[EB9512]

Originally Posted by jigga

Lucky you are under warranty still! Where in Michigan are you located? My wife is from Ann Arbor.

I live in SW Michigan. Just North of South Bend, IN.

[Joe-]

I am going to pull mine out and power wash spray the handle so that all the "Soft Touch" comes off, it's pretty useless as plastic feels pretty much the same anyways.

[Mce1267]

Just picked up a 09' 335i convertible, cream beige interior with about 50 miles left on the warranty. We have the same issue with the soft paint peeling off numerous areas in the interior. The dealership says this is normal wear and will not replace under warranty. Is there a recall or service bulletin I could reference to get them to replace it under warranty ?

Any help greatly arreciated

[ccraig13]

So I'm not the only one this is happening too!

Mine isn't so bad. I feel it starting in the handle area but it hasn't gotten bad enough to see it yet. The steering wheel is also starting to peel and after asking about it I was quoted $120 for the replacement piece

However, like many of you have suggested, I will eventually go the Plasti-Dip route. That stuff is truly amazing and the texture is basically the same. I recently did my grille with it and it came out perfect on the first try. $6 at Home Depot.

Also, I know someone mentioned their leather also fading away. I would highly recommend the Leatherique system. Here's a howto http://www.detailedimage.com/Ask-a-P...r-care-how-to/

[ramez75]

Ok so this is covered under warranty. I will then go to the dearlership and make them replace mine

[Mce1267]

Got a few items replaced under warranty. Steering wheel trim, dash vents and cup holders were replaced because they were not wear items. The dealership has a leather service and they are going to refinish the other items and the armrest and center console leather. Picking it up today - very interested to see how it comes out.

[r3dbimmer89]

My steering wheel on my E90 was doing that too...luckily on my LCI E92 I got the M sport steering without the shiny black plastic. I also noticed that the passenger side door pull is covered entirely in leather rather than the back portion being black plastic.

[N8N]

so has anyone tried the plasti-dip on this stuff? I am thinking it might work well and would like to know if it does not only for my 335i but for my mom's (my old) GTI 1.8T

[pwner4once]

I have the same problem and will plasti dip as soon as I get time to unassembly the part from the door.
Although I have not plasti dipped this particular part; I have done it to my grills and it has been about 6months. All the wind/debri is probably more harsh than my hand... therefore I think it will last.

[dylim]

I liked SEM classic coat more than plastidip. My beige interior was peeling, especially the door handles. No need to remove the part, just peel off + remove the old paint, tape the surrounding area, spray the paint within a cardboard box, viola!

[Epic404]

Originally Posted by dylim

I liked SEM classic coat more than plastidip. My beige interior was peeling, especially the door handles. No need to remove the part, just peel off + remove the old paint, tape the surrounding area, spray the paint within a cardboard box, viola!

I need to fix my peeling issues on the handle and rear storage of my beige interior. Do you have pics of how it turned out? Can you send me the part#?

[dylim]

Originally Posted by Epic404

I need to fix my peeling issues on the handle and rear storage of my beige interior. Do you have pics of how it turned out? Can you send me the part#?

Sure, will do later. I used a darker one - SEM color coat light oak 15753, but I think it turned out well.

I actually did the door handle, the window switch, the AC panel, the interior of the center console, and the rear storage. Since I got my car 2nd hand and it was out of warranty already at that time, I didn't have any other way than to fix these myself.

[fun2drive]

How about posting these pics so we can all see the results.
Thanks

[nr09]

I had plastidipped my interior handle and it ended up peeling again. it's not a long term fix

[hugus311]

Originally Posted by nr09

I had plastidipped my interior handle and it ended up peeling again. it's not a long term fix

Two options are new piece which is dyed instead of dipped and swap it out. And second which really only works if you have black interior to peel off all the soft touch as it is just black underneath. I was lucky and my dealer replaced both passenger and driver door handles under warrant. The driver side has a updated part which today still looks new. The passenger side had no updates so I received a new part which agains is starting to peel

[dylim]

Some pics from my phone... I was coding some stuff and suddenly remembered this post I did not take pics of the center console or the rear vent.







Note that my dash is actually SEM Classic Coat Creamy Ivory (17323), so it's a bit lighter than an OEM dash. (I had to paint the dash since I got a black one as part of the idrive retrofit.) This makes the SEM color coat light oak look a bit darker. But I had no choice as you cannot use classic coat with hard plastic, only on vinyl and leather.

For the peeling handle and window control, you would need to remove the control (search youtube for video), and pry the trim out (otherwise it would be very difficult to mask the buttons). For the door handle itself, just mask, and use a shoebox, cut a hole, and spray with the can in the box (this way the extra paint particles gets more or less trapped in the box and not on the window, the mirror, or the interior).

Of course, use caution and spray only in a well ventilated area.

