Interior Trim Refinishing Service – BMW E46M, ZCP wheel trim, Soft-Touch restoration

[TexaZ3]

Thanks guys, much appreciated!

[audipwr1]

Sent you pm

[bagger]

Add me to the long list of folks that are super happy that TexaZ3 is offering this service. I sent him two boxes worth of stuff, and just got it all back. I took a sneak peek before I reinstall it all this weekend (it's all heavily wrapped in bubble wrap). The couple of parts I dug out of a box look absolutely fantastic. The refinished grey console parts seem to be a dead on color match for some of the grey console parts I bought new because they were broken / cracked. I was a bit worried about that color match - but at a quick glance it looks like it's gonna be just fine.

Super easy to work with, answered my dumb new owner questions, and great communication throughout.

There's nothing to think about here. If you got crappy looking stuff that you want to refresh, send it his way.

[TexaZ3]

Add me to the long list of folks that are super happy that TexaZ3 is offering this service. I sent him two boxes worth of stuff, and just got it all back. I took a sneak peek before I reinstall it all this weekend (it's all heavily wrapped in bubble wrap). The couple of parts I dug out of a box look absolutely fantastic. The refinished grey console parts seem to be a dead on color match for some of the grey console parts I bought new because they were broken / cracked. I was a bit worried about that color match - but at a quick glance it looks like it's gonna be just fine.

Super easy to work with, answered my dumb new owner questions, and great communication throughout.

There's nothing to think about here. If you got crappy looking stuff that you want to refresh, send it his way.

Thank you - much appreciated!

[bagger]

I just put back together the center console, and noticed something kinda weird about BMW "gray". I wanted to share this with anyone in case it helps in the future. Or, maybe I'm an idiot and someone is going to tell me how I did something wrong (possible!).

--

My center console is now made up of some new parts that I bought, and some that I sent to TexaZ3 to be rescued. I have this mix of new and old because some were cracked up pretty bad or missing something (like my old coin tray was missing the rubber mat thing - my OCD levels are strong, I know).

Here are some of the things I bought new:

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...y/51168248504/
https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...y/51168248505/
https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...y/51168248496/
https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...y/51168248529/

All say "gray", right? Well it turns out the cup holder & coin holder are a darker shade of gray, and the center console and the upper support are a lighter shade of gray. The center console part numbers from my old one (51168213680) is for sure a different part number than the one I bought (51168248496), but it's the only new "gray" one I could find. And honestly, I didn't pay much attention to these part numbers when ordering, I just made sure they were all "gray". When I search realoem for 51168213680 it says the part was not found, but you can find that part number on ebay and the like.

The gray TexaZ3 does matches the darker shade of gray basically perfectly (at least to my simple eye). In addition, all of the old parts I replaced or had redone are also the darker shade of gray. But some of the new parts I ordered are a lighter shade of gray. So I guess BMW for some new various parts changed the shade of gray for whatever reason?

So now I kinda have this two tone look, which I can't decide if I think is cool, or hate. I'm gonna roll with it for now, but if it drives me nuts, I'll just send the "light gray" colored pieces to TexaZ3 to make it all matchy mathcy again in the future.

I want to reiterate that the work he does refinishing things is amazing. I just wanted to make this post to point out that if you order multiple new things from BMW and they say "gray" -- it might not be the same shade of gray across all the new parts.

Here is a crappy dimly lit picture of it all in my garage to help illustrate the above.

[TexaZ3]

I think the issue here is two-fold: BMW quality control is lacking, and they produce certain parts with poor color match. I've seen literally 4 shades of gray, and at least 3 different shades of black, on parts that were supposed to be all the same. That is why I suggest if you buy new, make sure you buy from a place you can return, or from dealer where you can take a look. This is not relevant only for plastic interior parts - same story with pillars and airbag strips, rear shelves, steering wheel trims, etc.

Second is when you match new bits with existing bits - paint on your existing bits most likely has been bleached by sunlight, and faded, and as such will never be an exact match.

The gray I use is a match for new stock gray parts BMW is making right now (all I could really match to). Perhaps old stock is slightly different tone, but it is next to impossible to predict these kind of things when painting things remotely, with noting to compare to. As such I recommend if you were to re-finish bits that would be mixed with old/existing pieces and installed next to each other - to re-finish all of it at the same time.

[bagger]

Very interesting, and disappointing from BMW - didn't know it was that bad. I remember reading to do it all at once at some point. I just didn't think it would be so far off like it is.

My wife saw it this morning and was like "don't try to convince yourself that looks fine - it doesn't" So get ready for another package coming your way TexaZ3 - haha.

[audipwr1]

Sent you pm for email so I can mail these parts

thanks!

[Cronenberged]

PM'd for service.

[audipwr1]

Box of stuff sent will email you

[TexaZ3]

PM'd for service.

Replied

Box of stuff sent will email you

Good deal.

[bavarian3]

TexaZ3 how good of condition does the part need to be in? my front storage tray is broken and nicked up, so i'm thinking of ordering this and sending this your way: https://www.ebay.com/itm/185659446960

[TexaZ3]

TexaZ3 how good of condition does the part need to be in? my front storage tray is broken and nicked up, so i'm thinking of ordering this and sending this your way: https://www.ebay.com/itm/185659446960

This would work just fine.

[bimmerfan08]

How durable are the new finishes vs. the original finishes?

The original center console material tends to scuff and scratch easily while the armrests can bubble/delaminate (thinking of titan shadow finish).

[TexaZ3]

How durable are the new finishes vs. the original finishes?

The original center console material tends to scuff and scratch easily while the armrests can bubble/delaminate (thinking of titan shadow finish).

They are way more durable than soft-touch and BMW coatings. They are not scratch-proof (no paint is) but definitely much better than OE finish.