[mbhammer]

Placed my 40i order on 8/16, for a week 40 (10/1) production slot. Lovin' everything about my Mineral White over Black Vernasca build, except the 4KR interior trim choice.

According to the 7/3 DOG, options with ZMP are:
- 4KR Fineline Stripe Brown High-gloss Wood
- 4KK Aluminum Tetragon
- 4KM Aluminum Dark Mesh
- 4KP Brown-Metallic High Gloss Ash Grain Wood
- 4KT Anthracite-Brown Poplar Wood
- 4ML Piano Finish Black ($1,080 option)

I eliminated Piano Black primarily because it'd be too much black in combination with the black leather, looks like plastic (which I believe it is), and due to concerns about scratches, fingerprints, etc. I removed the aluminum options from consideration after the CA showed me damaged aluminum trim on a car that just came in off of lease; it dents and scratches too easily.

I consulted the German, Belgian, and Luxembourg configurators to evaluate the remaining options. **If anyone can point me in the direction of more accurate samples/representations of options, I'd be very grateful.**

What in the world is 4KP brown metallic ash grain? Configurators make it look reddish brown and fake; both bad things, IMO.

Leaves 4KR fineline gloss and 4KT anthracite-brown poplar.

I've been a Mercedes and AMG guy for 20+ years. This is my first BMW. Seems like "fineline" is a BMW staple. But what kind of wood is it, really? Looks fake, beneath the gloss. But biggest question is: is this specific variation of it (4KR) a *reddish* brown, or is it a black-brown? Configurators, launch videos and stills give it a reddish cast... which I do not want.

I ordered my 2014 E63 AMG with a satin finish brown oak... and I love it. Provides a tangible sense of authenticity and warmth to an otherwise beast of a car. Ever since, I've looked askance at high-gloss wood trims... since they just look fake to me.

So... I HAD BEEN leaning toward the 4KT anthracite-brown poplar wood trim for this (my wife's DD) X5. It's what I had first put in the build... until I saw that the trim -- whichever one you pick -- runs around the gear selector/iDrive controller/horizontal area and cup holders of the console.

So QUESTION BECOMES: should I be concerned about poor durability of the matte/satin finish 4KT poplar trim on an X5? Will sloshing coffee and hand moisturizer quickly mar the finish?

(On my AMG, this area is uniformly gloss black, and durability/surface maintenance is not an issue. The matte oak wraps vertical surfaces of the cabin.)

I still have a little time to change my build to swap out the 4KR fineline with the 4KT matte poplar (which despite the weird grain, does appear to be a nice black-brown color).

Thanks.

[Auricom]

You can get a sense of 4KT - Finewood trim, Poplar Grain, Anthracite-Brown, open-pored in this video - starting at 12:18

I have fineline pure textured wood trim on my F15 with mocha extended nappa. Though not the same material or look as 4KT, it's been durable for me.

I'm leaning towards 4KR with merino extended coffee.

[ScottMZ3]

The photos released a few months ago and stickied at the top of this forum make the 4KR look more dark brown/black than any other color. At least on my screens. I think it looks fantastic in the photos with the Tartufo color leather. And it is definitely real wood...although most wood trims in cars now are VERY thin. Almost paper thin. Hopefully we will get a better idea of all the trims once the configurator arrives for the US. You still have some time before your order gets locked down if you are a Week 40 build.

Ours is week 41.

[woodrowx5]

Has anyone seen the aluminum options? Specifically Dark Aluminum Mesh? Pics anyone?

[mbhammer]

Thanks for reminding me about this video. I viewed it when doing my reconnaissance, thought it was well-done and helpful, but forgot about the extended views of the interior. Looks as if both the 4KT matte poplar and the 4KR fineline gloss are featured.

I do like 4KT! Looks almost leather-like. Trying to visualize what it would look like with Black Vernasca. Seems like the minimized contrast could be either very elegant, distinctive and warm..... or a total disaster.

Opinions?

Thanks again!

