Custom dash trim

[nadaclue]

I've never been the biggest fan in the world of the brushed aluminum dash, though I do think it is one of the better options BMW has given us. But never being happy with things the way they are, I decided a while ago to color match the aluminum trim to the body color of my car.

I've hoarded a couple sets of aluminum trim from ebay, and took one of the more scratched up ones and began working on it. I decided not to do a step by step DIY write-up since it involves some rather advanced painting techniques that most people won't be able to accomplish themselves.

There's an initial wash primer (acid etch primer) followed by a spray fill sanding primer. This is sanded back down to nearly bare aluminum, but the spray fill does what its name implies and fills in the brush marks. Since this is aluminum, I had to spray it again with wash primer so the next coating, an epoxy primer, would have proper adhesion to the bare aluminum sections. The epoxy primer was then sanded smooth, and a 2-component urethane base coat of the body color was applied. This was allowed to cure and then wet sanded, followed by a second coat of base coat. I then applied a 2-component urethane clear coat, wet sanded with 1200 grit sandpaper, applied another coat of clear coat, wet sanded again, and applied a 3rd coat of clear. This was followed up with a 2000 grit wet sand, fine cut buffing, swirl mark buffing and a final hand polishing.

A recap:
1) acid etch primer
2) spray fill primer
3) Sand
4) acid etch primer
5) epoxy primer
6) sand
7) base coat
8) sand
9) base coat
10) clear coat
11) wet sand
12) clear coat
13) wet sand
14) clear coat
15) wet sand
16) buff with fine cut
17) buff with swirl remover
18) hand glaze


Because there are so many curves in the aluminum pieces, it's a pain and great care must be taken to not go sand too much or you'll go straight through the clear coat and base coat to the primer. This happens much quicker than you'd think, I speak from experience.

Anyway, here are the 2 dash pieces installed. I have to disassemble the console tomorrow to install the center trim piece. Then I plan on color matching the roll hoop covers and the silver piece on the door handle. For the steering wheel I'll get the black M pieces to replace my silver pieces. I may color match the shift knob, or go with a Whalen piece.

[inTgr8r]

Nice work, that looks great!

[Skelekitty]

HOLY PAINT JOB, BATMAN!! That is some incredible work and it looks beautiful!

[Finnegan]

Wow! Simply amazing and beautiful. Simply incredible work....

[Blind32]

Great job with the prep and paint job. I don't have the kahoonas to tackle something like this.

[jra]

that looks awesome btw I had my interior door handles professionally painted and they are holding up great.

[psygnosis]

That looks amazing, I hate the wood trim in my car, and now I have a new more expensive option to consider, thanks!

I probably would have gone for a less shiny, more satin finish, for less glare.

[CFoote]

That is very very nice, that is some amazing work you have done. Nice job!!!

[nadaclue]

I was initially worried about glare, but you can go from glossy to matte but not from matte to glossy so I figured if it was a problem I'd just put the matte clear coat over it.

But due to the orientation of the trim piece, I haven't noticed any glare issues and I've driven at various times of the day with the sun above and directly behind me.

Would there be interest from people if I could turn a couple of these out in various colors? I'd have to sit down and figure out my time investment, but I'm thinking it would be in the $600-700 range + your factory dash (+$200 core charge, refunded when I get your stock pieces) for all 3 pieces to be smoothed out and painted.

You'd order a color you wanted w/ a $200 deposit that would be refunded once I received your original trim pieces. I'd get the trim done (~2 weeks per set) and then submit the final cost ($600-700). Once paid, I'd ship out the trim, then upon receipt of you stock pieces I'd refund the $200 deposit.

If you back out after I've starting work or don't ship me your original trim I'd keep the deposit and that would take care of me wasting time or buying replacement trim.

[onebluemcm]

I have the carbon leather trim in mine, which I do like alot, but I have seen one or two with the piano black and I think that trim is just killer. I've thought of doing this exact thing, so it's really great to see that it can be done, tedium ad nauseum aside....

Hey, roughly what sort of coin did you have to cough up for the Al trim pieces on ebay? Haven't considered it seriously enough to start looking, but I just may after seeing your work - fantastic!

[Hawkeye]

Originally Posted by nadaclue

You'd order a color you wanted w/ a $200 non-refundable deposit. I'd get the trim done (~2 weeks per set) and then submit the final cost ($600-700). Once paid, I'd ship out the trim, then upon receipt of you stock pieces I'd refund the $200 deposit.

The deposit would take care of me wasting time in the event you changed your mind and backed out or didn't send me your original stock pieces.

Wait. I'm confused

Your work looks great. Nice original idea!!!

[nadaclue]

Originally Posted by Hawkeye

Wait. I'm confused

Your work looks great. Nice original idea!!!

I fixed it, I think.

[fitchesbass]

Looks great - impressive work!

Any closer up shots?

[shitbrownMcoupe]

wow amazing! you wanna do mine in shitbrown for me?

[MIKe86]

nice and original. Good job.

[jdl1pt]

Wow, very nice! I just got a z4m with al trim. Was wanting carbon fiber graphite but you've given me something new (and quite unique) to consider.

cudos!

[crfine88]

Very nice work. Lets see some phots of the center console when it is done

[vortex_tuning]

Wow. Amazing work!

[jackjunior]

Awesome work! Very classy!

[MikeRua]

Excellent job man..

[Swashplate]

Well done. Nice paint color.

[ZeD4Mr]

Just simply beautiful...