essentially restore a rubberized coating on the cover similar to the factory finish. You can get a can for about $5 at a hardware store. The solution is cheap, however, this is only a good short-term solution as long-term the plasti dip will eventually peel and fail just like the original factory finish.
Hydro dip the part. This process uses water to transfer a patterned film to your part. This technique may sound new but once you google the process, chances are you have seen products with this finish before. This technique is not as easy as vinyl wrapping since you will likely have to send the part off to a shop to be dipped. However, the hydro dipping process allows for a unique look that cannot be easily replicated by vinyl or paints. You can google the finish to get a better idea of what hydro dipping is.

What if my upper steering wheel trim is scratched?

The upper steering wheel trim on the sport wheels contain the multifunction buttons as an assembly to the plastic trim. Unfortunately, to replace the plastic trim you have to replace the entire upper assembly with the buttons. This is OEM BMW part number 61316949754 and cost around $200 to replace.

What are other steering wheel tips?

Click here to learn how to clean dirty colored steering wheel stitching.

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Renew Faded BMW plastic without paint

bimmertips — Sun, 11 Dec 2016 17:07:30 +0000

Why does plastic fade?

Plastic car parts leave the factory vibrant, however, after years of being exposed to the elements, plastics begin to break down. The breaking down of plastics is mostly due to the harmful UV (ultraviolet) rays from the sun. Pollution in the air, extreme heat, chemicals and salts are other known reasons for the breakdown of plastics.

How do you prevent faded plastic?

Park out of the sun to avoid extreme heat and UV radiation.

Does putting a layer of car wax over the plastic help?

Putting a layer of car wax over plastic will only accelerate the fading process and is NOT recommended. Wax absorbs into the porous plastic surfaces and begins to accelerate the graying, chalky look.

What does work?

No product will bring your plastic trim back 100% to factory new condition, but there is a lesser-known effective option that is often overlooked. A 50/50 mixture mix of Boiled Linseed Oil and Paint Thinner will restore the vibrancy of the plastic as well as add a layer of protection. This solution is a great way to restore your OEM BMW trim without ruining it with paint.

What is Boiled Linseed Oil?

Linseed oil is a natural oil extracted from flaxseed. It is primarily used to preserve concrete and wood from deterioration. It is also used in many paints and wood stains. Boiled linseed oil can be found at your local hardware store in the paint section. Make sure to purchase the BOILED linseed oil, the unboiled will not be effective.

What is the purpose of mixing it with paint thinner?

The paint thinner helps improve drying time. "Japan Drier" or turpentine works as well.

Downsides of using Boiled Linseed Oil?

It is not 100% lifelong preservation, you will have to go back and restore the plastic over time. This may be every few years or every few months depending on the exposure levels of your plastics to the sun. Boiled Linseed oil is also not UV proof.

Do I need to prepare the surface before applying the paint thinner and boiled linseed oil?

Yes, of course. Like any painting process, surface preparation is the most important part to ensure a long lasting finish. Consequently, if the surface is not prepared properly, the renewing solution will not work as effectively. Clean the surface with a wax remover and / or 90%+ alcohol solution applied to a shop rag.

PRECAUTIONS!

Always protect the surfaces you are not restoring. Tape off around the trim or remove the trim completely to ensure no overspray or runoffs.

Restoring faded plastic process:

➊ Remove the plastic trim completely or tape off the sections of restoration.
➋ Clean the surface with wax remover or 90%+ alcohol (purchase from a drug store or grocery store).
➌ Create a 50 / 50 mixture of boiled linseed oil and paint thinner.
➍ Apply the solution using a spray bottle, foam brush, or rag.
➎ Finally, allow the solution to absorb on the surface for a few seconds and then wipe away the excess.

Learn how to restore yellow / faded BMW headlights:

Restore yellow / faded headlights by clicking HERE

Learn how to restore dirty BMW steering wheel stitching:

Restore oily and greasy steering wheel stitching by clicking HERE

The post Renew Faded BMW plastic without paint appeared first on BIMMERtips.com.

Problem:	Scratched, worn steering wheel trim.
Application:	All BMW E46, E39 & E53 sport / M3 / M5 models.
Solution:	Remove and replace, vinyl wrap.
Cost:	$5 to $175
Where to buy:	Dealership, FCPeuro.com, ECStuning.com

Problem:	Sun fades black trim to gray
Application:	All models
Solution:	Boiled linseed oil.
Where to buy:	Amazon, Lowes, Home Depot
Cost:	~$15 in supplies.

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