Helping BMW solve the wood trim shortage problem

stressdoc · 06-21-2005, 01:03 PM

One potential solution to the wood shortage problem would be to offer a 'performance package' with alcantara and carbon fibre trim. Maybe use the 325 final drive ratio. Not sure how well the carbon fibre works with the standard leather and 'ette packages -- certainly not a match for the beige. The titanium trim sounds like another reasonable option with black. I wish they could make faster adjustments to the product line, but I guess you have to deal with printed brochures etc.

Anyone with a ZHP that can comment on the durability of alcantara? How does it handle mud, sand, candy and soft drinks?

Armen52 · 06-21-2005, 01:29 PM

Mud? I've never had Alcantara anything but I am fairly certain a fabric like that will have trouble dealing with mud or soft drinks.

stevenf2 · 04-03-2006, 03:31 PM

I've had Alcantara seats in my VW Passat for the last 125,000 miles and can confirm that dried mud just brushes off; soft drinks, sweets, food etc. are not a problem to get off the fabric.

The leather on the bolsters of the seats has aged a lot worse than than the alcantara, with the leather cracking and going all shiny but only slight bobbling of the seat base covered in the alcantara.

Also I agree with others that the alcantara grips better, stays cool in the summer and is warm to the touch in winter.

That's why I've ordered my new 320d M-Sport with the alcantara interior (+xenons, auto lights, wipers, comfort screen, velour mats, storage package) Arriving April 2006

E90Fleet · 04-03-2006, 04:12 PM

Shure didnt see any shortage at the factory, they had a ton of wood trim

As for the Carbon Fibre, here is what was shown at Geneva
No idea when and how this will be available

325 Baller · 04-03-2006, 04:16 PM

Im all for that idea. I love the alcantara. Never owned a car with it but my BMW dealership had a m3 with that package for like 5 months and whenever i would go sit in it i was in love, i wanted that car really bad. But decided i didnt want the old body style.

Jackbmw · 04-03-2006, 05:19 PM

I have one question concerning all the trims. Is the wood trim made of genuine wood or is it just a good quality plastic?

The same question concerns aluminium and carbon fibre trim. When I got in the new 5 Series once, the aluminium trim didn't really feel like aluminium, it looked perfect but in my opinion it wasn't definitely a metal. Thanks in advance for the answers.

Arkansas3 · 04-03-2006, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jackbmw

I have one question concerning all the trims. Is the wood trim made of genuine wood or is it just a good quality plastic?

The same question concerns aluminium and carbon fibre trim. When I got in the new 5 Series once, the aluminium trim didn't really feel like aluminium, it looked perfect but in my opinion it wasn't definitely a metal. Thanks in advance for the answers.

it's wood. wafer-thin, but it's wood.

3aficionado · 04-03-2006, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by E90Fleet

Shure didnt see any shortage at the factory, they had a ton of wood trim

That’s because the original 2 posts were made back in June 2005. Someone resurrected this almost 10 month old thread.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jackbmw

I have one question concerning all the trims. Is the wood trim made of genuine wood or is it just a good quality plastic?

The same question concerns aluminium and carbon fibre trim. When I got in the new 5 Series once, the aluminium trim didn't really feel like aluminium, it looked perfect but in my opinion it wasn't definitely a metal. Thanks in advance for the answers.

The wood is real and covered in an epoxy for protection. Non-wood trims are different for various models and regions. In the 3 series the aluminum trim is real metal for the US. Although there are European posts that state they get an aluminum-like trim that is actually plastic in the 3 series. Everything coming to the US for 3er trims is real. I cannot speak for European trims or the Euro 5 series models.

tctic · 04-04-2006, 03:12 AM

The plastic 'aluminum-like' trim is called "Titanium Matte". It's not available in the US but in many other parts of the world.

04-04-2006, 10:07 AM

I think it's fake wood trim,but the aluminium trim is a thin aluminium paint/coat.

KL2DC · 04-04-2006, 10:55 AM

Its real wood veneer...each car's wood trim (if you look closely) has its own swirls, burls and sparkle (more so in light poplar)...no plood can show this much depth.

Ghunger · 04-04-2006, 01:37 PM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wood_veneer

imageWIS · 04-04-2006, 01:49 PM

Wood trim is real on BMW’s (and MB and Audi). The German cars have been getting cheaper in the quality of materials, but they are not THAT cheap yet. And by extension: RR (partially based on the 7er) and Bentley (the new ones almost completely based on the VW Phaeton).

Jon.

