Fix for peeling soft touch plastic around the cup holders

highbrowed · 05-20-2019, 07:35 AM

Anyone have a pic of the underside of a removed center console? I am thinking of removing the cup holders if possible and wrapping with vinyl. My soft touch plastics look like ****.

EDIT: See pictures below. The cup holder section is plastic riveted to the center console. I ended up using a standard kitchen sponge, some dish soap, and a lot of elbow grease to remove the rubber coating. The plastic hiding beneath looks good as new!

1and1 · 05-20-2019, 09:41 AM

I have this one from when I disassembled & cleaned my center console, maybe it'll help...

deesea · 05-20-2019, 01:49 PM

I'm very much in the same boat - thinking I may just bite the bullet and get a new centre console.

I'm going to experiment with some plastikote on the steering wheel trim first though, if it's a solid option I might try masking off the centre console (removed) and spraying it with plastikote.

highbrowed · 05-20-2019, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deesea

I'm very much in the same boat - thinking I may just bite the bullet and get a new centre console.

I'm going to experiment with some plastikote on the steering wheel trim first though, if it's a solid option I might try masking off the centre console (removed) and spraying it with plastikote.

I covered my steering wheel trim with matte black vinyl 5 years ago and it looks good as new. I suggest using vinyl wrap instead of plastikote if you want a permanent solution.

highbrowed · 05-21-2019, 07:10 AM

Well I pulled the center console today and unfortunately the soft touch plastic portion is affixed with plastic rivets and is not easily removable. I think I am going to try drilling the rivets out so the cup holders and oddments tray can be easily removed.

I realize I can just buy a new center console, but it's just going to happen again if I do. I'd rather cover in vinyl and never have to worry about it again.

Here's a pic of the underside of the center console in case anyone needs it in the future.

You can see where the cup holders are attached with the plastic rivets.

highbrowed · 05-21-2019, 01:41 PM

Well guys, here was my fix:

I was able to scrape all of the rubber off without having to remove the cup holder portion from the center console. The plastic beneath looks like brand new again.

Before:

After:

dtla1 · 05-21-2019, 06:22 PM

But what about that nice soft touch plastic everyone loves?

1and1 · 05-21-2019, 07:21 PM

Yeah..., erm...., well,
gotta say, at least on my tablet, that looks kinda awesome

highbrowed · 05-21-2019, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1and1

Yeah..., erm...., well,
gotta say, at least on my tablet, that looks kinda awesome

Thanks. Its night and day. The peeling cup holders were a total eyesore.

Fakemike · 05-22-2019, 06:15 AM

Good to know, I have the same problem

jkoral · 05-22-2019, 06:41 AM

Had the same problem on both my E46 center consoles. My kids think I'm nuts for not drinking in the car and not using the cup holders!

ShocknAwe · 05-25-2019, 06:58 AM

Did the same thing. That soft touch stuff actually attracts more dirt. Kudos!

Dekdo · 03-29-2020, 06:13 PM

wow nice job! im going to give this a try eventually.

jaydieu · 04-17-2020, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by highbrowed

Thanks. Its night and day. The peeling cup holders were a total eyesore.

did you just use the sponge side or used both?

highbrowed · 04-17-2020, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaydieu

did you just use the sponge side or used both?

I used the green side mostly

TM9030 · 04-27-2020, 12:03 AM

Thank you.

highbrowed · 05-05-2020, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TM9030

Thank you.

Thunderguts · 05-21-2020, 09:41 PM

Nice! I may just have to try this. I was thinking about getting a new console, but it will just happen again...

golfer23rm · 05-25-2020, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by highbrowed

did you remove the console to do it? or just did it in the car?

AlfaHeadHunter · 05-26-2020, 01:39 PM

This idea took about 30 minutes from start to finish without removing anything. The finish product looks amazing. I used a dry sponge and cleaned up the loose particles with a damp cloth. Thx

Dekdo · 06-06-2020, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlfaHeadHunter

This idea took about 30 minutes from start to finish without removing anything. The finish product looks amazing. I used a dry sponge and cleaned up the loose particles with a damp cloth. Thx

Edit: Done. Works well, I did the steering wheel face plate too.

