Interior "Dings"

Kyoshi71 · 12-01-2006, 08:28 AM

This is going to sound pretty strange but here goes. I've been getting dings in my interior aluminum trim, along the door, because of the seatbelt buckles!
I am always careful getting in and out of the car to avoid scuffing the door panels and such with my shoes, but it seems like now I have another thing to:

1) Be cognizant of
2) Subtly admonish passengers of
3) Verbally abuse my girlfriend about

I could imaging that the varnish on the wood trim would look even worse over the long haul if you're not careful.

Fraggy · 12-01-2006, 08:51 AM

Actually the wood holds up well.

BK · 12-01-2006, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fraggy

Actually the wood holds up well.

Agreed.

Kyoshi71 - I'm not sure if you have E90 or E92, but on the E90 it is best to use those sliding plastic clips along the belt to hold the seat belt buckle up high. It makes it easier to grab and also keeps it from banging into the side of the car if you release the belt quickly.

therealm3 · 12-01-2006, 09:24 AM

Along the same lines as this, have you guys noticed how easily the door panels and trim scuff? I barely hit the drivers panel with my shoe getting in the other day and now its got a 2 inch brown line on it that won't really come off with light buffing and a damp towel. This weekend I am going to hit that and a few my son put in the back of the car with some 303, but I can't believe how easily it happened.

Gripster · 12-01-2006, 09:33 AM

The aluminum trim is disappointingly soft. I would say wood would be more durable because of the lacquer.

BK · 12-01-2006, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by therealm3

Along the same lines as this, have you guys noticed how easily the door panels and trim scuff?

Yes. Also - beware it is easy to chip paint off the interior panels, too. There have been several threads like this one: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=27580

And if you are wondering, "The interior plastic is PAINTED?" The answer is yes, it is. And it doesn't seem to be very durable. Just a word of warning.

Kyoshi71 · 12-01-2006, 09:53 AM

I have an E92 and I'm talking about the metal part of the buckle. When people un-clip and drop the buckle, it slams into the door trim.

Kyoshi71 · 12-01-2006, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cars4lyfe

dude, i have no clue what you are rambling about, but yah...cheers!

Rambling on about? It's pretty easy to understand.

ksfrogman · 12-01-2006, 09:58 AM

metal is malleable; wood or hard plastic is not.

txusa03 · 12-01-2006, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BK

Agreed.

Kyoshi71 - I'm not sure if you have E90 or E92, but on the E90 it is best to use those sliding plastic clips along the belt to hold the seat belt buckle up high. It makes it easier to grab and also keeps it from banging into the side of the car if you release the belt quickly.

I think the 92 has the same clips as well.

Edited: I stand corrected. Look like the e92 has the non movable button to keep the buckle from falling all the way down. But it being that high, I don't see how it could hit the trim.

picus · 12-01-2006, 11:14 AM

It's a grass is greener thing; metal trim, aluminum in particular, is soft. Wood on the other hand is hard, but the lacquer scratches easily. Not much you can do really, but at least you can polish the lacquer.

Kablemodem · 12-01-2006, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BK

Agreed.

Kyoshi71 - I'm not sure if you have E90 or E92, but on the E90 it is best to use those sliding plastic clips along the belt to hold the seat belt buckle up high. It makes it easier to grab and also keeps it from banging into the side of the car if you release the belt quickly.

Thanks for the tip. I adjusted mine this morning. My last car was severely pockmarked from all the dings caused by the seatbelt.

ALPINE6SPD · 12-01-2006, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gripster

The aluminum trim is disappointingly soft. I would say wood would be more durable because of the lacquer.

this makes no sense. All aluminum is soft. You did not know this before you ordered the car?

rlc · 12-01-2006, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kyoshi71

This is going to sound pretty strange but here goes. I've been getting dings in my interior aluminum trim, along the door, because of the seatbelt buckles!
I am always careful getting in and out of the car to avoid scuffing the door panels and such with my shoes, but it seems like now I have another thing to:

1) Be cognizant of
2) Subtly admonish passengers of
3) Verbally abuse my girlfriend about

I could imaging that the varnish on the wood trim would look even worse over the long haul if you're not careful.

Have you adjusted the sliding stop for the buckle on the seat belt so the it reels to a point above the trim? Some cars are delivered with the slider all the way to the bottom (near the floor). I moved mine higher and have not had any problems with the belt hitting the trim since.

Kablemodem · 12-01-2006, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ALPINE6SPD

this makes no sense. All aluminum is soft. You did not know this before you ordered the car?

I find it much more solid than I expected it to be. I was expecting aluminum can thickness and it feels much more substantial than that.

txusa03 · 12-01-2006, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rlc

Have you adjusted the sliding stop for the buckle on the seat belt so the it reels to a point above the trim? Some cars are delivered with the slider all the way to the bottom (near the floor). I moved mine higher and have not had any problems with the belt hitting the trim since.

I think he has the coupe and I am not certain that the coupe has the holder that slie up and down.

FirstClass · 12-01-2006, 05:26 PM

There is a simple solution to your trim woes. CF trim. Black looks sick but they make silver too.

