Dirty Peeling Rubber Cupholder Console Trim Fix For $2 In 5 Minutes Pictorial Diy!

[delmarco]

If your Tan Beige or Gray Console and Cup Holder Trims are currently dirty, peeling and look gross then read on. New replacement parts on the console trims range anywhere from $20 to $90 and tend to just get dirty and start peeling months after you replace them. If you have kids or pets then it could be a matter of days before your new cup holders and console trim get scratched and dirty like before.

The problem is the BMW console trim surface is coated with a rubberized sticky top film that tends to pick up oils, dirt, stains and scratches real easy. the resulting effect is a console that looks like Freddy Krueger's face with rubber peeling off left and right.

A few weeks ago I came across this single post...

yes, hot water and comes off so easy.... I did the hole center console n 45' top

I will post pics today

....and it dawned on me that I should try it.

Here are my results:

I renewed my Euro Tray trim in about 2-3 minutes of scalding hot water soapy scrubbing. After 3 minutes the dirty peeling rubber literally came right off.

For this to work the water MUST be hot as in scalding (not boiling hot, but scalding) so wear heavy rubber yellow dish gloves.

The only supplies used was

-a 99 cent bottle of Dish washing Liquid

-a 50 cent scrubby sponge

-a pair of 50 cent dish washing rubber gloves

This picture here is the finished product with all the ingredients I used to get the trim new again. I didn't spend a penny since everything was already located in my kitchen including the scalding hot water. All free.

During the process you will see how the underside of the dirty rubber top coat will start to show through. NOTE that it will be a lighter, cleaner and newer looking Tan so get ready to either do this to your entire Tan colored console base and armrest trim as well to get an even match.

The finished product will result in trim that looks brand new and silky to the touch as the removal of the dirty rubber top coat will procure a totally new console.

I saved myself about $50 having to replace this Euro Tray trim when a bottle of 99 cent dish soap, free hot water and a 50 cent scrubby sponge did the trick. Like I said my console base and armrest trim was new and recently purchased so the new light Tan of the clean trim matched up perfectly with the new console base.

The ONLY downside is the tan underneath will be newer and lighter looking than it was before so you may end up having to do the entire aged console base and armrest trim bits to get an all around even match.

ENJOY!

[Rob-]

Great DIY as always

[mit]

I was thinking about doing this a while back after seeing a DIY on e46fanatics - I didn't because of having to do the whole centre console as you mentioned!

But in the DIY I saw, there was a final part about spraying it with some rubbery stuff that makes it go back to the original style. I am not sure whether this was clear or black. Might be worth looking into though?

[HJ323]

Would this work on a black centre console?

[Youngsta]

i hope it workes on black coz im going to give it a shot on saturday

[325coupe]

How did this work out on the black console ?

[individual]

fine on black, a little off bu not too noticable,

[Psy]

Great DIY - very simple, but many of us would never have considered it!

My slidey box is a mess, and the rear box and bit of plastic under it are a real state from transporting stuff in the back.

Thanks delmarco.

Si

[swilton325is]

has anyone tried the centre console yet?

[swilton325is]

has anyone tried the centre console yet?

OK i will try it then,,, stand by for results LOL

[Youngsta]

i tried this a little last night and wow... worked great, but i do realy need to remove my middle Console for a propper job, anyone no any guides to do this??

[delmarco]

i tried this a little last night and wow... worked great, but i do realy need to remove my middle Console for a propper job, anyone no any guides to do this??

thanks guys.

the console comes off easily remove the hazard/lock switch and unscrew the screws under the shifter trim.

you also do not need to remove the armest.

[starryboy]

i tried this a little last night and wow... worked great, but i do realy need to remove my middle Console for a propper job, anyone no any guides to do this??

Im in the process of doing this now. OMG its a long drawn out job lol. Ive done all the smaller bits, and they look fab, just got the biggest main console piece. Its apain cos its a bit big to get submersed in a bucket so gonna have to find a bigger bucket and lots of hot water lol

Hopefully it will be done before UBMW sunday. SHould freshen up the inside!

[Rob_320Ci]

Lets us know how it turns, preferbly with some pics...

also, did anyone find out anything about the rubber spray stuff to make it look BMW new?

Edit: Was hunting the Internet last night and came across something called Plasti-dip (www.plasti-dip.co.uk)

Will do the job? It has been mentioned on E46fanatics, I'll try and link it here later.

R

[starryboy]

Well ive been working hard and im almost there.

Centre console has been done.... see pics below.

The main part of the centre console was done using the plastidip and i think it looks sweet. The sliding tray and rear ashtray simply had the rubber removed and were polished. You can see the slightly different finish in the pic!

I used two different finishes to compare. Either finish looks good and IMO they look good together also.

Just need to work my way up to the front ashtray next!

[Rob_320Ci]

Looks good starry, very clean.

Would u say the plastidip gave an oem look/feel?

[swilton325is]

10000000000000000000000000% better pal, it looks really good

[swilton325is]

I have looked everywhere for the spray version but can't find it anywhere, where did you get it from pal?

[starryboy]

Looks good starry, very clean.

Would u say the plastidip gave an oem look/feel?

Its a plastic coat and looks and feels different to the rubber of the oem. But its still very good. It is just as fragile so i would perhaps just take your time and take the rubber off and then leave some shiny sold plastic. Might last a lot longer.

Thanks Scott. Im well impressed with the finish.

I cant remember where i bought it from. Was from USA. I just googled it. Think it cost me a £5 for the can and about £8 shipping cos i couldnt find any in the uk.

[Aled]

has anyone tried doing the drivers/passengers side door handles/arm rest yet? what results?

[Quiksilver_TR]

Think I may have a go at cleaning the rubber of my entire center console this weekend.

Been considering painting it for a while but this looks like a better alternative that wont look scratched as quickly.

Any pics of the black consoles rubbed clean??

[Robotson]

Just started this job on my black console. Horrible. One of those that you wished you hadn't bothered starting! I tried pouring boiling water over it and submerging each half in scolding hot water but still a bitch to get off. Scouring pad didn't work, so resorted to back of a knife Then when i was rinsing all the bits off under the hot tap in the sink, I discovered that the constant hot tap water over it worked much better than the kettle water, strangely. I'm getting the plastidip next week so will spray it all and post pics if I do a good job! I've got a feeling that you don't actually need to get ALL the rubber coating off. I think you just need to make sure there's no huge cuts or distinct lines in it that might show up through the plasti dip. 2 coats of that stuff should cover all minor stuff.

Anyone got any tips for spraying the actual things with the plasti dip? Like how far away to spray from, just little sprays, or really go for it?!

Cheers

[Zonda_]

I did mine today and yesterday, yesterday I sprayed in the greenhouse and results were ok but not great, I sprayed inside the house today and the result was much better. You are right in that it will cover most things but deep scratches show through.

[Robotson]

How come it was better in the house do you think?

I asked a car bodyshop near me who specialise in spraying whole cars with it and they said spray about 6 inches away and do 6 or 7 coats!

what do you reckon? does it come out quite fine, and can it run like paint does?

[Zonda_]

I'm putting it down to the house being warmer. It comes out just like paint and runs just as easily. It says on the can I have to give it enough passes so it looks wet, I'd say I held it about 12 inch es away. 6 will be too close.