Usually my google-fu is good enough to point me in the right direction but I seem at a loss here, probably because I don't know the proper term for what I'm talking about.

Basically, I recently purchased a 2008 Mini hardtop w/ the black interior. Everything looks great, except I guess the previous owner didn't have the cleanest of hands and many of the silver components of the black interior are super dirty, almost ingrained into the paint. (CD player port, heater/ac adjustment *****, radio buttons, basically all the silver painted components of the center console in this pic: http://www.autoinfoz.com/gallery/int...erior_view.jpg )

Plus I don't like how they look, which (just IMO) is cheap compared to the rest of the car.

Anyhow, ideally I'd like to replace those pieces of trim with black versions that match the rest of the console, but I can't seem to find any info online about this. I know I can't be the only one wanting to do this so I think I just need to be pointed in the right direction.

What are these components/widgets called? Trim? Dials? Knobby bits?

Does anyone know if they can be purchased/installed separately, or do I have to try to find a junkyard Mini and buy the whole dash? No one's going to want to trade for these in their current condition so that's out of the picture.

Thanks!

 

Have you looked at realoem?

Junk yard might work too, but these trim pieces are typically single use only. The tabs on these things are super brittle.

 

Thanks, I have not tried/heard of realoem, I'll search for that now.

 

Why don't you just vinyl wrap that stuff? For $15 or so, you can get several square feet of wrap, get a new small razor from the dollar store and a hair dryer or heat gun, and spend a couple hours. Bam! Black parts!

 

It's for part number lookup; I find the parts diagrams very useful. You can plug the part numbers into Google to find vendors.

Sent from my iPad using NAMotoring

 

Here is realoem http://www.realoem.com/bmw/select.do...0080600&arch=0

Here is another good one also called Penske
http://www.penskeparts.com/fiche.aspx?brand=mini

 

Thanks everybody!

For anyone coming across this in the future:

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...544&hg=64&fg=2

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...74&hg=65&fg=05

The real kicker seems to be that the buttons for the AC control are part of the control itself, a nearly $500 part.

So I guess I'll look into the vinyl-wrap option, though I'm not confident I have the ability to cut it to look very good. Also I believe it will block out the backlights and labels which might be a good look for some people but I'd prefer it to look stock.

Thanks again!

 

deleted. wrong thread.