06-21-2005, 01:03 PM	#1
stressdoc Moderator 617 Rep 10,855 Posts Drives: BMW i8; Toy 4runner TRD pro Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Waco TX iTrader: (0)	Helping BMW solve the wood trim shortage problem One potential solution to the wood shortage problem would be to offer a 'performance package' with alcantara and carbon fibre trim. Maybe use the 325 final drive ratio. Not sure how well the carbon fibre works with the standard leather and 'ette packages -- certainly not a match for the beige. The titanium trim sounds like another reasonable option with black. I wish they could make faster adjustments to the product line, but I guess you have to deal with printed brochures etc. Anyone with a ZHP that can comment on the durability of alcantara? How does it handle mud, sand, candy and soft drinks?
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

06-21-2005, 01:29 PM	#2
Armen52 Captain 33 Rep 663 Posts Drives: 2006 330i Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Los Angeles, CA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 330i [0.00]	Mud? I've never had Alcantara anything but I am fairly certain a fabric like that will have trouble dealing with mud or soft drinks. __________________ E90 330i delivered 6/29/2005, ZSP/ZPP/ZCW/Step, Arctic/Gray/Walnut
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-03-2006, 03:31 PM	#3
stevenf2 Registered 0 Rep 1 Posts Drives: SE90 320d M-Sport, Xenons, LMB Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Bristol, United Kingdom iTrader: (0)	Alcantara v Mud I've had Alcantara seats in my VW Passat for the last 125,000 miles and can confirm that dried mud just brushes off; soft drinks, sweets, food etc. are not a problem to get off the fabric. The leather on the bolsters of the seats has aged a lot worse than than the alcantara, with the leather cracking and going all shiny but only slight bobbling of the seat base covered in the alcantara. Also I agree with others that the alcantara grips better, stays cool in the summer and is warm to the touch in winter. That's why I've ordered my new 320d M-Sport with the alcantara interior (+xenons, auto lights, wipers, comfort screen, velour mats, storage package) Arriving April 2006
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-03-2006, 04:12 PM	#4
E90Fleet Lieutenant General 1311 Rep 10,185 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: South Africa iTrader: (0)	Shure didnt see any shortage at the factory, they had a ton of wood trim As for the Carbon Fibre, here is what was shown at Geneva No idea when and how this will be available Attached Images __________________ BMW if you are reading, I need a job, Please.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-03-2006, 04:16 PM	#5
325 Baller Colonel 262 Rep 2,576 Posts Drives: X3 28i Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Boca Raton, Florida iTrader: (1) Garage List 2006 325i [0.00]	Im all for that idea. I love the alcantara. Never owned a car with it but my BMW dealership had a m3 with that package for like 5 months and whenever i would go sit in it i was in love, i wanted that car really bad. But decided i didnt want the old body style. __________________ ----------------------------------------------------
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-03-2006, 05:19 PM	#6
Jackbmw Private First Class 52 Rep 181 Posts Drives: 335i E91 Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Switzerland iTrader: (0)	I have one question concerning all the trims. Is the wood trim made of genuine wood or is it just a good quality plastic? The same question concerns aluminium and carbon fibre trim. When I got in the new 5 Series once, the aluminium trim didn't really feel like aluminium, it looked perfect but in my opinion it wasn't definitely a metal. Thanks in advance for the answers.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-04-2006, 03:12 AM	#9
tctic Major 38 Rep 1,238 Posts Drives: BMW E90 Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Canada iTrader: (0)	The plastic 'aluminum-like' trim is called "Titanium Matte". It's not available in the US but in many other parts of the world.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-04-2006, 10:07 AM	#10
quincy Guest 0 Rep n/a Posts Drives:	I think it's fake wood trim,but the aluminium trim is a thin aluminium paint/coat.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-04-2006, 10:55 AM	#11
KL2DC Moderator 318 Rep 17,767 Posts Drives: F36 428i,E90 328i, E85 Z4 3.0i Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: DC Metro iTrader: (23) Garage List 2015 F36 428i [0.00] 2011 E90 328i [0.00] 2006 E85 Z4 3.0i [0.00]	Its real wood veneer...each car's wood trim (if you look closely) has its own swirls, burls and sparkle (more so in light poplar)...no plood can show this much depth. __________________ Official DC Metro Registry - Current, New & Prospective Area Members Roll Call!
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-04-2006, 01:37 PM	#12
Ghunger Major 52 Rep 1,024 Posts Drives: 330i Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Seattle, WA iTrader: (0)	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wood_veneer __________________ 330i Monaco Blue, Terra /w aluminum trim, SP, PP, CA, PDC, Nav, Folding Seats, Sat Prep European Delivery Blog Picture Gallery
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-04-2006, 01:49 PM	#13
imageWIS Audi Roamer… 7 Rep 221 Posts Drives: 06' Audi A4 2.0T Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Boca Raton, FL iTrader: (0)	Wood trim is real on BMW’s (and MB and Audi). The German cars have been getting cheaper in the quality of materials, but they are not THAT cheap yet. And by extension: RR (partially based on the 7er) and Bentley (the new ones almost completely based on the VW Phaeton). Jon. __________________ Die Gedanken sind frei Sucker love is heaven sent. You pucker up, our passion’s spent. My hearts a tart, your body’s rent. My body’s broken, yours is spent. Last edited by imageWIS; 04-04-2006 at 02:19 PM..
	Appreciate 0 Quote