[estoia72]

Hi all,

As most of you know, the dark carbon trim pieces are easily scratched. Just got my ‘21 M5C, one of the only cosmetic issues is the driver side door came with its trim scratched pretty decently.

Have any of you repaired a scratch on this trim? Or have any of you found a cheaper alternative to the $617 piece linked below?

Site for part: https://www.bmwpartsnow.com/oem-part...QaAhwpEALw_wcB

Part number: 51-42-8-090-507

[ResIpsaLoquitur]

Originally Posted by estoia72

Hi all,

As most of you know, the dark carbon trim pieces are easily scratched. Just got my ‘21 M5C, one of the only cosmetic issues is the driver side door came with its trim scratched pretty decently.

Have any of you repaired a scratch on this trim? Or have any of you found a cheaper alternative to the $617 piece linked below?

Site for part: https://www.bmwpartsnow.com/oem-part...QaAhwpEALw_wcB

Part number: 51-42-8-090-507

I went through this exactly, and so did Syanide, the OP of the thread below:

https://www.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1967216

TL;DR: they are not repairable (if they look as bad as, or, worse than the images in this thread), and likely not able to be properly protected for the long term even if replaced — shy of not even breathing on them if you drive the car frequently/DD it.

As for pricing, looks like bmwpartsnow.com gets you to $700 including tax (since you’re both in IL) and shipping.

It’s available from genuinebmwminiparts.com for $587 shipped out the door.

Might be worth asking your dealership’s parts department to price match to prices found online — mine usually does.

[estoia72]

Originally Posted by ResIpsaLoquitur

I went through this exactly, and so did Syanide, the OP of the thread below:

https://www.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1967216

TL;DR: they are not repairable (if they look as bad as, or, worse than the images in this thread), and likely not able to be properly protected for the long term even if replaced — shy of not even breathing on them if you drive the car frequently/DD it.

As for pricing, looks like bmwpartsnow.com gets you to $700 including tax (since you’re both in IL) and shipping.

It’s available from genuinebmwminiparts.com for $587 shipped out the door.

I do recall reading through that post.
Even if I were to attempt replacing the piece, it’s plastic welded and I would need to remove the entire door panel from what I recall. I’ve had bad experiences with that dating back to my old college beater.

Seems like we’re basically stuck with a scratched piece of trim.

[ResIpsaLoquitur]

Originally Posted by estoia72

I do recall reading through that post.
Even if I were to attempt replacing the piece, it’s plastic welded and I would need to remove the entire door panel from what I recall. I’ve had bad experiences with that dating back to my old college beater.

Seems like we’re basically stuck with a scratched piece of trim.

You are correct as to the plastic welding. Unfortunately, it’s either remove the interior door panel or gently pry away the old trim piece and hope nothing breaks inside, and then glue the new trim piece. I’d be way too scared to do that myself, and using the amount of glue required to do that would prevent you from ever being able to pull it away again for a future replacement without destroying the inner trim supports you’d have to glue to.

This is why some people go with AutoTeknic overlay kits, but the reviews from owners here are a mixed bag and generally point to disappointment.

This drove me so insane that I was going to have the interior door panel removed and replace the trim piece as you stated, but fortunately, I got into my next M5 earlier than expected and never had to deal with it. I was also going to do the lid over the cupholders and the whole piece surrounding the iDrive knob also, which at least were replaceable without destruction or damage. That’s the second worst place I had scratches after the driver door trim piece.

[estoia72]

Originally Posted by ResIpsaLoquitur

You are correct as to the plastic welding. Unfortunately, it’s either remove the interior door panel or gently pry away the old trim piece and hope nothing breaks inside, and then glue the new trim piece. I’d be way too scared to do that myself, and using the amount of glue required to do that would prevent you from ever being able to pull it away again for a future replacement without destroying the inner trim supports you’d have to glue to.

This is why some people go with AutoTeknic overlay kits, but the reviews from owners here are a mixed bag and generally point to disappointment.

This drove me so insane that I was going to have the interior panel removed and replace the trim piece as you stated, but fortunately, I got into my next M5 earlier than expected and never had to deal with it.

Did you get a quote on the removal/replacement ever?

[ResIpsaLoquitur]

Originally Posted by estoia72

Did you get a quote on the removal/replacement ever?

IIRC it was 2 hours labor for driver door, and 2 hours labor for the iDrive surround and cupholder lid. The general shop labor rate at my dealership is $195/hour, but they extended me a “courtesy” at $150/hour.

[estoia72]

Originally Posted by ResIpsaLoquitur

IIRC it was 2 hours labor for driver door, and 2 hours labor for the iDrive surround and cupholder lid. The general shop labor rate at my dealership is $195/hour, but they extended me a “courtesy” at $150/hour.

Oh my goodness. I think I’ll just live with it for $800.

[ResIpsaLoquitur]

Originally Posted by estoia72

Oh my goodness. I think I’ll just live with it for $800.

The high cost of being OCD about such matters.

[estoia72]

Originally Posted by ResIpsaLoquitur

The high cost of being OCD about such matters.

Trust me I’m a bit OCD too. But not for $800 LOL.
Maybe when my CPO expires and I start going to a local euro shop, I’ll have a better labor rate.

Or maybe…. I’ll explore that option now.

[ResIpsaLoquitur]

Originally Posted by estoia72

Trust me I’m a bit OCD too. But not for $800 LOL.
Maybe when my CPO expires and I start going to a local euro shop, I’ll have a better labor rate.

Or maybe…. I’ll explore that option now.

I’ve heard of (though never used) some indy shops charging as little as $100/hour for nonmechanical labor. Might be a little more palatable. My personal concern about using anyone outside of my dealership on this is a less likely ability to have any recourse for any subsequent rattles. I know that if they did it, and then some noisy gremlins were to pop up, it would be warrantied while I had the car for the duration of my lease.

OCD strikes again.

[S EyeLand]

Mine had a minor scratch so i bought this, fit is mint and looks miles better than the stock.

[estoia72]

Originally Posted by S EyeLand

Mine had a minor scratch so i bought this, fit is mint and looks miles better than the stock.

Do you feel any raised edges? How does it look from an angle/from the side?

[S EyeLand]

Originally Posted by estoia72

Do you feel any raised edges? How does it look from an angle/from the side?

I'm pretty particular with this sort of thing and I'm happy with the fitment. I took the entire piece off and installed the overlay in the house.

[estoia72]

Originally Posted by S EyeLand

I'm pretty particular with this sort of thing and I'm happy with the fitment. I took the entire piece off and installed the overlay in the house.

I see in your photo that you didn’t do the door. Did you do the doors later on?

[S EyeLand]

Originally Posted by estoia72

I see in your photo that you didn’t do the door. Did you do the doors later on?

Yup I'm still waiting on the doors to arrive.

[estoia72]

Originally Posted by S EyeLand

Yup I'm still waiting on the doors to arrive.

Please let me know when you get them in and install! Do you plan to lay them over the originals? I understand the stock trim is plastic welded on and tough to remove.