Brushed aluminum trim problem

Kalopop · 02-18-2011, 12:19 AM

Has anyone heard that the brushed aluminum trim dings and gets damaged easily? I ordered it and am very worried now...

If you have never heard of this you can read up on it here: http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum...d.php?t=967476

Has bmw adressed this problem for the x3? Any opinions?

BIMMER UK 76 · 02-18-2011, 01:29 PM

My bosses new X5 came with damaged aluminium trim a couple of weeks ago (he didnt say anything - I would have gone mad)

I would not have any concerns about looking after it though (unless you have a large dog with free roam of the cabin)

Kalopop · 02-18-2011, 06:44 PM

Mmm Im just worried kids may let go of seatbelt and ding the aluminum..also i heard dropping coins ect can dmg it easily.
Anyone else have any experience with brushed aluminum?! It seems to be a big problem but not alot of ppl talk about it..

rd450 · 02-18-2011, 07:22 PM

What a load of bollocks . Do you guys want to put hand cream on your interior aswell !

note46 · 02-18-2011, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rd450

What a load of bollocks . Do you guys want to put hand cream on your interior aswell !

Wait a minute? Are you saying you don't?

I use Leatherique conditioner/cleaner for the leather portion and 303 on the plastic rubber bits.

I have brush aluminum in the 335d and it's pretty tough. If any of it ever got damaged I would simply take it to the dealer and request that it be replaced.

Kalopop · 02-19-2011, 05:20 PM

will the replace it for free under the 4 yr warranty?

fedinand · 02-19-2011, 07:26 PM

The brushed aluminum on my 335 has dings from the seatbelt - you have to train yourself to put it back instead of just letting it go back after you unbuckle it.

note46 · 02-19-2011, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kalopop

will the replace it for free under the 4 yr warranty?

my dealer replaced it but they also told me they would only do it once. but for me it was just on the passenger side when a co worker was too enthusiastic (or he was scared from the test ride and wanted to get out of the car in a hurry

) in exiting my 335d.

Evlengr · 02-20-2011, 05:33 AM

Seems awfully silly to order alum as a trim and not get a rebate. The wood is much more expensive to produce.

Kalopop · 02-20-2011, 06:19 AM

But it doesnt look as expensive... or attractive imo

. In fact, you must pay extra for it if you dont get some package thing..

mccun934 · 02-20-2011, 02:00 PM

I had brushed aluminum trim on my 06 X3. Had the car for 3 years and never had any issues with the trim getting damaged. Seemed totally fine to me and never took any special care of it.

Steven40 · 02-20-2011, 02:31 PM

I had on my 04 X3 also brushed alu, never problems.

bubb-bmw · 02-20-2011, 02:57 PM

just picked up mine with brushed alli trim, looks great!
but i am now slightly worried about damage

cooldude00 · 02-20-2011, 03:23 PM

i assume this is the same brushed alu trim in the 2003 z4? if so, i've had it for 6 yrs and never had any probs with it...

sfax · 02-20-2011, 04:44 PM

I'm pretty sure that the trim in my GTI is brushed aluminium and I've had it nearly 5 years with no problems. If you look carefully you can see a few little nicks but until reading this thread I hadn't noticed them

JamesBimmer · 02-20-2011, 06:19 PM

I have no personal experience, but for what it is worth my CA said that it does tend to scratch easily and also commented that it gets blazing hot in the summer and freezing in the winter. I had already decided on wood (I actually don't care for any of the trim options that much) so that did not enter into my decision, but it is what he passed along.

Nahoa · 02-20-2011, 07:30 PM

Fake wood.

Kalopop · 02-20-2011, 08:42 PM

is wood trim fake wood? otherwise it would be quite expensive..

Nahoa · 02-20-2011, 09:00 PM

I've never seen any wood like it, perhaps I'm wrong but I can't imagine finding that wood, with that grain to match the sizes of those pieces for thousands of cars. I think you only get real wood (trim) in the most top end cars.

sfax · 02-21-2011, 12:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JamesBimmer

my CA also commented that it gets blazing hot in the summer and freezing in the winter

Also beware the seat belt buckle!!

Seriously though, I have never experienced either with mine but I do live in the south of England where the winters are mild (generally) and we often don't know when it's summer

ScotX5 · 02-21-2011, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rd450

What a load of bollocks . Do you guys want to put hand cream on your interior aswell !

1

ScotX5 · 02-21-2011, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rd450

What a load of bollocks . Do you guys want to put hand cream on your interior aswell !

Meant to post "plus 1" in my previous post. Bloody iPhone!!

