[Greyfox]

After getting a split armrest, I haven't been happy with just a plain plasticized piece of wood covering the center console.

So I picked up a cheap trim piece for the retrofit and covered it in leather. Still have a bit of touch up to do. So far....

[SG_E90]

Looks pretty decent, I'm guessing you use a very thin leather for this?

What is your method for attachment glue?

[Greyfox]

Originally Posted by SG_E90

Looks pretty decent, I'm guessing you use a very thin leather for this?

What is your method for attachment glue?

Yeah... it is somewhere around 1.5 to 2oz leather and used contact cement.

The hardest part was finding a CIC trim piece....

[feuer]

Shave the frame a little where the Idrive controler is to offset the thickness of the leather. Do the same in other tight areas. Also spray glue might work better. Good job over all. When you say CIC trim piece are you thinking of the black plastic cover? I have one I would like to get ric off.

[Greyfox]

Originally Posted by feuer

Shave the frame a little where the Idrive controler is to offset the thickness of the leather. Do the same in other tight areas. Also spray glue might work better. Good job over all. When you say CIC trim piece are you thinking of the black plastic cover? I have one I would like to get ric off.

I might pull it back off and try that. I just trimmed the leather very close to the iDrive controller and shift boot plate.

Because of the sort of twisted curvature of the trim, especially the left edge, you have to work at it slowly. So I was literally in some spots only putting glue on half an inch at a time to get it to lay down correctly.

Sorry, I'm talking about the whole piece when saying CIC trim. I guess the CIC center console trim would be more precise. I can find tons of CCC, but very few CIC.

[Wolf 335]

Did you try ironing the leather a bit before hand. There are tricks to getting rid of leather crease marks.

And you gotta fix that shifter trim perimeter.

[feuer]

Originally Posted by Greyfox

Sorry, I'm talking about the whole piece when saying CIC trim. I guess the CIC center console trim would be more precise. I can find tons of CCC, but very few CIC.

So is the piece that you have in above pic? They are couple of for sale here on e90post currently.

Originally Posted by Wolf 335

Did you try ironing the leather a bit before hand. There are tricks to getting rid of leather crease marks.

While back I reupholstered some car seats. I supply the leather and it came with few crease marks from being folded. They used steamer to soften/loosen up the leather. I guess iron that can spray water would to the same?

[Greyfox]

Originally Posted by Wolf 335

Did you try ironing the leather a bit before hand. There are tricks to getting rid of leather crease marks.

And you gotta fix that shifter trim perimeter.

I buy the skins in bulk and the people I buy from never fold leather. It is always rolled. Some of the distortion is from pulling it back while applying the leather and glue.

Yeah... I'm not happy with it the more I look at it.

[feuer]

Originally Posted by Greyfox

I buy the skins in bulk and the people I buy from never fold leather. It is always rolled. Some of the distortion is from pulling it back while applying the leather and glue.

Yeah... I'm not happy with it the more I look at it.

If is showing creases from imperfections on the center console itself you could try thin foam padding.

[Greyfox]

Originally Posted by feuer

If is showing creases from imperfections on the center console itself you could try thin foam padding.

It is the aluminum trim so it's straight. Not cracked like my existing one.

[mjn77]

That leather needs to be stretched. Heat it woth some steam, get it supple, then you should get some better, smoother results.