Any help for these faded parts? vent louvers, seat belt release, shift knob, antenna

carcar123454321 · 08-16-2023, 01:19 PM

Might just have to buy new, but any ideas on these? I include any ideas I have:

1. vent louvers: Possibly paint? Can I get the louvers off the car easily?
2. seat belt release: No idea..paint would just scrape off.
3. shift knob: Black die? Might be a mess. Easier to buy new probably.
4. antenna: Plasti Dip? Maybe shrink rap spring part with electrical wire shrink wrap. I think I'll try that.

jdt10768 · 08-16-2023, 03:06 PM

someone on here sells wrapped vents, you just send in your old vents as core
. . . buy a new shift knob. the weighted ZHP is nice
that white film can be polished off the seatbelt release buttons, with elbow grease and maybe 303 Aerospace product
. . . buy a new antenna cover?

WrathOTM · 08-16-2023, 04:53 PM

I removed and disassembled my vents and painted them with a satin black paint. And took a red sharpie to my seat belt release buttons and recolored the hell out of them. Is your car a convertible? Didn't know they had traditional antennas

lemansblau135is · 08-16-2023, 04:54 PM

What he said

carcar123454321 · 08-16-2023, 05:39 PM

Thanks all. Yes it's a convertible.

JustAnotherSportsCar · 08-18-2023, 07:23 AM

I replaced my antenna, just about the easiest job there is, just unscrew it! I bought a factory original one from a discount parts dealer.

GoRomeo · 08-18-2023, 08:46 AM

My antenna is a stubby one. Not like yours. Interesting.

tracer bullet · 08-18-2023, 09:19 AM

Agreed w/ above - def replace the shift knob and antenna. Try cleaning the red part of the seat belt gizmo up to and including fine sandpaper. Vents are harder... they can be disassembled and either painted or wrapped, but keep in mind that part that slides left / right. Assembly may be entertaining, lots of little parts to get back together at once. K-9 leader here does offer wrapped versions. I bought new ones.

carcar123454321 · 08-19-2023, 08:37 PM

Antenna: So I decided to get creative and just took off the rubber at the bottom with an exacto knife, then slid on a couple tubes of electrical wire shrink wrap, heated it, and voila. I just happened to have the wrap and a heat gun so thought I'd give it a shot. Probably easier to buy a new atenna if you don't have all that ;-). (What I don't know is how to make photos smaller in the forum

. Wish it was a drag and drop forum and I could resize on the spot.)

08-16-2023, 01:19 PM	#1
carcar123454321 Private 15 Rep 59 Posts Drives: 135i, Solstice GXP, Subaru Leg Join Date: Mar 2022 Location: TN iTrader: (0)	Any help for these faded parts? vent louvers, seat belt release, shift knob, antenna Might just have to buy new, but any ideas on these? I include any ideas I have: 1. vent louvers: Possibly paint? Can I get the louvers off the car easily? 2. seat belt release: No idea..paint would just scrape off. 3. shift knob: Black die? Might be a mess. Easier to buy new probably. 4. antenna: Plasti Dip? Maybe shrink rap spring part with electrical wire shrink wrap. I think I'll try that. Last edited by carcar123454321; 08-19-2023 at 08:31 PM..
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08-16-2023, 03:06 PM	#2
jdt10768 Lieutenant 332 Rep 530 Posts Drives: 2013 128i MSport 6MT Join Date: Sep 2018 Location: Columbia, SC iTrader: (0)	someone on here sells wrapped vents, you just send in your old vents as core . . . buy a new shift knob. the weighted ZHP is nice that white film can be polished off the seatbelt release buttons, with elbow grease and maybe 303 Aerospace product . . . buy a new antenna cover?
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08-16-2023, 04:53 PM	#3
WrathOTM Lieutenant 546 Rep 518 Posts Drives: BMW 128i Join Date: Jun 2021 Location: Rio Rancho, NM iTrader: (0)	I removed and disassembled my vents and painted them with a satin black paint. And took a red sharpie to my seat belt release buttons and recolored the hell out of them. Is your car a convertible? Didn't know they had traditional antennas __________________ Mods to date: The list grows...
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08-16-2023, 04:54 PM	#4
lemansblau135is First Lieutenant 119 Rep 359 Posts Drives: bmw 135is Join Date: Apr 2019 Location: nor cal iTrader: (0) Garage List 2013 bmw 135is [0.00]	What he said
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08-16-2023, 05:39 PM	#5
carcar123454321 Private 15 Rep 59 Posts Drives: 135i, Solstice GXP, Subaru Leg Join Date: Mar 2022 Location: TN iTrader: (0)	Thanks all. Yes it's a convertible.
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08-18-2023, 07:23 AM	#6
JustAnotherSportsCar Private First Class 80 Rep 111 Posts Drives: 2008 BMW 135i E88 Join Date: Nov 2021 Location: Iowa iTrader: (0)	I replaced my antenna, just about the easiest job there is, just unscrew it! I bought a factory original one from a discount parts dealer.
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08-18-2023, 08:46 AM	#7
GoRomeo Brigadier General 964 Rep 3,854 Posts Drives: 330i, 135i Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: San Diego CA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 BMW 135i [9.50] 2006 330i [6.75]	My antenna is a stubby one. Not like yours. Interesting.
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08-18-2023, 09:19 AM	#8
tracer bullet Brigadier General 2413 Rep 3,549 Posts Drives: '11 135i , '15 X3 35i Join Date: May 2011 Location: Saint Paul, MN iTrader: (1)	Agreed w/ above - def replace the shift knob and antenna. Try cleaning the red part of the seat belt gizmo up to and including fine sandpaper. Vents are harder... they can be disassembled and either painted or wrapped, but keep in mind that part that slides left / right. Assembly may be entertaining, lots of little parts to get back together at once. K-9 leader here does offer wrapped versions. I bought new ones. Last edited by tracer bullet; 08-19-2023 at 09:48 PM..
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08-19-2023, 08:37 PM	#9
carcar123454321 Private 15 Rep 59 Posts Drives: 135i, Solstice GXP, Subaru Leg Join Date: Mar 2022 Location: TN iTrader: (0)	Antenna: So I decided to get creative and just took off the rubber at the bottom with an exacto knife, then slid on a couple tubes of electrical wire shrink wrap, heated it, and voila. I just happened to have the wrap and a heat gun so thought I'd give it a shot. Probably easier to buy a new atenna if you don't have all that ;-). (What I don't know is how to make photos smaller in the forum . Wish it was a drag and drop forum and I could resize on the spot.)
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