Phase 1 of my two tone interior

[Phillips0417]

I purchased this Mystic Blue ZHP sedan about 2 months ago and it's been perfect. Love the car, but the grey interior is kind of boring to me. I wanted to wait to work on the interior until the mechanical stuff was done but I found a good deal on some black door panels so I purchased them and started working on them this afternoon while wife and kid were out of town.

I've wanted to find a NB interior to purchase, but it's miserably hot in central Texas right now and summers just begun. So the grey will stay and I'll just two tone the interior pieces like it should've been from the factory. Much like the natural brown interior pieces are done, namely the door panels, seat backs, lower side trim on seats, etc. The grey is just oversaturated but my plan is to break it up and make it not so boring.

I started with the "new" used black panels and began removing the inset panels this afternoon. I wanted to start with these to "practice" and to find the best method to remove the plastic welded rivet posts behind the panel. I needed to experiment to find which tool would allow me the most material to screw the pieces back together. I first tried a drill bit to drill through and break the tops off, I tried a flat paddle bit, a countersink bit, an end mill bit, cut-off wheel on a dremel, and finally a sanding drum on the dremel. The drill bit didn't leave enough material for the screws. Same with the paddle bit and countersink. The end mill bit and cut-off wheel worked okay, but the sanding drum was by far the best and definitely the quickest.

https://i.imgur.com/RTaUGfCl.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/6FOEZDCl.jpg?1
https://i.imgur.com/v2xaKlLl.jpg

Wife and son came home a little early so I stopped for the evening. Will remove panels from car maybe tomorrow or whenever I'm able to commit some time to it this week.

Next up will be the dash and carpet, seat backs and trim, and rear parcel shelf. I didn't see anything where anyone had done this here so I'll update this thread as I go.

Questions / comments / concerns welcome.

UPDATE: All door panels are now complete! I really can't explain how gratifying it was doing this myself and the difference it makes on the interior of my car!

First and foremost, use this DIY at your discretion. Doing this is not difficult, just time consuming. Please wear eye protection as there will be hot, melted flying plastic from your Dremel.

All locations in the following pictures are color coded to help you with screw size and locations.
RED: #8
YELLOW: #12
GREEN: #12 - Don't install this screw until you've installed the door pull and are ready to install the inset panel to the outer door panel.

In order to do this you need some supplies, ie: screws, washers and some epoxy or silicone (in case you can't get all screw locations).


Box of 100 #8 x 1/2" Machine Screws
26 #12 x 3/4" Machine Screws
Box of 100 1/4" flat washers (for the #8 screws)
26 3/16 ID x 1" OD flat washers (for the #12 screws)
1 tube of silicone or 2 part epoxy
1/8" drill bit (#30 bit) & a 5/32" drill bit (#21)


https://i.imgur.com/IVN7prfl.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/xxC5ELHl.jpg

Remove your door panels and flip them over to expose the plastic melted rivets. These are what you'll be grinding away with your Dremel. Don't push too hard and don't stay on the head too long as it will just remove material you'll need to screw the inset back to the door panel. I found a high speed fast approach worked well and it took away the heads of the rivets in about two passes.

Now clean the RED locations with your 1/8" drill bit and YELLOW & GREEN locations with your 5/32" drill bit. This is to facilitate screw install later.

Rear:
https://i.imgur.com/Ps5TSffl.jpg

Front:
https://i.imgur.com/99xzOLJl.jpg

After removing all rivets, remove the inset panel from the rest of the door panel. You'll have something like this:
https://i.imgur.com/RTaUGfCl.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/6FOEZDCl.jpg?1

NOTE: Be very careful with the fronts due to the airbag cover that will want to fall out to the back of the panel, just keep your hand on it and be cognizant of it while working and you'll be fine. These panels are older and the glue that holds the leatherette on is beginning to separate.

Now that you have the panels removed, it's time to remove the door pulls. These are the same type of melted plastic rivet, just larger. The rears will have 8, the fronts will have 7.
https://i.imgur.com/2R8vfDul.jpg

After removing the rivets just pull the two apart, they will be stuck a bit but don't be afraid to use a little bit of force here.