[Epic404]

Originally Posted by Mce1267

Got a few items replaced under warranty. Steering wheel trim, dash vents and cup holders were replaced because they were not wear items. The dealership has a leather service and they are going to refinish the other items and the armrest and center console leather. Picking it up today - very interested to see how it comes out.

How many miles do you have? Were the items replaced under the 50K warranty or the CPO?

My SA said none of that is replaceable under the CPO, but then again he denies everything.

[Epic404]

Originally Posted by dylim

Some pics from my phone... I was coding some stuff and suddenly remembered this post I did not take pics of the center console or the rear vent.







Note that my dash is actually SEM Classic Coat Creamy Ivory (17323), so it's a bit lighter than an OEM dash. (I had to paint the dash since I got a black one as part of the idrive retrofit.) This makes the SEM color coat light oak look a bit darker. But I had no choice as you cannot use classic coat with hard plastic, only on vinyl and leather.

For the peeling handle and window control, you would need to remove the control (search youtube for video), and pry the trim out (otherwise it would be very difficult to mask the buttons). For the door handle itself, just mask, and use a shoebox, cut a hole, and spray with the can in the box (this way the extra paint particles gets more or less trapped in the box and not on the window, the mirror, or the interior).

Of course, use caution and spray only in a well ventilated area.

Thanks

[Mce1267]

The non wear items were replaced under the 50k warranty. The dealership really worked with me on this. The leather service stripped the other parts of the softcoat and painted the parts. They charged $150 and did quite a few pcs and dyed the center console top. Everything looks brand new now and it should last. I would like to wrap the door light strips in wood to get a bit of contrast in the interior though.

[nycbr]

I noticed peeling around the window switches. So I peeled off as much as I could and wiped it down with Aerospace 303. Looks great, except I couldn't peel off under the switches so still a little ghetto.

[NGEE]

If it's hard plastic you want to paint, then Leatherique is not a good option. It will look good when you apply it, but then it scratches off easily. Maybe if you clear-coat afterward it would work. Leatherique does appear to provide a durable coating on soft-touch interior pieces.

Be aware that paint match is a real problem for most interiors. Some interior colors do better with standard SEM colors than others - check out this thread on a gray interior (look at post #14):

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum...9#post25747919

I don't know about other colors, but Dakota Beige is a b**ch. I've been trying to put together a DIY for a rear console refinish and after more than a month I still haven't gotten it right. Trial and error is time-consuming. Custom color is the only way to go, by sending a sample to SEM or Leatherique.

Here is an exchange I had with SEM:

We do not currently have a formula for that specific color however, we can create one for you. We would need a sample of that color approximately 2”x2”. We will also waive the color formulation fee if you will provide us with the following information when you send in that sample.

Make
Model year
interior trim code
factory color name
Let us know if you have any questions

Thanks again

DAVID ANDERSON
TECHNICAL SUPPORT SPECIALIST
1-800-831-1122

What I found out in a subsequent exchange is that the manufacturer does not sell you the paint. They simply use your sample to make up a color "recipe" which they send to you. You take that "recipe" to a local automotive paint supplier and they will mix it for you. They can do pints or quarts. Note that it comes in cans and you have to figure out how to spray it! Only a limited number of suppliers can put it into an aerosol can for you.

SEM sells two products: SURE COAT for leather, vinyl and interior plastics; and COLOR COAT for vinyl and interior plastics.

I did purchase several SEM products for my project: 38353 Plastic and Leather Prep; 38363 Sand Free; and 15143 Sandstone Color Coat. I used their DIY video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYPr7ea_NfY. It came out pretty good, but... a) the color was not even close; and b) the paint bubbled in places, even after all that prep. So they aren't kidding when they talk about testing for reaction first.

I decided against going the custom-color route with SEM because I don't have a sprayer. COLOR COAT will flash too quickly to brush on effectively, so you must spray it. They recommend a standard paint gun using a 1.3-1.4 fluid tip.

Note that Leatherique has OEM colors listed on their website - they will not match! You must do custom color. They have a similar procedure for custom color - you have to send a 2"x2" sample. THIS IS DIFFICULT TO FIND! I removed my rear seat and there is *very little* excess leather under there. I could only manage a 1"x1" swatch. The result was not good.



I have just returned the custom color back to Leatherique to have them adjust it. This time I sent a piece of my interior (seat trim), which they will return to me.

We'll see what happens. Stay tuned to my DIY here: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=883564.

[demedja]

Originally Posted by Hennadiyk

WTF BMW, what happened to quality product?

This. ^


I am having some bad peeling issues, too. Last time the dealer replaced them for free but now I'm off warranty and have to pay. The peeling is worse this time...around the cup holders too but especially bad on the door lock panel. Can't believe BMW put this shitty easy peel stuff in the car!