02-18-2011, 12:19 AM	#1
Kalopop Enlisted Member 11 Rep 35 Posts Drives: x3 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: canada iTrader: (0)	Brushed aluminum trim problem - please help Has anyone heard that the brushed aluminum trim dings and gets damaged easily? I ordered it and am very worried now... If you have never heard of this you can read up on it here: http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum...d.php?t=967476 Has bmw adressed this problem for the x3? Any opinions?
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02-18-2011, 01:29 PM	#2
BIMMER UK 76 Major 52 Rep 1,089 Posts Drives: BMW F25 X3 20d SE Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: United Kingdom iTrader: (0)	My bosses new X5 came with damaged aluminium trim a couple of weeks ago (he didnt say anything - I would have gone mad) I would not have any concerns about looking after it though (unless you have a large dog with free roam of the cabin) __________________ BMW F25 X3 xDRIVE 20d SE Black Sapphire \| Oyster Leather \| Fineline Sienna Wood \| 307 V Spokes \| Auto \| Prof Multimedia Package \| xLine Package \| Xenons \| Business Radio \| Sports Steering Wheel \| Sports Seats \| Panoramic Sunroof \| Sun Protection Glass \| Sun Blinds \| Folding Ext. Mirrors + Titanium Grille \| Chrome Exhaust Trim \| Mudflaps
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02-18-2011, 06:44 PM	#3
Kalopop Enlisted Member 11 Rep 35 Posts Drives: x3 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: canada iTrader: (0)	Mmm Im just worried kids may let go of seatbelt and ding the aluminum..also i heard dropping coins ect can dmg it easily. Anyone else have any experience with brushed aluminum?! It seems to be a big problem but not alot of ppl talk about it..
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02-18-2011, 07:22 PM	#4
rd450 Private 24 Rep 79 Posts Drives: bmw x3 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: scotland iTrader: (0)	What a load of bollocks . Do you guys want to put hand cream on your interior aswell !
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02-19-2011, 05:20 PM	#6
Kalopop Enlisted Member 11 Rep 35 Posts Drives: x3 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: canada iTrader: (0)	will the replace it for free under the 4 yr warranty?
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02-19-2011, 07:26 PM	#7
fedinand Major 75 Rep 1,271 Posts Drives: '11 X3, '11 GTI Join Date: May 2007 Location: MN iTrader: (6)	The brushed aluminum on my 335 has dings from the seatbelt - you have to train yourself to put it back instead of just letting it go back after you unbuckle it. __________________ The X3 The GTI The Birds The Dogs
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02-20-2011, 05:33 AM	#9
Evlengr Private 5 Rep 61 Posts Drives: 2008 MT X3 and 2010 MT MCS Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: DC-BALT iTrader: (0)	Seems awfully silly to order alum as a trim and not get a rebate. The wood is much more expensive to produce.
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02-20-2011, 06:19 AM	#10
Kalopop Enlisted Member 11 Rep 35 Posts Drives: x3 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: canada iTrader: (0)	But it doesnt look as expensive... or attractive imo . In fact, you must pay extra for it if you dont get some package thing..
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02-20-2011, 02:00 PM	#11
mccun934 Enlisted Member 11 Rep 46 Posts Drives: 2011 X3 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Portland, OR iTrader: (0)	I had brushed aluminum trim on my 06 X3. Had the car for 3 years and never had any issues with the trim getting damaged. Seemed totally fine to me and never took any special care of it.
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02-20-2011, 02:31 PM	#12
Steven40 Private 4 Rep 65 Posts Drives: BMW X3 2.0d F25 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Belgium iTrader: (0)	I had on my 04 X3 also brushed alu, never problems.
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02-20-2011, 02:57 PM	#13
bubb-bmw Registered 0 Rep 4 Posts Drives: x3 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: uk iTrader: (0)	just picked up mine with brushed alli trim, looks great! but i am now slightly worried about damage
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02-20-2011, 03:23 PM	#14
cooldude00 First Lieutenant 7 Rep 332 Posts Drives: x3 2.0d Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: uk iTrader: (0)	i assume this is the same brushed alu trim in the 2003 z4? if so, i've had it for 6 yrs and never had any probs with it...
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02-20-2011, 04:44 PM	#15
sfax Brigadier General 92 Rep 3,855 Posts Drives: BMW X3 2011 F25 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Berkshire, UK iTrader: (0)	I'm pretty sure that the trim in my GTI is brushed aluminium and I've had it nearly 5 years with no problems. If you look carefully you can see a few little nicks but until reading this thread I hadn't noticed them __________________ F25 xDrive20d SE __ professional multimedia package \| dynamic package \| climate package \| 309s \| xline \| xenons \| electric seats \| folding mirrors \| business speakers
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02-20-2011, 06:19 PM	#16
JamesBimmer Enlisted Member 0 Rep 36 Posts Drives: X3 28i Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Virginia iTrader: (0)	I have no personal experience, but for what it is worth my CA said that it does tend to scratch easily and also commented that it gets blazing hot in the summer and freezing in the winter. I had already decided on wood (I actually don't care for any of the trim options that much) so that did not enter into my decision, but it is what he passed along.
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02-20-2011, 07:30 PM	#17
Nahoa Lieutenant Colonel 45 Rep 1,876 Posts Drives: F25 35i Mineral Silver/Black Join Date: May 2008 Location: Virginia iTrader: (0)	Fake wood. __________________
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02-20-2011, 08:42 PM	#18
Kalopop Enlisted Member 11 Rep 35 Posts Drives: x3 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: canada iTrader: (0)	is wood trim fake wood? otherwise it would be quite expensive..
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02-20-2011, 09:00 PM	#19
Nahoa Lieutenant Colonel 45 Rep 1,876 Posts Drives: F25 35i Mineral Silver/Black Join Date: May 2008 Location: Virginia iTrader: (0)	I've never seen any wood like it, perhaps I'm wrong but I can't imagine finding that wood, with that grain to match the sizes of those pieces for thousands of cars. I think you only get real wood (trim) in the most top end cars. __________________
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