Pillar Repair: Where to find fabric?

[Whammy]

All,

I am looking to repair the A/B/C pillars on the ZHP. Due to heat, the original adhesive is failing. I would like to use the alcantara fabric or fabric or something close to it. I am wondering what fabric others have used and what the cost was to obtain the fabric. What are some suppliers?

Thanks!

[danewilson77]

http://www.oldstock4less.com/

Link from here:

http://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1693

"No flamesuit required"

[Oli77]

I got mine at a fabric store. Make sure it is not backed with foam. It needs to be thin to adhere well to the shape of the pillar.

Make sure you get the right spray adhesive, the 3m 77 I think.

[KevinC]

Suggestion: just buy the replacement pillars and be done with it. They're very reasonably priced (A's were about $40 when I bought mine a few years ago) and the result is perfect, with no fuss. 3 brutal Arizona summers later, the replacements are still perfect.

[danewilson77]

Suggestion: just buy the replacement pillars and be done with it. They're very reasonably priced (A's were about $40 when I bought mine a few years ago) and the result is perfect, with no fuss. 3 brutal Arizona summers later, the replacements are still perfect.
+1

"No flamesuit required"

[ELCID86]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/181389531896?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

[Whammy]

http://www.oldstock4less.com/

Link from here:

http://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1693

"No flamesuit required"

Anything cheaper than $119 / yard? I am guessing I will need two yards to cover all of the pillars.


I got mine at a fabric store. Make sure it is not backed with foam. It needs to be thin to adhere well to the shape of the pillar.

Make sure you get the right spray adhesive, the 3m 77 I think.

Thanks for the info!


Suggestion: just buy the replacement pillars and be done with it. They're very reasonably priced (A's were about $40 when I bought mine a few years ago) and the result is perfect, with no fuss. 3 brutal Arizona summers later, the replacements are still perfect.

What was reasonable a few years ago is no longer reasonable IMO. I called a local independent shop I trust here. Parts through them are $900. ECS wants $700. Ordering the fabric with the link Dane provided and spending a little bit of time still saves me about $500. If the parts were $300-ish, I would do it, not for $700-900. That's a bit much.

[Whammy]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/181389531896?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Thanks Shawn! Now, if I only understood German.

[Hermes]

Alcantara is expensive, around $100/yd is a very reasonable price

[Whammy]

Alcantara is expensive, around $100/yd is a very reasonable price

Noted! Thanks for the confirmation!

[Vas]

The c pillars are not bad but the a and b are kinda expensive

[KevinC]

What was reasonable a few years ago is no longer reasonable IMO. I called a local independent shop I trust here. Parts through them are $900. ECS wants $700. Ordering the fabric with the link Dane provided and spending a little bit of time still saves me about $500. If the parts were $300-ish, I would do it, not for $700-900. That's a bit much.

uh.. WUT??! A-pillars for coupes are $60 each from ECS.. where are these $700+ figures coming from??

http://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-E46-330Ci-M54_3.0L/ES110746/

EDIT: Ok, if you need all 3, both sides, A-B-C, it would run about $400 from ECS. Still way short of $700. I did my A's 3 years ago, then a few months later, the C's. That's one way to do it - if all 3 are bad, do the A's first since they're most visible, then the rest as funds become available.

[NoVAphotog]

uh.. WUT??! A-pillars for coupes are $60 each from ECS.. where are these $700+ figures coming from??

http://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-E46-330Ci-M54_3.0L/ES110746/

EDIT: Ok, if you need all 3, both sides, A-B-C, it would run about $400 from ECS. Still way short of $700. I did my A's 3 years ago, then a few months later, the C's. That's one way to do it - if all 3 are bad, do the A's first since they're most visible, then the rest as funds become available.

+1

I bought the replacement A's from the dealer and they looked great, took minutes to pop in and did the trick for ~$60. They were really bothering me and I felt it was worth the cost not to have to mess with the originals and possibly end up having them look worse. My C's are next, but they are no where near as bad as the A's were...maybe after another summer of windows down driving we'll see how they look!

[Whammy]

uh.. WUT??! A-pillars for coupes are $60 each from ECS.. where are these $700+ figures coming from??

http://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-E46-330Ci-M54_3.0L/ES110746/

EDIT: Ok, if you need all 3, both sides, A-B-C, it would run about $400 from ECS. Still way short of $700. I did my A's 3 years ago, then a few months later, the C's. That's one way to do it - if all 3 are bad, do the A's first since they're most visible, then the rest as funds become available.

Use this link and redo your math: http://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-E46-330i-M54_3.0L/Interior/Trim/

It should come up to $692 (A Pillar (Pillar + Cover) + B Pillar (Upper and Lower) + C Pillar). I may not need to the B lower pillar which would reduce the cost by $60.

[Vas]

"A" Pillar Cover - Left - $75.84
"A" Pillar Cover - Right - $75.84
"A" Pillar Airbag Covers - $38.16
"B" Pillar Cover - Top Left - $152.27
"B" Pillar Cover - Top Right - $152.27
"C" Pillar Cover - Left - $66.13
"C" Pillar Cover - Right - $66.13

Total price before shipping is $626.64.

Ouch. Wonder if the pricing from here is cheaper. https://thebmwminipartstore.com/

[Whammy]

"A" Pillar Cover - Left - $75.84
"A" Pillar Cover - Right - $75.84
"A" Pillar Airbag Covers - $38.16
"B" Pillar Cover - Top Left - $152.27
"B" Pillar Cover - Top Right - $152.27
"C" Pillar Cover - Left - $66.13
"C" Pillar Cover - Right - $66.13

Total price before shipping is $626.64.

Ouch. Wonder if the pricing from here is cheaper. https://thebmwminipartstore.com/

Nope. What you save you pay in shipping.

[danewilson77]

Most places will be cheaper than ecs.

The friendliest forum on the planet.

[Whammy]

Most places will be cheaper than ecs.

The friendliest forum on the planet.

Actually Dane it appears ECS is the cheapest or close with TheBMWPartsStore. I checked a few places in the link you provided. All others are more expensive.

[danewilson77]

Getbmwparts.com ?

"No flamesuit required"

[Whammy]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/181389531896?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

So I ordered two yards of this. Waiting on a shipping quote. Hopefully it is not too expensive.

[Whammy]

Getbmwparts.com ?

"No flamesuit required"

Yes. Check for yourself.

[danewilson77]

Yes. Check for yourself.
Ok. Little bit of attitude?

"No flamesuit required"

[Whammy]

Ok. Little bit of attitude?

"No flamesuit required"

Actually no. None implied. Apologies if it came off that way.