HELP: Scratched iDrive Anti-Glar Coating (with photos). - BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum

TomTomTuning · 03-22-2012, 07:22 PM

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 · 03-23-2012, 05:17 AM

Interested in knowing, subscribed.

mickcris · 03-23-2012, 09:44 AM

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

mashimarho · 03-23-2012, 10:01 AM

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

Technic · 03-23-2012, 11:48 AM

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 · 03-24-2012, 03:13 AM

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 · 03-24-2012, 07:47 AM

Quote:

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 · 03-28-2012, 07:11 AM

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 · 03-28-2012, 02:40 PM

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

timmahh · 03-29-2012, 03:50 PM

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 · 04-11-2012, 07:43 PM

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 · 04-11-2012, 09:43 PM

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 · 04-13-2012, 04:05 PM

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 · 04-13-2012, 05:48 PM

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 · 04-13-2012, 07:20 PM

Quote:

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 · 04-16-2012, 06:48 PM

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 · 04-25-2012, 01:19 PM

Quote:

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 · 04-25-2012, 04:01 PM

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

mazda3ndp · 04-26-2012, 08:20 AM

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 · 04-26-2012, 08:34 AM

Quote:

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 · 04-29-2012, 06:14 PM

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 · 05-04-2012, 06:49 AM

Quote:

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!

03-22-2012, 07:22 PM	#1
TomTomTuning Captain Drives: E92 335I XDrive Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Camp Hill, PA Posts: 914 iTrader: (0)	HELP: Scratched iDrive Anti-Glar Coating (with photos). 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. __________________ 2010 Alpine White Ex. - Saddle Brown In. l 335i E92 XDrive l Cold l Premium l Sport l Navi l Sat radio
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03-23-2012, 10:01 AM	#4
mashimarho Boss Drives: e92 LCI 335i xDrive™ Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Grand Rapids, michigan Posts: 5,721 iTrader: (27) Garage List 2012 BMW 335i xDrive [5.00]	I thought about putting my phone there one time.... Thankfully I didn't. __________________ -Sean. 360 FORGED///DynamikiLLu51ions///ER///BMS///KW///VRSF///ARKYM///DD///CYBA///STOPTECH///BMW Performance /// My Progress: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=770326

03-23-2012, 11:48 AM	#5
Technic Major General Drives: 2012 E92 M3, 2010 CC Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Ft Lauderdale, Florida Posts: 9,820 iTrader: (13) Garage List 2004 M3 [0.00]	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. __________________ -2012 E92 M3 Jerez Black/Rust Brown, M-DCT: September ED -2008 E90 M3 Melbourne Red/Bamboo, 6MT: Gone -2007 MK5 GTI United Grey/Grey, DSG: Gone -2004 E46 M3 Carbon Black/Cinnamon, 6MT: Gone -2002 E46 330i Orient Blue/Natural Brown, 5MT: Gone

03-28-2012, 02:40 PM	#9
Concentric190 Second Lieutenant Drives: M3 turbo Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Willowbrook, IL Posts: 251 iTrader: (0) Garage List 1997 BMW M3 [0.00] 2009 BMW 335d [0.00] 1995 BMW M3 [0.00]	damn, my 2009 LCI has the plastic cover. That was a dumb move on BMW IMO. __________________ ///Andres 09 335d evolve tuned - 327whp / 490wtq -- 13.0@105 95 M3 Turbo - Built 3.0l s52, PTE74GTQ, AEM EMS & CDI

03-29-2012, 03:50 PM	#10
timmahh ghey Drives: Viertürigen Fahrzeugs Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Southern California Posts: 1,096 iTrader: (0)	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. __________________ The females confuse me.

03-23-2012, 05:17 AM	#2
HK8888 Captain Drives: '08 E92 M3 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 895 iTrader: (3) Garage List 2008 M3 Coupe [5.00]	Interested in knowing, subscribed.

03-23-2012, 09:44 AM	#3
mickcris Private Drives: 2011 328i Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: dallas, tx Posts: 50 iTrader: (0)	I've used scratch-x on an LCD computer monitor before and it worked very well.

03-24-2012, 03:13 AM	#6
mickcris Private Drives: 2011 328i Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: dallas, tx Posts: 50 iTrader: (0)	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.

03-28-2012, 07:11 AM	#8
TroyDeJ Banned Drives: around aimlessly Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Long Island Posts: 984 iTrader: (1)	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

04-11-2012, 07:43 PM	#11
TomTomTuning Captain Drives: E92 335I XDrive Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Camp Hill, PA Posts: 914 iTrader: (0)	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. __________________ 2010 Alpine White Ex. - Saddle Brown In. l 335i E92 XDrive l Cold l Premium l Sport l Navi l Sat radio

04-11-2012, 09:43 PM	#12
mickcris Private Drives: 2011 328i Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: dallas, tx Posts: 50 iTrader: (0)	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.

04-13-2012, 04:05 PM	#13
TomTomTuning Captain Drives: E92 335I XDrive Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Camp Hill, PA Posts: 914 iTrader: (0)	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... __________________ 2010 Alpine White Ex. - Saddle Brown In. l 335i E92 XDrive l Cold l Premium l Sport l Navi l Sat radio

04-13-2012, 05:48 PM	#14
bmmakela A gas is not a solid Drives: 2011 E90 xDrive M-Sport 6-MT Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Wheaton, IL Posts: 5 iTrader: (0)	IDrive scratch 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

04-16-2012, 06:48 PM	#16
bmmakela A gas is not a solid Drives: 2011 E90 xDrive M-Sport 6-MT Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Wheaton, IL Posts: 5 iTrader: (0)	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!

04-25-2012, 04:01 PM	#18
h3lpmedic Enlisted Member Drives: 2008 328xi Coupe Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Seattle Posts: 35 iTrader: (1)	Have you tried vaseline? I've used it to mask scratches on LCD Monitors before. Might be a good temp fix.

04-26-2012, 08:20 AM	#19
mazda3ndp Lieutenant Drives: E93 M3 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Bergen NJ Posts: 578 iTrader: (8)	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

04-29-2012, 06:14 PM	#21
bmmakela A gas is not a solid Drives: 2011 E90 xDrive M-Sport 6-MT Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Wheaton, IL Posts: 5 iTrader: (0)	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. Attached Images Last edited by bmmakela; 05-02-2012 at 04:40 AM. Reason: Adding picture

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