Trim Swap

Kurupt1811 · 09-02-2005, 02:35 AM

I originally planned on ordering a car with aluminum trim but my dealer offered me a really good deal on a car that is the same spec that I wanted only it is with wood trim. I asked the dealer about swapping the trim with another car but he said this was impossible. Is there anyway I can get him to do it or am I just SOL?

BMW786 · 09-02-2005, 09:42 AM

I was in the same situation as you. They had the exact configuration of the car I wanted (which was hard to find - a 325i with just Xenons and other options) but it had wood trim. I asked him the same thing, but they cannot switch the trim out as far as I know. If I were you, I would wait and get what you want. I could have had the car I wanted a month a half earlier than I did, but I would have had to settle, and I didn't want to do that. You're going to be looking at your interior everyday, so just be patient and make sure you get the trim of your choice.

stressdoc · 09-02-2005, 09:50 AM

And this with the "wood shortage" for everywhere but the USA... That said, there are several strings on this list describing trim exchanges, so there is no doubt that trim swaps can be done. Not sure how to best look them up. Perhaps the problem is an aluminum trim shortage, and wood trim glut, in the USA supply, so that the dealers do not want to give up an alu trim car if they were lucky enough to get an allotment.

Tierfreund · 09-02-2005, 11:56 AM

I´ve taken every trim panel out of my E90 and put it back in (stereo install). With the right tools it´s easy and safe. At max swapping the trim between two cars would take one qualified mechanic 2 hours. So far from impossible. And the fit and finish of the parts wqould be just as from factory. There really is nothing to be done wrong exexpt using the wrong tools and hurting the trim or its surrounding during the uninstall.
Putting them back on is really easy and cannot be done wrong.

ZenDriver · 09-02-2005, 11:59 AM

It should be noted that the vehicle's build sheet will have the installed trim code on it. The vehicle that supplied the donor trim would have to be sold with a non-matching build sheet and BMW is EXTREMELY sensative about these sorts of things. If you want to know why, Google a legal case in Alabama "BMW v. Gore"

billgti · 09-02-2005, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZenDriver

It should be noted that the vehicle's build sheet will have the installed trim code on it. The vehicle that supplied the donor trim would have to be sold with a non-matching build sheet and BMW is EXTREMELY sensative about these sorts of things. If you want to know why, Google a legal case in Alabama "BMW v. Gore"

yeah i noticed that when i was tracking my car, however, my car had "black leatherette/black trim" as its description but i in fact have aluminum trim. i guess black = aluminum?

Nikki · 09-02-2005, 01:10 PM

Mine doesn't even have the trim listed.

theclay · 09-02-2005, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kurupt1811

I originally planned on ordering a car with aluminum trim but my dealer offered me a really good deal on a car that is the same spec that I wanted only it is with wood trim. I asked the dealer about swapping the trim with another car but he said this was impossible. Is there anyway I can get him to do it or am I just SOL?

Your dealer is full of s**t. Had mine swapped at no extra cost to me. I test drove it with wood and now it looks like this. Beverly Hills BMW sold me my car. I went there because they were the only dealer in L.A. that would do this without making me pay for the work. I know Beverly Hills is too far for you but at least you can let your dealer know that you know that they are lying.

JRMillion · 09-03-2005, 01:12 AM

this is a kind of expensive route, but there are AC Schnitzer trim kits you can buy, mainly silver carbon fibre. hot

The aluminum is kinda cool, personally I am getting Jet Black with wood trim just because i like the darker look. I test drove their demo that had aluminum trim, and i don't know what had gone on in that car but the trim was dented in a few small places.

tartopomme · 09-03-2005, 03:41 PM

tierfreund> Can you explain us how did you do to remove the trims ? Do you have pictures of your car with the trims removed and pictures of the tools required ?

theclay · 09-04-2005, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JRMillion

this is a kind of expensive route, but there are AC Schnitzer trim kits you can buy, mainly silver carbon fibre. hot

Too expensive for the look you get IMO. Makes the interior look like a "Fast & Furious" ride.

