[tonee8519]

Guys, I completely ruined the silver aluminum trim on the center console of my car. Today, as I was buffing out some old scratches with a scotch brite pad- it completely left the trim with a big bad black mark. I think I may have scraped some top layer of the trim from where i was scraping and now it just looks horrible.


I know this is stupid but i got the idea from this thread:


http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8013





now, I think need to replace the whole aliminum trim center console. How much will this cost?

[Nikki]

I think I saw somewhere that it is about $60 for the part.

[theclay]

Moral of the story- don't take things you read on an internet forum as gospel.
Call your dealer for a replacement, it shouldn't be that much. Hey, it could have been worse.

[tonee8519]

Originally Posted by Nikki

I think I saw somewhere that it is about $60 for the part.

Nikki, I remember you making a thread about the seat belt bucklr scraping the trim on the door panel. Same thing happened to me. So, I went to my dealer and ordered a new piece. It's $50.



So, since the centre console is a much bigger piece- shouldn't cost abit more than $60? LOL


What i heard was $200. Anybody knows for sure?







b

[Nikki]

Originally Posted by tonee8519

Nikki, I remember you making a thread about the seat belt bucklr scraping the trim on the door panel. Same thing happened to me. So, I went to my dealer and ordered a new piece. It's $50.



So, since the centre console is a much bigger piece- shouldn't cost abit more than $60? LOL


What i heard was $200. Anybody knows for sure?







b

Oh I'm sorry, yeah I was referring to the side trim piece. Someone had posted a link to the oem parts cost but I don't know where it is.

[tonee8519]

It shouldn't cost anything for the dealer bodyshop to actually install these parts, does it?

[theclay]

Originally Posted by tonee8519

It shouldn't cost anything for the dealer bodyshop to actually install these parts, does it?

You must have REALLY good weed up there in Vancouver.

[ZenDriver]

I'm the one who said to use a Scotch Brite pad to remove scratches. Questions:

- What kind of Scotch Brite pad did you use?
- How hard did you rub, for how long and in what direction?
- Was the pad clean when you used it?
- Are you sure you have REAL stamped aluminum trim and not just silver painted trim?

Scotch Brite pads don't eat through real aluminum. Period. End of sentence.

[porscheneer]

I use the scotch brite pads on all the stainless brushed appliances. My wifes nefew came over and decided to drive his hot wheels up my fridge. So I gave the kid a swift kick in the a$$ and to my surprise, the kid's dad congradulated me!... anyway long story short used the scotch brite pads. Work with the grain applying slight pressure and slightly increasing as needed. Dont use a used pad it will stain the finish. The dark spot your describing may be from applying too much pressure and in effect the surface has been sanded down and is smooth or has trasfered some abraisive or powder fron the pad into the material.
Anyway just what i encountered

[shimshimhada]

Originally Posted by porscheneer

I use the scotch brite pads on all the stainless brushed appliances. My wifes nefew came over and decided to drive his hot wheels up my fridge. So I gave the kid a swift kick in the a$$ and to my surprise, the kid's dad congradulated me!... anyway long story short used the scotch brite pads. Work with the grain applying slight pressure and slightly increasing as needed. Dont use a used pad it will stain the finish. The dark spot your describing may be from applying too much pressure and in effect the surface has been sanded down and is smooth or has trasfered some abraisive or powder fron the pad into the material.
Anyway just what i encountered

I commend your sig.

[e90driver]

Buff all the trim in your car for a stealth black look.

[Broken1]

Originally Posted by e90driver

Buff all the trim in your car for a stealth black look.

I dig it!

Go buy the trim from the dealer, and check out the sunglasses tray DIY for instructions on how to install it!

[StewtheBassman]

Originally Posted by ZenDriver

I'm the one who said to use a Scotch Brite pad to remove scratches. Questions:

- What kind of Scotch Brite pad did you use?
- How hard did you rub, for how long and in what direction?
- Was the pad clean when you used it?
- Are you sure you have REAL stamped aluminum trim and not just silver painted trim?

Scotch Brite pads don't eat through real aluminum. Period. End of sentence.

In Canada the standard console finish (non-option) is Titanium Matte. I would NEVER touch that with a Soctch Brite or anything abrasive. It's plastic with a nice bit of paint. I only wipe it with a soft cloth to get the dust off it.

Tonee, it sounds like you've done gone messed up yer car.

At least you're courageous enough to admit it here.

[mds82]

Lets see.

[canucklion]

tonee8519: you probably have the titanium matte trim (as Stewthebassman pointed out), unless you did opt for the aluminum.

[SCA]

Nikki, what did you ever do about your alum. trim?

[SPoNGeBoB]

how bad is it?

could you please post a couple of pics?

I'm thinking about getting it in the e92.

ThX!

[Nikki]

Originally Posted by SCA

Nikki, what did you ever do about your alum. trim?

Mine was just a couple nicks really far back on the driver's side door panel, not really noticeable. I adjusted the seat belt holder so there aren't any new ones.

[Scott Carpenter]

The part will cost you around 210 dollars, Part number 51-16-7-129-551

[LEDZEP]

Sounds like the trim is plastic, not metal. Get a new one and chalk it up to experience. Sorry to hear the trouble though.

[ihavedrivenanm1]

The center console trim in "aluminium" runs $235US [plus 2 hrs/labor]. The part number is 51166982445 for cars up to 9/05 production and 51167129551 for cars after 9/05.

If I am not mistaken this piece is just like the door pulls and the start button surround in that they are not really metal but rather plastic that is sprayed with a metalic flake "paint" in layers that gives a feel similar to real metal.

Thus the black streak you now have is a factor of having removed the metal "paint" from the plastic substrate.

[Tierfreund]

Originally Posted by ihavedrivenanm1

The center console trim in "aluminium" runs $235US [plus 2 hrs/labor]. The part number is 51166982445 for cars up to 9/05 production and 51167129551 for cars after 9/05.

If I am not mistaken this piece is just like the door pulls and the start button surround in that they are not really metal but rather plastic that is sprayed with a metalic flake "paint" in layers that gives a feel similar to real metal.

Thus the black streak you now have is a factor of having removed the metal "paint" from the plastic substrate.

I´ll personally change the console trim and all acessories attached to it in less than 30 Minutes. Even less with Manual Trans and no I-drive. 2 hours installation charge is hillarious.