[TomTomTuning]

I very rarely put something in the iDrive display area so I don't remember when exactly this happened but it appears I scratched the Antri-Glare coating on the display. I thought it was some sort of smudge and tried to whip it with a micro fiber cloth but it appears I actually made it worst...

Why the heck is that coating to delicate, it's ridiculous!!!
Any idea on how to fix this or what I should do? My lease is over in April of 2013.

[HK8888]

Interested in knowing, subscribed.

[mickcris]

I've used scratch-x on an LCD computer monitor before and it worked very well.

[mashimarho]

I thought about putting my phone there one time.... Thankfully I didn't.

[Technic]

Just to piss you off a little more... there used to be a clear plastic cover to protect the LCD screen but BMW removed it to save some bucks.

I doubt that you can polish that scratch as the surface is not smooth, as you can notice. An used screen may cost you some $500; brand new is about 3 times that.

[mickcris]

The monitor that I buffed the scratches out of had a matte screen (not glossy) and the scratches disappeared. May depend on how deep they are if the will come out.

[Technic]

Originally Posted by mickcris

The monitor that I buffed the scratches out of had a matte screen (not glossy) and the scratches disappeared. May depend on how deep they are if the will come out.

Hopefully that method would work here as well. Hopefully...

[TroyDeJ]

wow i cant believe that got rid of the clear plastic cover on LCIs. i got a scratch in my plastic cover and polished it out but i would feel nervous doing it on the screen

[Concentric190]

damn, my 2009 LCI has the plastic cover. That was a dumb move on BMW IMO.

[timmahh]

I was just going to ask where the hell the plastic was! eeek.

OP - Not sure; may need to replace the monitor.. or send it off somewhere that can put a new coating on it.

[TomTomTuning]

I wasn't getting any email notifications on this thread so I didn't know so many ppl replied.

I guess i'll do some research to find out if there's somewhere I could send it to be repaired but If I can't find any, I guess I'll try the scratchX idea. The thing is, it's not so much a grove scratch in the display, as it is an area where the anti-glare coating has been removed.

I called BMW last week and they said to bring it by but when I did, the "master tech" was busy and couldn't check it out at the moment. So the guy said call back and schedule an appointment. What a big waste of my time.

[mickcris]

I saw a couple of places on the web saying that filling the scratch with Vaseline will make it disappear.
http://www.hackosis.com/fixing-an-lcd-screen-scratch/

Not sure if it would work though.

[TomTomTuning]

I wonder if all the "scratch" repair methods would work for my situation. The screen doesn't have an grove scratches, the coating is just removed...

[bmmakela]

same thing happened to me and I made it worse trying to polish the scratches with an eyeglasses wipe...bringing into the dealer on the 23rd to see if they'll warrantee it.... Only 9000 miles on my 2011 and this is the fourth problem I've run into... If they won't replace the screen, I ordered a screen film from www.lexerd.com in hopes of covering the blemishes

[TomTomTuning]

Originally Posted by bmmakela

same thing happened to me and I made it worse trying to polish the scratches with an eyeglasses wipe...bringing into the dealer on the 23rd to see if they'll warrantee it.... Only 9000 miles on my 2011 and this is the fourth problem I've run into... If they won't replace the screen, I ordered a screen film from www.lexerd.com in hopes of covering the blemishes

Good luck!!! Please let me know what happens when you take it to the dealer... And if that screen protector helps...

I'm over this..

[bmmakela]

So the Lexerd screen film arrived today and I applied it to my iDrive screen with mixed results. The anti-glare scratches were certainly less noticeable, and invisible from some angles, but not gone. It also took me three attempts to apply the film, which rolled up a bit in one corner from taking it on and off.

The particular film I bought was Crystal Clear, and didn't realize until afterward that they sell an Anti-Glare film, so the surface was too shiny. Between the rolled edge and shiny surface, I removed the film.

I bought two more films, this time the Anti-Glare version, and will give it one more try ($37). If the Anti-Glare has a matte finish, and I'm able to apply at least one of the two that I bought without having to reposition multiple times, I think it will be a good solution.

If you have no chance of getting the dealer to replace the screen, then I think this is actually a low cost option to make it more tolerable.

Will let you know how round two goes!

[TomTomTuning]

Originally Posted by bmmakela

So the Lexerd screen film arrived today and I applied it to my iDrive screen with mixed results. The anti-glare scratches were certainly less noticeable, and invisible from some angles, but not gone. It also took me three attempts to apply the film, which rolled up a bit in one corner from taking it on and off.

The particular film I bought was Crystal Clear, and didn't realize until afterward that they sell an Anti-Glare film, so the surface was too shiny. Between the rolled edge and shiny surface, I removed the film.

I bought two more films, this time the Anti-Glare version, and will give it one more try ($37). If the Anti-Glare has a matte finish, and I'm able to apply at least one of the two that I bought without having to reposition multiple times, I think it will be a good solution.

If you have no chance of getting the dealer to replace the screen, then I think this is actually a low cost option to make it more tolerable.

Will let you know how round two goes!

I'm assuming the dealer wasn't any help?

I don't mind tolerating the scuffs my main concern is when I return the car to BMW in less then a year, will I have to pay for a new display.
If the Anti-Glare screen protector works, it's only a temporary fix until I take it in, in which case I believe they'll notice it.

Agh, this is so stressful.

[h3lpmedic]

Have you tried vaseline? I've used it to mask scratches on LCD Monitors before. Might be a good temp fix.

[mazda3ndp]

I have a screen (BRAND NEW!!), just the screen not the hood or anything, Im in NJ and I accidently bought, and have no use for it, was going to save it for just this scenario but kinda strapped for cash so pm me if you like

[TomTomTuning]

Originally Posted by mazda3ndp

I have a screen (BRAND NEW!!), just the screen not the hood or anything, Im in NJ and I accidently bought, and have no use for it, was going to save it for just this scenario but kinda strapped for cash so pm me if you like

PM sent.

[bmmakela]

So the dealer wasn't any help. Not a warrantee issue according to them, although I'm going to write the BBB to air my grievances. Between three repairs in 10k miles of ownership, and the iDrive screen scratches, I'm mad. Ever heard of Gorilla glass BMW?

The Lexerd anti-glare film does work OK, maybe a bit better than OK. After two previous attempts, I was able to apply with minimal bubbles and edge buckling. The scratches are significantly less noticeable, and it looks better than before, albeit a few minor bubbles under the new film.

I plan to trade this car in after another two years. If the dealer tries to discount my trade due to the iDrive screen ($2800 repair), I'll walk out and buy an S4 across the street instead.

My wife and I bought new cars at the same time last summer, she bought a Q5, and I bought my F30, and she hasn't had an issue to date... maybe I should have bought that S4.

[raf555]

Originally Posted by Technic

Just to piss you off a little more... there used to be a clear plastic cover to protect the LCD screen but BMW removed it to save some bucks.

I doubt that you can polish that scratch as the surface is not smooth, as you can notice. An used screen may cost you some $500; brand new is about 3 times that.

I thought they removed it for enhanced viewing... No reflections and all that?!

Tight arses!!

Yes I too have seen cic screens with plastic covers!