[Pentland]

It will gather no more dust than the curves and crevices created by the parking brake and that sorry excuse of a gear selector.
I keep the odd bit of change there, gum, house key etc. If it scratches, it’s easy and cheap enough to replace or refit the original cover.

[viperx100]

Originally Posted by Pentland

It will gather no more dust than the curves and crevices created by the parking brake and that sorry excuse of a gear selector.
I keep the odd bit of change there, gum, house key etc. If it scratches, it’s easy and cheap enough to replace or refit the original cover.

You seem to have a use for it, so it makes sense. I have a '22 so no sorry excuse for a gear selector here, haha. That was one of the main reasons besides me liking the id7 better that I wanted a '22.

[MPR]

Originally Posted by PNTDG42

I’m torn on that console cubby. It’s definitely a great idea to utilize the space and appears to fit well. I don’t know what I’d put in it other than my keys. I worry that if I made a habit of putting keys there, I’d be more likely to eventually scratch surrounding plastic or console trim. I’m going to put a pin in that one for now and see if I find myself wanting.

Agreed, while it's cool to utilize the wasted space, I have nothing I'd really want to store there. I don't use change and my keys go in the center cubby. It would just be there collecting dust and harder to clean than the flat surface that is there now.

[PNTDG42]

I was feeling the itch for something fresh again, so I installed the G8X CF steering wheel trims I got a few weeks back.

Sorry for dark pics. I was about to call it a night when I suddenly had the urge to get up and swap these parts before morning.

[MPR]

Originally Posted by PNTDG42

I was feeling the itch for something fresh again, so I installed the G8X CF steering wheel trims I got a few weeks back.

Sorry for dark pics. I was about to call it a night when I suddenly had the urge to get up and swap these parts before morning.

Does it come with a backplate to support the replacement bottom open lug or is it just the forward facing part? I just added the CF trim but may pick up one of those instead. Where did you get it?

Is this all you need to add the open bottom lug?

https://a.aliexpress.com/_mrxBpSO

[AWcoupe]

That looks really good. I snake my radar detector power cord the same way as you! Some hate the way the Idrive 8 screen attaches to the dash but that open space behind it comes in handy for things. Wish I had the Tacoma Red instead of black.

[aiursblade]

Originally Posted by AWcoupe

That looks really good. I snake my radar detector power cord the same way as you! Some hate the way the Idrive 8 screen attaches to the dash but that open space behind it comes in handy for things. Wish I had the Tacoma Red instead of black.

Is there a reason you guys don’t hardwire the radar detector so you can hide the cable entirely? Just curious cause I did that on my GTI and was planning on doing it when my M240i is delivered.

[PNTDG42]

Originally Posted by MPR

Does it come with a backplate to support the replacement bottom open lug or is it just the forward facing part? I just added the CF trim but may pick up one of those instead. Where did you get it?

Is this all you need to add the open bottom lug?

https://a.aliexpress.com/_mrxBpSO

The lower CF piece with the hole in it comes already attached to the leather pieces next to it. I believe BMW just carbon wraps the face of a piece of plastic of the same shape, and the back of the plastic part is plastic welded to the leather wrapped parts where there are some holes for tabs that pass through then get melted down. Behind the open slotted part, the steering wheel itself is already open to match that slot so you don’t have to change anything else for the pass-through effect. So the slotted CF and leather wrapped sides are 1 part, and then the button bezel that arches over the top of the airbag is another part. You transfer 6 screws over from the aluminum painted parts to join the 2 halves, and then transfer the buttons and wires.

The link you shared appears to come with both halves. For my x3m, shown as G01 in the pics at that link, the 2 halves come as one complete steering wheel face. So the install was a little bit different in my m240. Easier in the m240.

When I am on PC later I can provide links to the dealer pages I used to order them.

[PNTDG42]

Originally Posted by AWcoupe

That looks really good. I snake my radar detector power cord the same way as you! Some hate the way the Idrive 8 screen attaches to the dash but that open space behind it comes in handy for things. Wish I had the Tacoma Red instead of black.

The black is lovely too though! I love the black interior in my x3, even though when shopping for it I was going for the red.. found one exactly how I otherwise wanted it, without having to travel at all. I thought I would find the black bland, but it turned out it just might not look as interesting in photos, but has an awesome and luxurious vibe when you’re sitting in it.