Mr. Smith · 12-01-2006, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gripster

The aluminum trim is disappointingly soft. I would say wood would be more durable because of the lacquer.

yea, one of my friend's car has aluminum and get messed up pretty easily, that is one reason i am getting wood

Brunotheboxer · 12-02-2006, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BK

Agreed.

Kyoshi71 - I'm not sure if you have E90 or E92, but on the E90 it is best to use those sliding plastic clips along the belt to hold the seat belt buckle up high. It makes it easier to grab and also keeps it from banging into the side of the car if you release the belt quickly.

thanx for this advice as i also have the AL trim.

druman79 · 09-22-2009, 10:38 PM

I owned my 2008 BMW 328i coupe for 4 months and my driver's side door aluminum trim was covered in dings from the seatbelt. No one told me that you have to baby the seatbelt and return it all the way back to the holder. I went to San Fran BMW and they refused to replace the trim, saying that it was normal wear and tear instead of a design flaw. I paid $87 to buy a new door trim, then got 3M clearshield installed (via a third party) over the new trim ($50 installation).

Removal of the old trim is easy, just take a flathead screwdriver and pry it off from the side. It is held in via posts. Don't install the new trim, until the clearshield is already on, as the technician needs to stretch and heat treat the clearshield on. It looks glossy, but it beats having a ton of dings in it.

12-01-2006, 08:28 AM	#1
Kyoshi71 Colonel 93 Rep 2,528 Posts Drives: 2010 M3 Coupe Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: New York iTrader: (0)	Interior "Dings" This is going to sound pretty strange but here goes. I've been getting dings in my interior aluminum trim, along the door, because of the seatbelt buckles! I am always careful getting in and out of the car to avoid scuffing the door panels and such with my shoes, but it seems like now I have another thing to: 1) Be cognizant of 2) Subtly admonish passengers of 3) Verbally abuse my girlfriend about I could imaging that the varnish on the wood trim would look even worse over the long haul if you're not careful.
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

12-01-2006, 08:51 AM	#2
Fraggy Brigadier General 193 Rep 3,469 Posts Drives: 2016 M3 Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: San Diego iTrader: (11)	Actually the wood holds up well. __________________ 2016 Alpine White M3 (gone) 2019 Alfa Romeo Guilia (Totaled) 2020 Car-less 😁 (no more) 2020 M340
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-01-2006, 09:24 AM	#4
therealm3 Lieutenant Colonel 630 Rep 1,649 Posts Drives: F30 340 MSport Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: CA, USA iTrader: (7)	Along the same lines as this, have you guys noticed how easily the door panels and trim scuff? I barely hit the drivers panel with my shoe getting in the other day and now its got a 2 inch brown line on it that won't really come off with light buffing and a damp towel. This weekend I am going to hit that and a few my son put in the back of the car with some 303, but I can't believe how easily it happened.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-01-2006, 09:33 AM	#5
Gripster Captain 147 Rep 981 Posts Drives: E93 M3 Join Date: May 2005 Location: San Diego iTrader: (5) Garage List 2013 BMW M3 [0.00]	The aluminum trim is disappointingly soft. I would say wood would be more durable because of the lacquer. __________________ *2013 M3 (E93)* - ZPP/ZCW/DCT
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-01-2006, 09:53 AM	#7
Kyoshi71 Colonel 93 Rep 2,528 Posts Drives: 2010 M3 Coupe Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: New York iTrader: (0)	I have an E92 and I'm talking about the metal part of the buckle. When people un-clip and drop the buckle, it slams into the door trim.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-01-2006, 09:58 AM	#9
ksfrogman Major General 576 Rep 6,750 Posts Drives: E90 330i 6MT Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Torrance, CA iTrader: (12) Garage List 2006 330i [0.00] 2006 330i [0.00]	metal is malleable; wood or hard plastic is not. __________________
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-01-2006, 11:14 AM	#11
picus Brigadier General 125 Rep 4,172 Posts Drives: e92 SG 335i Coupe Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Toronto, ON iTrader: (0)	It's a grass is greener thing; metal trim, aluminum in particular, is soft. Wood on the other hand is hard, but the lacquer scratches easily. Not much you can do really, but at least you can polish the lacquer.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

09-22-2009, 10:38 PM	#20
druman79 Registered 0 Rep 3 Posts Drives: 2008 BMW 328i coupe Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: San Francisco iTrader: (0)	Dings in Door Aluminum Trim from Seatbelt I owned my 2008 BMW 328i coupe for 4 months and my driver's side door aluminum trim was covered in dings from the seatbelt. No one told me that you have to baby the seatbelt and return it all the way back to the holder. I went to San Fran BMW and they refused to replace the trim, saying that it was normal wear and tear instead of a design flaw. I paid $87 to buy a new door trim, then got 3M clearshield installed (via a third party) over the new trim ($50 installation). Removal of the old trim is easy, just take a flathead screwdriver and pry it off from the side. It is held in via posts. Don't install the new trim, until the clearshield is already on, as the technician needs to stretch and heat treat the clearshield on. It looks glossy, but it beats having a ton of dings in it.
	Appreciate 0 Quote