**Steering Wheel Trim Repair**

Hey Ant · 01-13-2011, 07:06 PM

I bought my car used in 2010 on Thanksgiving, everything is great except for the wear and tear marks where the steering wheel trim is. It really takes away the "NEW" look and feel, but it never stopped me from buying the car anyways. I knew it was going to be an easy fix because it's the same material they use on Audi's, Volkswagen, Lamborghini's consoles. I repaired the center console, handle, trims, basically anything that was peeling on my Audi A4 (B6), and I could do the same for my E92.

I started sanding everything down with 180 grit until all rubber coating disappears, then use 800 grit to smooth out the roughness of the plastic, 1000 grit, 1500 grit, lastly 2000 grit.

Use only Camouflage Rust-Oleum flat black because this will only be the closest thing to OEM coating.

No more ugly steering wheel trim.

Tee212 · 01-13-2011, 07:07 PM

ahh nice alternative, good job.

iBoost · 01-13-2011, 07:26 PM

nice!

muskamatt · 01-13-2011, 07:27 PM

how do you remove that trim, if you dont mind me asking?

Hey Ant · 01-13-2011, 07:38 PM

There are only 3 torque screws behind the steering wheel.

E90PAT · 01-13-2011, 07:43 PM

how to you remove? Im thinking about di-noc ing mine

Hey Ant · 01-13-2011, 07:55 PM

Follow these Instructions.

chrisE92 · 01-13-2011, 08:03 PM

nice! I was wondering what to do about that after my warranty's up.

McMuffin · 01-13-2011, 08:10 PM

Good stuff man! Post this over in the DIY section cuz it will come in handy one day.

Hey Ant · 01-13-2011, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrisE92

nice! I was wondering what to do about that after my warranty's up.

Have you gotten yours replaced through warranty yet?

B3AST · 01-13-2011, 08:15 PM

You know, this might sound silly, but I always wondered what the trim would look like if you just peeled all that cheap matte plastic off. Underneath it looks like it has a little bit of sheen, I just wonder how it would look. It would eliminate the need to have to refinish it all the time if you could peel that crap away and make the finish look right. Just my crazy mind working again I guess. Anybody know how I could get the matte platic off easily?

Good DIY either way.....

Hey Ant · 01-13-2011, 08:21 PM

Under all that soft rubbery coating, is shiny black plastic (wont match anything on the interior unless you have piano black trims). To remove that rubbery coating, use AirCraft Paint Remover. Spray it on the surface and it will start to bubble, by then you can probably peel it off easily.

chrisE92 · 01-13-2011, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hey Ant

Have you gotten yours replaced through warranty yet?

I have not. My warranty is up in march, so I will get it replaced soon. I did get the passenger door handle replaced under warranty, so I'm confident they shouldn't have a problem replacing this trim either.

B3AST · 01-13-2011, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hey Ant

Under all that soft rubbery coating, is shiny black plastic (wont match anything on the interior unless you have piano black trims). To remove that rubbery coating, use AirCraft Paint Remover. Spray it on the surface and it will start to bubble, by then you can probably peel it off easily.

Alright thanks. I actually forgot to mention that I'm probably going to get the gloss black trim from tischer (no way I'm spending over $1k for piano black trim!!), so that's what made my mind start thinking. My trim is peeling at the moment and I kept looking at it and thinking it might match the black trim quite well. Maybe I'll just peel it off and see what it looks like, I can always follow your DIY to cover it if need be!

Forcefed3 · 01-13-2011, 08:39 PM

Nice job

muskamatt · 01-13-2011, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hey Ant

Follow these Instructions.

yeah i read that but apparently there were quite a few who didnt find it to be that helpful. could be wrong.

thank you

Hey Ant · 01-13-2011, 09:21 PM

I'll make another DIY on how to take off the steering wheel trim with more detailed information if you like.

Krozi · 01-13-2011, 09:28 PM

Wow, looks like new! Great job

Alex@Helix · 01-13-2011, 10:17 PM

nice...

now u just need a nicer steering wheel

Hey Ant · 01-13-2011, 11:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Krozi

Wow, looks like new! Great job

Thanks, at 27,xxx miles, it's supposed to stay new from factory.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex@Helix

nice...

now u just need a nicer steering wheel

Working on it.

shragon · 01-14-2011, 12:34 AM

nice! i'm gonna have to do this someday. i got my trim replaced once when my car was still under warranty. the trim has started to peel again.

frahuang · 01-15-2011, 12:31 PM

This is great! Thanks.