[Auricom]

Originally Posted by mbhammer

Thanks for reminding me about this video. I viewed it when doing my reconnaissance, thought it was well-done and helpful, but forgot about the extended views of the interior. Looks as if both the 4KT matte poplar and the 4KR fineline gloss are featured.

I do like 4KT! Looks almost leather-like. Trying to visualize what it would look like with Black Vernasca. Seems like the minimized contrast could be either very elegant, distinctive and warm..... or a total disaster.

Opinions?

Thanks again!

As you so eloquently described, I think it would be the sophisticated choice with your interior color - it adds a nice visual contrast (matte finish)

[mbhammer]

Auricom - Thanks again for the redirect to the Autogefuhl video and for the feedback. Great stuff!

ScottMZ3 - Thank you for your Service. And congratulations on getting a week 41 production slot! I hope you'll enjoy your new ride as much as my wife and I expect to be thrilled with ours. CA said any reddish-ness I might see in the launch stills of 4KR might have to do with the (yellow?) color of cabin ambient lighting. Like you, he expects it will not be a red-brown. I would expect 4KR to pair beautifully with your Tartufo. I'm going for more of a monochromatic look (Mineral White over Black Vernasca), and so I think the darker black/brown 4KT will pair better relative to the look I'm trying to achieve; thinking I want to minimize introducing brown into the mix.

woodrowx5 - I've seen neither 4KK Tetragon nor 4KM Dark Mesh. But I test drove a MY18 X3 M40i with Rhomboid aluminum. I'd have to go back to 9th grade geometry class to figure out the difference between tetragons and rhomboids and rhombuses and parallelograms. But if 4KK and 4KM are anything like the Rhomboid I saw, they will likely be dark geometric patterns printed on different shades of aluminum. Repeating my caution: I saw aluminum trim on a MY16 X5 that looked terrible, due to dings and scratches that are not repairable.

Epilogue: I just emailed my CA and changed the trim on my build from 4KR to 4KT. I will also keep my eyes peeled for an updated DOG, in hopes that perhaps BMW might add a carbon fiber interior trim option prior to my build getting locked in. I'd consider that, if it wouldn't be cost prohibitive; it would be in keeping with the monochromatic look I'm going for. Thanks again for the inputs! (I'll keep monitoring this thread, in the event more contributions come in.)

[woodrowx5]

Can anyone tell me if this could be a picture of the dark mesh aluminum trim? It’s definitely not the lighter tetragon so maybe it’s been hiding in plain site

[hk5er]

Originally Posted by woodrowx5

Can anyone tell me if this could be a picture of the dark mesh aluminum trim? It’s definitely not the lighter tetragon so maybe it’s been hiding in plain site

Yes it is and here's how it looks like

[woodrowx5]

Thanks hk5er, wonderful picture and a great help!

[mbhammer]

Auricom attached to a different thread the German "Katalog." Lots of nice high-quality photos of trim options, and other goodies.

Here it is again for convenience. Thanks, Auricom!

2019 X5 Katalog.pdf

[hk5er]

Originally Posted by mbhammer

Auricom attached to a different thread the German "Katalog." Lots of nice high-quality photos of trim options, and other goodies.

Here it is again for convenience. Thanks, Auricom!

Attachment 1886014

The actual sample trim provided by BMW is the most accurate reproduction of the real thing, followed by the online configurator, then the catalogue.

This is the sample trim - 4KP Brown-Metallic High Gloss Ash Grain Wood - for your own analysis.

[Auricom]

Originally Posted by hk5er

The actual sample trim provided by BMW is the most accurate reproduction of the real thing, followed by the online configurator, then the catalogue.

This is the sample trim - 4KP Brown-Metallic High Gloss Ash Grain Wood - for your own analysis.

If you have more trim samples, please do share in this thread as it would be a great resource for early buyers.

[mbhammer]

hk5er - Thank you! Any chance you have a similar sample of 4KT Anthracite-Brown Poplar Wood?

[jasrboyd]

I went in and ordered my 2019 X5 today. Alpine white black interior. I’m desperate trying to pick a trim option. It sounds like mbhammer you have a similar build. Did you find anymore info on which trim you like because without seeing them I’m lost.
Currently I have the fine line stripe brown high gloss wood trim.

