[matt_435xi]

why does my steering wheel roundel looks so abused after 2 short years? i don't even touch it, nor do i use any cleaning agents on it? i wipe it down with a microfiber when cleaning my interior.

1. is anyone else's steering wheel roundel look chipped up like mine?
2. is there a fix?
3. will BMW replace it under warranty??

[jtuds]

Mine got dented somehow. If you don't like yours just get a new one

[Blubaron79]

BMW replaced my E92's under warranty. Thought they had this problem fixed.

[Kowboi]

They will replace it under warranty.

[matt_435xi]

Originally Posted by Kowboi

They will replace it under warranty.

awesome!!

[Agamemnon]

Do you wear a ring? Can't see how this could happen unless something like a ring was scraping it. My wife's car has the leather steering wheel worn where her ring rested on it.

[matt_435xi]

Originally Posted by Agamemnon

Do you wear a ring? Can't see how this could happen unless something like a ring was scraping it. My wife's car has the leather steering wheel worn where her ring rested on it.

no ring, maybe it's the strong AZ sun

[Cyberdemon]

Originally Posted by matt_335Ci

no ring, maybe it's the strong AZ sun

It's actually likely that exactly. I believe the foil is on the rear of the badge so it is not from scratching.

The roundels chrome is likely vacuum metallized which under extreme heat can start to delaminate since the metallic material and plastic expand/contract at different rates. Since AZ sun can see 150+ degrees F it's very likely that if your car bakes in the sun in intense heat, especially over longer periods of time that is what caused the issue.

I recall one summer where I left my car parked in a sunny area of the parking lot during a fairly intense 100 degree + heat wave we had on the east coast. When I returned the plastic college label I had in my rear window had literally burned and charred itself to the rear glass from the heat.

[diesel86]

Originally Posted by matt_335Ci

no ring, maybe it's the strong AZ sun

Matt-
Fellow PHX resident here and the roundel in my '12 BSM F30 shows no sign of any wear and tear. One caveat that may differentiate your situation from mine is that my car sits in a sun-free underground parking garage while I'm at work.

I think yours is worthy of a warranty replacement regardless of the sun exposure/heat.

[matt_435xi]

Originally Posted by diesel86

Matt-
Fellow PHX resident here and the roundel in my '12 BSM F30 shows no sign of any wear and tear. One caveat that may differentiate your situation from mine is that my car sits in a sun-free underground parking garage while I'm at work.

I think yours is worthy of a warranty replacement regardless of the sun exposure/heat.

unfortunately my car sits in the molten sun everyday i am at work. i always put up my sunshade, but it is like an oven inside. i am taking my car in for the F30 recall that i am sure you all heard about, and will ask for the roundel to be replaced.

[Austintylerl]

Mine is the same and I'm in phoenix. I'm taking my car in to have the cracked finish in my radio buttons replaced with a brand new head unit in April. I've requested the emblem to be replaced as well. We'll see how that goes

[Christos]

Originally Posted by matt_335Ci

why does my steering wheel roundel looks so abused after 2 short years? i don't even touch it, nor do i use any cleaning agents on it? i wipe it down with a microfiber when cleaning my interior.

1. is anyone else's steering wheel roundel look chipped up like mine?
2. is there a fix?
3. will BMW replace it under warranty??

This has been a problem since my first BMW in 1996 and they have always replaced it under warranty

[Cyberdemon]

Unfortunately there is really only 1 method of applying chrome to a plastic part, and in extremely hot temperatures (when your entire interiors plastics are starting to warp) the metallic plating and the plastic substrate will start to warp and separate over time. Not much you can do about it besides changing to a painted roundel and not a metallic one.

I design rugged products for a living and one of our worst case scenarios is what happens when a delivery driver or police officer leaves their radio or computer on the dashboard of their car in the AZ/Nevada sun. We've seen products that will hit close to 150F/70C which starts to dramatically warp/damage the plastics.

[matt_435xi]

Originally Posted by Austintylerl

Mine is the same and I'm in phoenix. I'm taking my car in to have the cracked finish in my radio buttons replaced with a brand new head unit in April. I've requested the emblem to be replaced as well. We'll see how that goes

any luck at the dealership getting your radio buttons and roundel replaced?