[PNTDG42]

Originally Posted by aiursblade

Is there a reason you guys don’t hardwire the radar detector so you can hide the cable entirely? Just curious cause I did that on my GTI and was planning on doing it when my M240i is delivered.

Well for me it’s about radar placement. I can’t really hang my radar from the windshield mirror, it puts it directly in my line of sight. I’m just sorta of average tall (6’3”) but putting anything there is a hazard. In my truck I had to actually raise the mirror towards the roof cause itself was blocking so much of my natural line of sight. I would love to hardware my radar between the dash and windshield but I did that in a car once and it was the biggest PITA to install.

[MPR]

PNTDG42 I wish I would have checked the back side of the bottom lug before ordering the CF overlays, I thought you needed either a new wheel or much more parts for the open lug. I checked today and it's open as you said

Where the steering wheel controls are, are the buttons completely flush with the CF or are they recessed a bit? This is the only knock I have on the overlay pieces I have now, the buttons are a bit lower. They look completely fine but I'd like flush buttons.

So you bought an OEM part? If not, did it come with the M badge?

[PNTDG42]

Originally Posted by MPR

PNTDG42 I wish I would have checked the back side of the bottom lug before ordering the CF overlays, I thought you needed either a new wheel or much more parts for the open lug. I checked today and it's open as you said

Where the steering wheel controls are, are the buttons completely flush with the CF or are they recessed a bit? This is the only knock I have on the overlay pieces I have now, the buttons are a bit lower. They look completely fine but I'd like flush buttons.

So you bought an OEM part? If not, did it come with the M badge?

https://www.bmwpartshub.com/oem-part...im-32309882893

https://www.bmwpartshub.com/oem-part...im-32309882894

These are the parts I bought. For M3 with heated steering wheel and without DAP. The prices bounce around and there are a couple other competitive dealers. So I would put the part numbers into google and check the top 15 results or so and see if anyone is better priced at the moment.

I will come back in 10-15min with pics to show if they are flush or proud or not. I doubt the surface is as low as the original part, since I am pretty sure they are just wrapping their own plastic parts. But I assume the factory wrapped part sits a little more flush than an aftermarket overlay, since the carbon is wet when OEM wrapped versus stuck down cured later.

[PNTDG42]

The buttons are still raised over the CF but I feel perhaps a little less pronounced. So it’s better than flush. I give the fit and finish a 8.5 out of 10. They could even up the gaps around the buttons. The m performance version in my x3m has better fit and finish. Random additional pics attached.

[Brett_C_F30_G42]

Originally Posted by viperx100

I am with you on that. Looks like a cool idea, but scratches are a concern and even more so for me, if I don't end up using it, it'll just keep filling up with dust over time (I drive with my windows down/sunroof open more often than not).

So I’ve used it a lot and I can say that it’s not scratching at all. Or barely. Unless you really slam your keys in there it won’t scratch.

[Bandit009]

Got her washed and took her for a drive.

[MPR]

PNTDG42 Looks good to me. Mine is the opposite where the buttons are recessed/lower than the trim. I spent $88, not sure I'm going to toss them in the trash for the open lug and possibly better look with level buttons, but I may.

[heelsmj]

Originally Posted by PNTDG42

I’m just sorta of average tall (6’3”).

That’s a joke right? 6-3 is average? Ha! The average American is around 5-7.

[PNTDG42]

Originally Posted by heelsmj

That’s a joke right? 6-3 is average? Ha! The average American is around 5-7.

That’s why I said “average tall” lol. I’m about what people generally mean by tall. After 6’3” I feel like you’re in the exceptional area where you can expect nothing really accommodates you very well and you get asked how tall you are at least once every time you leave the house. Where as; nobody asks me.

[heelsmj]

Originally Posted by PNTDG42

That’s why I said “average tall” lol. I’m about what people generally mean by tall. After 6’3” I feel like you’re in the exceptional area where you can expect nothing really accommodates you very well and you get asked how tall you are at least once every time you leave the house. Where as; nobody asks me.

Ok ha! I thought you where saying you were average!

[BG42]

Oe Pirellis developed a sidewall budge after 2k miles, had heard they weren't very good tires kind of expected. Swapped on some 4s's today the ride is already noticeably better.

[viperx100]

Installed AA DP, Quad tips, took her out to properly enjoy the new sound and then hand washed (ONR). T'was a good day!

[FastTyger]

Air bag recall fixed. Summer wheel and tires on. Installed 50th anniversary door projectors. Told the dealer not to wash and hand washed is myself.