05-20-2019, 07:35 AM	#1
highbrowed Boost Addict 148 Rep 1,077 Posts Drives: FBO N54 135i 6MT Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: South Florida iTrader: (4)	Fix for peeling soft touch plastic around the cup holders Anyone have a pic of the underside of a removed center console? I am thinking of removing the cup holders if possible and wrapping with vinyl. My soft touch plastics look like **. EDIT: See pictures below. The cup holder section is plastic riveted to the center console. I ended up using a standard kitchen sponge, some dish soap, and a lot of elbow grease to remove the rubber coating. The plastic hiding beneath looks good as new! __________________ FBO 2009 Space Grey 135i 6MT M-Sport Coupe e82shop.com** Last edited by highbrowed; 05-21-2019 at 08:34 PM..
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05-20-2019, 09:41 AM	#2
1and1 Loves me some MHD! 1540 Rep 1,443 Posts Drives: faster than he should... Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Tally, FL iTrader: (1) Garage List '09 135i [5.00]	I have this one from when I disassembled & cleaned my center console, maybe it'll help... Attached Images __________________ 1and1 135i - E82.N54 2009 BSM - MHD / xHP / DCI, PR CP & 7.5" Race IC / N55 mid & Borla . . WL RSFI, Koni, Eibach & Dinan CP's, M3 CA's / EBC Red's & Firehawk 500's X1 - E84.N20 2013 MGM - JB4 - The Wife's
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05-20-2019, 01:49 PM	#3
deesea First Lieutenant 57 Rep 346 Posts Drives: 2009 135i Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Markham, ON iTrader: (1)	I'm very much in the same boat - thinking I may just bite the bullet and get a new centre console. I'm going to experiment with some plastikote on the steering wheel trim first though, if it's a solid option I might try masking off the centre console (removed) and spraying it with plastikote.
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05-21-2019, 07:10 AM	#5
highbrowed Boost Addict 148 Rep 1,077 Posts Drives: FBO N54 135i 6MT Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: South Florida iTrader: (4)	Well I pulled the center console today and unfortunately the soft touch plastic portion is affixed with plastic rivets and is not easily removable. I think I am going to try drilling the rivets out so the cup holders and oddments tray can be easily removed. I realize I can just buy a new center console, but it's just going to happen again if I do. I'd rather cover in vinyl and never have to worry about it again. Here's a pic of the underside of the center console in case anyone needs it in the future. You can see where the cup holders are attached with the plastic rivets. __________________ FBO 2009 Space Grey 135i 6MT M-Sport Coupe e82shop.com Last edited by highbrowed; 05-21-2019 at 08:07 AM..
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05-21-2019, 01:41 PM	#6
highbrowed Boost Addict 148 Rep 1,077 Posts Drives: FBO N54 135i 6MT Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: South Florida iTrader: (4)	Well guys, here was my fix: I was able to scrape all of the rubber off without having to remove the cup holder portion from the center console. The plastic beneath looks like brand new again. Before: After: __________________ FBO 2009 Space Grey 135i 6MT M-Sport Coupe e82shop.com Last edited by highbrowed; 05-21-2019 at 08:35 PM..
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05-21-2019, 06:22 PM	#7
dtla1 Lieutenant Colonel 583 Rep 1,661 Posts Drives: 2011 135i, Space Grey Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Silicon Valley iTrader: (2)	But what about that nice soft touch plastic everyone loves?
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05-21-2019, 07:21 PM	#8
1and1 Loves me some MHD! 1540 Rep 1,443 Posts Drives: faster than he should... Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Tally, FL iTrader: (1) Garage List '09 135i [5.00]	Yeah..., erm...., well, gotta say, at least on my tablet, that looks kinda awesome __________________ 1and1 135i - E82.N54 2009 BSM - MHD / xHP / DCI, PR CP & 7.5" Race IC / N55 mid & Borla . . WL RSFI, Koni, Eibach & Dinan CP's, M3 CA's / EBC Red's & Firehawk 500's X1 - E84.N20 2013 MGM - JB4 - The Wife's
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05-22-2019, 06:15 AM	#10
Fakemike Second Lieutenant 318 Rep 288 Posts Drives: 135i N54 MT Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Florida iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 135i [0.00]	Good to know, I have the same problem
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05-22-2019, 06:41 AM	#11
jkoral Major 350 Rep 1,371 Posts Drives: 2017 M2 LBB 6MT Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: MA iTrader: (5)	Had the same problem on both my E46 center consoles. My kids think I'm nuts for not drinking in the car and not using the cup holders!
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05-25-2019, 06:58 AM	#12
ShocknAwe 1Addict 2536 Rep 7,199 Posts Drives: E82 Mutt Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Charleston iTrader: (22)	Did the same thing. That soft touch stuff actually attracts more dirt. Kudos! __________________ 2010 135i 6MT Jet Black N54/3 Converted ///Mutt \| BUILD THREAD \| GARAGE SALE
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03-29-2020, 06:13 PM	#13
Dekdo Enlisted Member 2 Rep 47 Posts Drives: BMW 135i Join Date: Dec 2019 Location: Chicago iTrader: (0)	wow nice job! im going to give this a try eventually.
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04-27-2020, 12:03 AM	#16
TM9030 First Lieutenant 60 Rep 351 Posts Drives: 2008 135i Join Date: May 2018 Location: San Diego, CA iTrader: (3)	Thank you.
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05-21-2020, 09:41 PM	#18
Thunderguts Lieutenant 285 Rep 439 Posts Drives: 2009 128i Sport MT Join Date: Jul 2018 Location: DFW iTrader: (0)	Nice! I may just have to try this. I was thinking about getting a new console, but it will just happen again... __________________ Official BMWP Whore - BMWP suspension kit, BMWP intake w/Mishimoto tube, BMWP exhaust, BMWP carbon strut brace, BMWP short shifter, BMWP carbon spoiler, and soon...BMWP big brakes. OZ Leggera HLT w/ 225 square setup. So much fun to drive this car!!!
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05-26-2020, 01:39 PM	#20
AlfaHeadHunter New Member 3 Rep 19 Posts Drives: 2010 135i/M-Spt,Blk Met,Din S2 Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Charleston, SC iTrader: (0)	This idea took about 30 minutes from start to finish without removing anything. The finish product looks amazing. I used a dry sponge and cleaned up the loose particles with a damp cloth. Thx
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