Dash look upgrades for RHD E82 123d

[mipearson]

Loving my "new" 2010 123d, but one thing that keeps bugging me is the "fake leather" appearance of the top of the plastic dash - especially as the doors/etc are real leather.

Yeah, I'm shallow.

Considering just a basic dash mat to cover it, but the ones I can get don't look that great. Anybody done any custom mods or found any aftermarket parts that improve the dash?

[swagon]

I've got the instrument cluster binnacle in Alcantara with white stitching, similar to the oem 1 M piece. Really improved the interior together with other white-stitched Alcantara bits in the interior.

I don't know what dash mat you're talking about, but a reputable upholsterer will cover the interior in leather or Alcantara any way you want. I wouldn't even call the dashboard plastics fake leather, it is all made from very cheap plastics that have no place in a 40+k car.

There's a German shop that has done custom 1 Series interiors, but I'll have to dig for the photos.

[mipearson]

Dash mats might be an aussie thing - it's like a floor mat, but you put it above the dash to protect it from sun damage and reduce reflective glare on the windscreen.

The plastic is textured to have a leather "look" - but yeah, it feels cheap and out of place.

Will start googling "car interior upholsterer", thanks for the tip.