Now install the new door pull to the inset panel with your #12 screws at all YELLOW locations. There is one RED (#8) location at the top near the door handle, next to the GREEN location.
https://i.imgur.com/p4pj2ytl.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/0jRM7Ot.jpg

Now it's time to install your two-toned inset panel to the outer door panel as shown. Install as many #8 screws as you can in the RED locations. Use the epoxy or silicone to glue it in locations where you may skip a screw or two. Now you may install the #12 screws in the two GREEN locations as these also help to secure both panels together.
https://i.imgur.com/wHsxVfsl.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/bY10yQB.jpg

Repeat for both rear doors and they're done! Simple, right? :biggrin Now you can begin to admire how drastic of a change this is.

Fronts are pretty much the exact same as the rear, with the exception of the airbag cover that you need to handle with care to prevent it from falling out.

Install the door pull using hardware at all YELLOW and RED locations, leaving the GREEN locations until you mate the two pieces back together.
https://i.imgur.com/XJWTcBX.jpg?1

Now mate the two pieces and install all hardware at marked locations.
https://i.imgur.com/TxpVbwF.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/hP27ILol.jpg

Repeat for both front doors.

Install your newly built custom two-toned door panels back to your car and admire!

https://i.imgur.com/J9Cncu5l.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/pM6xllrl.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/v1hynfOl.jpg

Feel free to PM me if anyone has questions.

[Vas]

Looking forward to the results

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[fredo]

+1.

[joeybananaz18]

subscribed. I've decided i want to recreate the two-tone affect on my sand beige. I want to wrap up some other projects first. What are your plans for the carpet? dye or replace?

[az3579]

You da man! So glad someone is finally going through the effort to go all out on this!

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[Phillips0417]

subscribed. I've decided i want to recreate the two-tone affect on my sand beige. I want to wrap up some other projects first. What are your plans for the carpet? dye or replace?

If I can find some black carpet in good shape I'll just replace it all, otherwise I'll be dying it black. Mine is in really good condition so I may just go that route anyways although I've never dyed anything. It'll be a learning process for sure, but so are the door panels. :)


You da man! So glad someone is finally going through the effort to go all out on this!

It's an effort for sure but I think it'll be worth it in the end! I really can't wait to see the end result. :cool

Thanks for the motivation guys! If anyone has any specific picture requests or anything, feel free to ask.

[704sw]

Thanks for the motivation guys! If anyone has any specific picture requests or anything, feel free to ask.

Nothing specific, just take a bunch in case anyone plans to travel down a similar path [emoji4]

Very excited to see the end result.

[Phillips0417]

Got some time in the shop today. Started with the rear passenger then went to the front passenger. The rear has about three spots where there a skip or two between screws so I put some silicone / epoxy on those. I will wait to install it until tomorrow after it dries and I can remove the clamps. But the front passenger turned out really well. I'm happy thus far. :rockon

Before:

https://i.imgur.com/QRRUZg2.jpg

After:

https://i.imgur.com/Q14lK1q.jpg

Have to order the mirror switch cover for the passenger side.

[joeybananaz18]

that looks friggin awesome!

[BMWCurves]

that looks friggin awesome!

+1

Can't wait to see the finished product.

[Phillips0417]

Thanks guys! I'll update the original post when I'm done to reflect tooling / hardware requirements for people wanting to do this. I'll be out of town for a couple of days so I probably won't pick back up on it until Thursday or Friday and the weekend.

[704sw]

Wow, big difference. Is that an M-Sport E83 I see in the side mirror?

[Phillips0417]

Wow, big difference. Is that an M-Sport E83 I see in the side mirror?

A man that pays attention to details, I like! Indeed it is! One of the best vehicles I’ve ever owned!

[johnrando]

Wow, looks great!

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[Phillips0417]

Wow, looks great!

Thanks! I thought it would take some time for me to get used to it but it's a very attractive looking combination.

I have one door left, started and finished the driver side rear tonight. :biggrin

Here's where we started:

https://i.imgur.com/AsBJDoO.jpg

Passenger side complete!

https://i.imgur.com/v1hynfO.jpg

Good lighting.

https://i.imgur.com/pM6xllr.jpg

Shameless plug for MB ZHP. :biggrin

https://i.imgur.com/RFTVP27.jpg

[bandwagn]

Yes, that’s how it should have come from the factory

[nextelbuddy]

already looking beautiful. cant wait to see it all complete and will be well worth the work. all color interiors should have come 2 tone.

