A Pillar mod...BMW E46 doityourself

[danewilson77]

(Old Story-From about 2 years ago) So the story goes like this....a while back I got my windows tinted and the place that did it got the felt on my trim wet....so some of it wrinkled.

Well...I fixed it....

Required tools/materials

~ T20 Torx, and 1/4" drive ratchet.

~Thin blade standard screwdriver.

~Glue or 3M Super 77 spray adhesive

~Small art paint brush.

~Paint of your choice.

~Drop cloths to paint on.

DISCONNECT BATTERY.

Step 1...remove trim

http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/af278/nicee46/Silver%20Bimmer/diy013.jpg

Step 2....remove the thin "SRS" strip (using thin blade screwdriver) and the three torx (T20) screws underneath.

http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/af278/nicee46/Silver%20Bimmer/diy012.jpg

Step 3...complete removal by gentle moving rubber trim, pulling out on the trim piece, then pull gently down toward the floor board. This should cause the clip near the dash corner to free itself.

http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/af278/nicee46/Silver%20Bimmer/diy014.jpg

Step 4....Next take your trim piece to a clear area and peel a little of the felt back to give yourself a good clean area to glue.

http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/af278/nicee46/Silver%20Bimmer/diy015.jpg

Step 5....Get your 3M Super 77 spray adhesive (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001CGRPPE/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=zhpcom-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399349&creativeASIN=B001CGRPPE) and spray a light coat to the area needing glue. Then press the felt into place, obviously ensuring there are NO wrinkles.

Only use this:

http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/af278/nicee46/Silver%20Bimmer/41JU88Y174L__SS500_.jpg

This is the trim piece after gluing, and drying. You can see where some of the glue had slightly discolored the felt. I would not recommend you do this on light material, unless your going to paint (as I did) or find a good spray adhesive. I did not use the above product on my pillars...therefore the dicoloration resulted. This should not be the case with the "77" spray, though I don't know from experience.

http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/af278/nicee46/Silver%20Bimmer/diy017.jpg

Step 6....Paint and let dry. I probably completed 5 thin coats....but you really don't have to worry about running on the felt.

http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/af278/nicee46/Silver%20Bimmer/diy019.jpg

Step 7...from here its kinda a no brainer. Let dry for a few area, and snap, screw and re-install all pieces in the reverse order...for a finished product that looks pretty unique. Tip, when trying to get the trim pieces back in....start near the window, and fold the rubber over the trim piece, as this will give more room for it to snap into place.

Passenger side finished product.

http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/af278/nicee46/Silver%20Bimmer/diy021.jpg

Driver side finished product.

http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/af278/nicee46/Silver%20Bimmer/diy022.jpg

Better Lighting.

http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/af278/nicee46/Silver%20Bimmer/101uts.jpg

http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/af278/nicee46/Silver%20Bimmer/099m.jpg

I hope this helps make someone happier with there car. OUT!

Now I have to do the ones in the rear. The endless pursuit of perfection continues...

[bullfrogs_M3]

I need to do this so bad. My passenger side is totally off. But I can't pull off the pillar because the very top screw is angled so far to the window I can't get a dang tool in there. :( So i guess this is one for the dealership

[danewilson77]

Why didn't ya paint the HPF strips?

Left them that way on purpose. Through the window....they looked great that way.....and one of a kind.....

Droid + Tapatalk = FTW!

[Hornung418]

Left them that way on purpose. Through the window....they looked great that way.....and one of a kind.....

Droid + Tapatalk = FTW!
Two of a kind...:shifty

Will be adding to this thread within the week. I have found a fabric that matches the interior nicely...

RootedDROIDXstatus. Come at me, bro.

[aurelius]

Step 5....Get your 3M Super 77 spray adhesive (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001CGRPPE/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=zhpcom-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399349&creativeASIN=B001CGRPPE) and spray a light coat to the area needing glue. Then press the felt into place, obviously ensuring there are wrinkles.

This is the trim piece after gluing, and drying. You can see where some of the glue had slightly discolored the felt. I would not recommend you do this on light material, unless your going to paint (as I did) or find a good spray adhesive.


Regarding step 5 above, please clarify:

Do you mean "ensuring there are NO wrinkles?"

Also, if the glue discolored the felt and the glue you used is the aforementioned 3M product, am I looking at discoloring the non-ZHP light gray felt if I use this product? Or are you saying you should have but did not actually use the 3M Super 77?

[danewilson77]

I am saying......."ensure there are NO wrinkles.

Also....Use Super 77, and not the sheeet I initially used (because initially I did not use the Super 77 stuff).

Edited above DIY.

Thanks

[danewilson77]

Lol, ok...

I mean c'mon Spence....that's the sheeeet.

http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/af278/nicee46/Silver%20Bimmer/DSC01548.jpg

[Hornung418]

I've narrowed it down to three fabric options with a possible fourth if I find a fabric at random.