01-13-2011, 07:06 PM	#1
Hey Ant Colonel 143 Rep 2,284 Posts Drives: E90 M3 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: 818 Los Angeles iTrader: (18)	Steering Wheel Trim Repair I bought my car used in 2010 on Thanksgiving, everything is great except for the wear and tear marks where the steering wheel trim is. It really takes away the "NEW" look and feel, but it never stopped me from buying the car anyways. I knew it was going to be an easy fix because it's the same material they use on Audi's, Volkswagen, Lamborghini's consoles. I repaired the center console, handle, trims, basically anything that was peeling on my Audi A4 (B6), and I could do the same for my E92. I started sanding everything down with 180 grit until all rubber coating disappears, then use 800 grit to smooth out the roughness of the plastic, 1000 grit, 1500 grit, lastly 2000 grit. Use only Camouflage Rust-Oleum flat black because this will only be the closest thing to OEM coating. No more ugly steering wheel trim.
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

01-13-2011, 07:07 PM	#2
Tee212 Banned 81 Rep 4,541 Posts Drives: yes Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Riverside iTrader: (9) Garage List 2010 335 [8.00]	ahh nice alternative, good job.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-13-2011, 07:26 PM	#3
iBoost Retired e90post Member 135 Rep 3,038 Posts Drives: real slow Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Las Vegas iTrader: (13)	nice!
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-13-2011, 07:27 PM	#4
muskamatt First Lieutenant 9 Rep 348 Posts Drives: e92 335i Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: SoCal iTrader: (0)	how do you remove that trim, if you dont mind me asking?
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-13-2011, 07:38 PM	#5
Hey Ant Colonel 143 Rep 2,284 Posts Drives: E90 M3 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: 818 Los Angeles iTrader: (18)	There are only 3 torque screws behind the steering wheel.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-13-2011, 07:43 PM	#6
E90PAT SOFLO CODING 199 Rep 3,587 Posts Drives: Z4M Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: SoFla iTrader: (18)	how to you remove? Im thinking about di-noc ing mine
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-13-2011, 07:55 PM	#7
Hey Ant Colonel 143 Rep 2,284 Posts Drives: E90 M3 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: 818 Los Angeles iTrader: (18)	Follow these Instructions.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-13-2011, 08:03 PM	#8
chrisE92 Brigadier General 245 Rep 4,494 Posts Drives: Monaco Blue E92 Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: LA to HB iTrader: (21)	nice! I was wondering what to do about that after my warranty's up. __________________ photos
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-13-2011, 08:10 PM	#9
McMuffin Lieutenant Colonel 104 Rep 1,549 Posts Drives: A Widebody 92 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Califas iTrader: (5)	Good stuff man! Post this over in the DIY section cuz it will come in handy one day.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-13-2011, 08:15 PM	#11
B3AST Captain 21 Rep 634 Posts Drives: with a huge grin (E90) Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Houston, TX iTrader: (1)	You know, this might sound silly, but I always wondered what the trim would look like if you just peeled all that cheap matte plastic off. Underneath it looks like it has a little bit of sheen, I just wonder how it would look. It would eliminate the need to have to refinish it all the time if you could peel that crap away and make the finish look right. Just my crazy mind working again I guess. Anybody know how I could get the matte platic off easily? Good DIY either way..... __________________ "All fixed set patterns are incapable of adaptability or pliability. The truth is outside of all fixed patterns." -Bruce Lee
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-13-2011, 08:21 PM	#12
Hey Ant Colonel 143 Rep 2,284 Posts Drives: E90 M3 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: 818 Los Angeles iTrader: (18)	Under all that soft rubbery coating, is shiny black plastic (wont match anything on the interior unless you have piano black trims). To remove that rubbery coating, use AirCraft Paint Remover. Spray it on the surface and it will start to bubble, by then you can probably peel it off easily. Last edited by Hey Ant; 01-13-2011 at 08:28 PM..
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-13-2011, 08:39 PM	#15
Forcefed3 Banned 127 Rep 4,732 Posts Drives: 2008 335i Join Date: May 2010 Location: South iTrader: (2) Garage List 2008 335i [1.00]	Nice job
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-13-2011, 09:21 PM	#17
Hey Ant Colonel 143 Rep 2,284 Posts Drives: E90 M3 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: 818 Los Angeles iTrader: (18)	I'll make another DIY on how to take off the steering wheel trim with more detailed information if you like.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-13-2011, 09:28 PM	#18
Krozi Colonel 167 Rep 2,736 Posts Drives: 2008 E92 ///M3 Alpine White Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: SoFla - Bonita Springs iTrader: (24)	Wow, looks like new! Great job __________________ 2008 E92 ///M3 Alpine White//Fox Red//6MT// Florida Bimmer - Join us on FaceBook!
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-13-2011, 10:17 PM	#19
Alex@Helix Colonel 150 Rep 2,221 Posts Drives: e92 335i Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Miami, FL iTrader: (8)	nice... now u just need a nicer steering wheel
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-14-2011, 12:34 AM	#21
shragon Moderator 497 Rep 27,441 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Bay Area, CA iTrader: (7)	nice! i'm gonna have to do this someday. i got my trim replaced once when my car was still under warranty. the trim has started to peel again. __________________ www.cardomain.com/id/shragon
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-15-2011, 12:31 PM	#22
frahuang First Lieutenant 7 Rep 362 Posts Drives: 08 328i e90 Blk/Blk 6MT Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Irvine, CA, USA iTrader: (14)	This is great! Thanks. __________________ 08 328i e90 Black/Black 6MT, BMS POWER BOX, Eibach Pro System, Blacklines, M3 Spoiler, 197 BBS Wheels, Xenon and Homelink
	Appreciate 0 Quote