09-02-2005, 02:35 AM	#1
Kurupt1811 Private 5 Rep 83 Posts Drives: E60 M5 Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Fairfax, VA iTrader: (0)	Trim Swap I originally planned on ordering a car with aluminum trim but my dealer offered me a really good deal on a car that is the same spec that I wanted only it is with wood trim. I asked the dealer about swapping the trim with another car but he said this was impossible. Is there anyway I can get him to do it or am I just SOL?
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09-02-2005, 09:42 AM	#2
BMW786 Lieutenant 28 Rep 537 Posts Drives: SGraphite90 Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: South Bay, CA iTrader: (1)	I was in the same situation as you. They had the exact configuration of the car I wanted (which was hard to find - a 325i with just Xenons and other options) but it had wood trim. I asked him the same thing, but they cannot switch the trim out as far as I know. If I were you, I would wait and get what you want. I could have had the car I wanted a month a half earlier than I did, but I would have had to settle, and I didn't want to do that. You're going to be looking at your interior everyday, so just be patient and make sure you get the trim of your choice.
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09-02-2005, 09:50 AM	#3
stressdoc Moderator 617 Rep 10,855 Posts Drives: BMW i8; Toy 4runner TRD pro Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Waco TX iTrader: (0)	And this with the "wood shortage" for everywhere but the USA... That said, there are several strings on this list describing trim exchanges, so there is no doubt that trim swaps can be done. Not sure how to best look them up. Perhaps the problem is an aluminum trim shortage, and wood trim glut, in the USA supply, so that the dealers do not want to give up an alu trim car if they were lucky enough to get an allotment.
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09-02-2005, 11:56 AM	#4
Tierfreund Major 21 Rep 1,002 Posts Drives: E90 330i Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Germany iTrader: (0)	I´ve taken every trim panel out of my E90 and put it back in (stereo install). With the right tools it´s easy and safe. At max swapping the trim between two cars would take one qualified mechanic 2 hours. So far from impossible. And the fit and finish of the parts wqould be just as from factory. There really is nothing to be done wrong exexpt using the wrong tools and hurting the trim or its surrounding during the uninstall. Putting them back on is really easy and cannot be done wrong. __________________ No, not THAT kind of tierfreund!
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09-02-2005, 11:59 AM	#5
ZenDriver Do Not Taunt Zen Driver. 12 Rep 466 Posts Drives: 325i w/ MT, ZSP in Graphite Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Portland, OR iTrader: (0)	It should be noted that the vehicle's build sheet will have the installed trim code on it. The vehicle that supplied the donor trim would have to be sold with a non-matching build sheet and BMW is EXTREMELY sensative about these sorts of things. If you want to know why, Google a legal case in Alabama "BMW v. Gore"
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09-02-2005, 01:10 PM	#7
Nikki Major General 990 Rep 6,381 Posts Drives: Sepang Z4MC Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: LA iTrader: (9)	Mine doesn't even have the trim listed. __________________ Nikki
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09-03-2005, 01:12 AM	#9
JRMillion Private 0 Rep 63 Posts Drives: 2006 330i Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Worcester MA iTrader: (0)	this is a kind of expensive route, but there are AC Schnitzer trim kits you can buy, mainly silver carbon fibre. hot The aluminum is kinda cool, personally I am getting Jet Black with wood trim just because i like the darker look. I test drove their demo that had aluminum trim, and i don't know what had gone on in that car but the trim was dented in a few small places. Last edited by JRMillion; 09-03-2005 at 01:24 AM..
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09-03-2005, 03:41 PM	#10
tartopomme Private 10 Rep 68 Posts Drives: 335i E92 Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: FRANCE iTrader: (0)	tierfreund> Can you explain us how did you do to remove the trims ? Do you have pictures of your car with the trims removed and pictures of the tools required ?
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