Material is cotton and seems pretty durable.

http://tapatalk.com/mu/aefc675f-df24-8f30.jpg

[static667]

I need to do this so bad. My passenger side is totally off. But I can't pull off the pillar because the very top screw is angled so far to the window I can't get a dang tool in there. :( So i guess this is one for the dealership

Get a torx bit set and use a 1/4" socket on the top one. That's how I got mine to come out.

[danewilson77]

I've narrowed it down to three fabric options with a possible fourth if I find a fabric at random.

Material is cotton and seems pretty durable.

http://tapatalk.com/mu/aefc675f-df24-8f30.jpg

That's puuuuuuurty.

Droid + Tapatalk = FTW!

[Hornung418]

I have more...but I'm having issues uploading them...ARG.

[static667]

I've narrowed it down to three fabric options with a possible fourth if I find a fabric at random.

Material is cotton and seems pretty durable.

http://tapatalk.com/mu/aefc675f-df24-8f30.jpg

Old school paisley look FTMFW!

[Hornung418]

It's 8 bucks a yard @ 54in. wide at JoAnn Fabric...and I think I could pull the fabric and the fabric girl off quite nicely ;)

[static667]

It's 8 bucks a yard @ 54in. wide at JoAnn Fabric...and I think I could pull the fabric and the fabric girl off quite nicely ;)

Pick up on the fabric girl. You will only need about a yard of the fabric. I bought two yards for my A and C pillar covering and have plenty left over. The fabric girl where I went wasn't very cute though.

[Hornung418]

I'm debating getting enough for the headliner... But I've yet to get a solid measurement. I'll just hold off for now. because my C pillars actually make an audible percussive noise at speed with the windows down LOL. it's terrible. Before and after pics for sure. B pillars will be addressed as well.

[danewilson77]

I'm debating getting enough for the headliner... But I've yet to get a solid measurement. I'll just hold off for now. because my C pillars actually make an audible percussive noise at speed with the windows down LOL. it's terrible. Before and after pics for sure. B pillars will be addressed as well.

Better get that ride prepped for the meet Horney. 9 days...

Droid + Tapatalk = FTW!

[Hornung418]

Better get that ride prepped for the meet Horney. 9 days...

Droid + Tapatalk = FTW!

Pics on Sunday...

RootedDROIDXstatus. Come at me, bro.

[danewilson77]

Pics on Sunday...

RootedDROIDXstatus. Come at me, bro.

You're still jacking my thread? Come at me bro....

[billschusteriv]

Nice job DW.

These look great in person IMO.

[danewilson77]

I did not know you when I had these:shifty

:rofl


***Note color of car brutha.

[aurelius]

I completed this job a few days ago on a family member's 325i and have a few words of wisdom...

Note: I wasn't modifying anything, just re-doing the adhesive that keeps the felt on the plastic.

Popped loose the "HPS" cover piece of the A pillar trim with one of those tiny screwdrivers for eyeglass screws. Great success. Some of the tabs in that strip may break upon removal but there are many and the strip re-installs just fine with a couple broken tabs. Expect to break some of these if your car sits outside frequently by day in a warm climate (the plastic will be brittle from heat exposure). Along those same lines, don't even try any A,B, or C pillar trim removal in cold weather.

Noticed some have abandoned this DIY due to lack of space to remove the uppermost Torx screw under the "HPS" strip. Radio Shack sells a little ratcheting driver set with an assortment of bits and sockets ($11, p/n 64-070). Works perfectly for this job but you'll have to buy a T20 bit if you don't already have one.

Referring back to Dane's DIY, step #3 in particular, I have a clarification: once a majority of the pillar cover is free of the rubber strip and you can see the airbag underneath, pull/lift up to free the bottom tab from the dash. I pulled over or down (can't remember which) and cracked the tab. It is ABS plastic and does not respond to super glue but the 3M Super 77 held it well enough for re-installation.

Wear gloves of some sort to protect the felt from your fingers (sweat, oil, dirt, etc.). It was very warm outside when I did this and I wore microfiber detailing gloves sourced years ago from Griot's Garage. I wore Nitrile gloves when spraying the Super 77 (gloves @ Walmart).

If you are contemplating windshield replacement, I highly recommend removing these yourself because no installer is going to be as slow and careful as you. Replace them after the windshield adhesive has cured.

And finally, if you break anything beyond repair or if your felt is in bad shape, the pieces are inexpensive to replace with new. $36/ea for the main trim piece with black felt for the ZHP from what is, at the time of this writing, the cheapest source known to me for OE BMW parts (Husker BMW in Nebraska). And $8/ea for the "HPS" strip. Pricing may be different on coupe/cabrio. See realoem.com, enter VIN, browse parts, then Vehicle Trim-->Covering Inner.

http://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l584/aurelius3/Random%20BMW%20Pics/b9721771.jpg

[danewilson77]

Bump for Hokie.

HTC Thunderbolt+TT

[HokieZHP]

Thank you, sir

[danewilson77]

Thank you, sir

You are welcome sir.

HTC Thunderbolt+TT