[mbhammer]

Originally Posted by Jasbnh

I went in and ordered my 2019 X5 today. Alpine white black interior. I’m desperate trying to pick a trim option. It sounds like mbhammer you have a similar build. Did you find anymore info on which trim you like because without seeing them I’m lost.
Currently I have the fine line stripe brown high gloss wood trim.

Jasbnh - First, congratulations on your order! Perhaps you're more virtuous than me, but I've no patience :-) Can't wait for mine! I hope yours will be an enjoyable ordering and production process.

Yes, sounds like we have similar builds. I'm Mineral White over Black (Vernasca). My first kerfuffle was over Alpine White or Mineral White. I went MW, after concluding (correctly or incorrectly) that the G05 featured in the launch photos was wrapped in it. Concluded BMW knows best how the vehicle best shows its lines and features. Done.

I went with Black upholstery just because I like it and because I like the contrast with the exterior. To my eye, it's a nice clean blend of sport and sophistication. Done.

Next came the interior trim decision, and to borrow a phrase: "I feel your pain."

No, I've not uncovered anything beyond what appears in this thread. But largely with the help of the Video and the Katalog -- both in this thread, I converged on 4KT Anthracite-Brown Poplar. It's a matte (open pore) finish, best I can tell. I changed my build with the CA, after placing the order first with high gloss brown stripe fineline.

Here's the deal: commenting on interior and exterior combinations is hard, since it's such a personal choice. If you don't like green, I will never convince you to like green.

For me, I'm big into authenticity. And I simply struggled with high-gloss (wood) trims, since to my eye, the lacquer just makes it look like fancy plastic. I'm not being critical of others who may like that look, it's just not for me. That's all.

And related to authenticity... I couldn't figure out what "fineline" wood is. I know that oak, walnut, poplar and ash are real woods with their own distinctive grains. But what is fineline, other than a description of the grain pattern? Again, don't need any flames coming my way, just personal preference.

So... the vibe I'm trying to hit with Mineral White over Black Vernasca with Anthracite-Brown poplar matte trim is: authentic, sporty, sophisticated.

I'll find out when my car appears in early October if I hit that mark, or not.

[maze446]

Originally Posted by Jasbnh

I went in and ordered my 2019 X5 today. Alpine white black interior. I'm desperate trying to pick a trim option. It sounds like mbhammer you have a similar build. Did you find anymore info on which trim you like because without seeing them I'm lost.
Currently I have the fine line stripe brown high gloss wood trim.

If you look at the interior gallery on the sticky, that shows the fineline brown wood trim per my dealer. I just ordered a 50i in MW with black seats and the fineline stripe brown trim. I was going back and forth between that and the Aluminum Dark Mesh but I thought the brown wood was a safer bet without being able to see both in person. That trim is also in one of the interior videos on the sticky as well.

[mbhammer]

FWIW... 4KR Fineline Stripe Brown High-gloss Wood shows up *first* in the list of trims available with ZMP, in the 7/3/18 edition of the Pricing Guide. To the extent one can infer that is the "default" choice, would seem like a safe bet.

[hk5er]

Originally Posted by mbhammer

hk5er - Thank you! Any chance you have a similar sample of 4KT Anthracite-Brown Poplar Wood?

The only other sample made available at this point in time is 4KK which I didn't take a picture of. When others come in, I'll let you know. Probably by that time, samples should be distributed to all dealers is my guess.

I was however told that your choice is the only matt wood available. I've seen the fineline wood trim (BMW has several variations of this wood) in high gloss in a 7 series locally and it looks awesome. The high gloss coating is meant to protect the wood from accidental damage. My current car has a matt version of the fineline wood and there is a very visible scratch mark made possibly by a ring worn by someone when attempting to hold on to the trim as support to exit the passenger side door.

[atlas]

So any comment on the 4KT? Like/dislike?

[Auricom]

Originally Posted by atlas

So any comment on the 4KT? Like/dislike?

Love it