[az3579]

Yes, that’s how it should have come from the factory

This! I'm glad BMW came to their senses and all the new cars with non-black interiors now are two-toned past 2017 I think...

[BMWCurves]

Yes, that’s how it should have come from the factory

Agreed. I’d be happy with a Gray interior if it looked like that.


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[Phillips0417]

Interesting fact while searching for some seat back panels; the sedan and coupe share the same rear panels if both are equipped with sport seats. I happen to have some of these already. :biggrin

[Vas]

Would it look off with the armrest being grey?

[Phillips0417]

Would it look off with the armrest being grey?

I think so. My plan is to change out the entire center console as well with a black counterpart. Not sure about the dash yet though, not sure if I like or dislike the contrast of it just yet.

[az3579]

Would it look off with the armrest being grey?

I think it'd look pretty neat with the grey armrest, but the factory way to do it is a black one.

[Phillips0417]

UPDATE! All panels are complete! I almost can't believe how drastic of a difference it has made to the interior of my car!

Feedback, questions and concerns are welcome!

[az3579]

Nice! Did you do anything with the rest of the interior yet or is it just door panels at the moment?
I love how what you did up 'till now. The door cards are a huge difference for sure.

[Phillips0417]

Nice! Did you do anything with the rest of the interior yet or is it just door panels at the moment?
I love how what you did up 'till now. The door cards are a huge difference for sure.

I actually removed the black seat backs from my coupe to install on my seats. I installed them on my seats but there was a gap on the sides and I'm too OCD to leave it be so I removed them and re-installed the gray for now. The only explanation I can come up with is that my coupe has M seats in it and they must be a bit wider. I'll find some seat backs, the rest of the trim pieces, center console and rear black carpet, I already have the front. The coupe and sedan share the same front section of carpet. Just the black floor mats made a vast improvement aesthetically as well.

[nextelbuddy]

I actually removed the black seat backs from my coupe to install on my seats. I installed them on my seats but there was a gap on the sides and I'm too OCD to leave it be so I removed them and re-installed the gray for now. The only explanation I can come up with is that my coupe has M seats in it and they must be a bit wider. I'll find some seat backs, the rest of the trim pieces, center console and rear black carpet, I already have the front. The coupe and sedan share the same front section of carpet. Just the black floor mats made a vast improvement aesthetically as well.

they are the same seat backs. i have used the seat backs on sport and M seats and haven't seen this gap.

you need to check that you got the side clips in properly they are a paint to get in sometimes.

[Sockethead]

Looks great! well done!

[PdZHP]

Wow, great job!

[Mannydog]

Very nice! I have passed on a lot of otherwise nice cars due to gray interior, LOL.

[stephenkirsh]

Nifty. I did this exact same thing last year with sand beige and black.

[stephenkirsh]

33290


http://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/showthread.php?20268-E46-ZHP-sedan-beige-and-black-interior-swap-combo-upgrade


I now have black seats. Need to update some photos...

[joeybananaz18]

33290


http://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/showthread.php?20268-E46-ZHP-sedan-beige-and-black-interior-swap-combo-upgrade


I now have black seats. Need to update some photos...

every time i saw your sig, i thought you have NB.

[Phillips0417]

they are the same seat backs. i have used the seat backs on sport and M seats and haven't seen this gap.

you need to check that you got the side clips in properly they are a paint to get in sometimes.

Yes they are the same backs and I'm positive I had the side clips in place. The gap was near the top on the side of the curvature. Kind of weird, but it also exhibits this gap when I put them back on the M seats.


Looks great! well done!

Thank you!


Wow, great job!

Thank you, it was worth it!


Very nice! I have passed on a lot of otherwise nice cars due to gray interior, LOL.

Ha, I don't think the gray looks bad with the MB, it's just too much gray. But I'm with you, if they had done something like this from the factory or at least made it an option, I think it would be much more desirable. It's also nice here in TX not burning your legs getting into a hot car. :biggrin:


Nifty. I did this exact same thing last year with sand beige and black.

I really like the beige and black too, very classy look. However, I think it would flow better with a beige airbag cover. I thought about doing a black cover but decided against it. Just me though. Nice job! I learned a lot and enjoyed doing this.

[az3579]

I really like the beige and black too, very classy look. However, I think it would flow better with a beige airbag cover. I thought about doing a black cover but decided against it. Just me though. Nice job! I learned a lot and enjoyed doing this.

This.


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