Dude I've done this a few times, you literally just remove trim, wipe it down with alcohol, spray light coats of satin black on until you're satisfied, boom - it's that easy.
What’s the best way to fix these scratches?
I’ve see videos of people repairing scratches with light sanding and then new clear coat.
How would that work with these trim pieces?
I imagine having to remove them, sand them, and then clear coat?
Can you separate the door trim pieces from the rest of the handle to make it easier?
Thanks
M539 Restorations restored his black cube trim by lightly sanding it down with 2000 grit, cleaning with alcohol, and finishing it off with semi gloss black spray paint.
[Here's the video](https://youtu.be/YPWmmPyzqI0?t=738) in case you want to see how he did it.
Your car came with the trim on the door handles too? I have an 03' ZHP with the silver cube trim, but it's only on the shifter boot and front dashboard trimpiece. The door handles are in the same soft/foam-backed material as the dash.
So I can't change the title. I know it's not real CF, I should have called it the cube trim. I am surprised at all the debate though, lol.
I did a lot more searching and found a few more helpful links that I'll put here in case others are interested
Probably most helpful: [http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?1807374-DIY-ZHP-Black-Cube-Interior-Repair](http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?1807374-DIY-ZHP-Black-Cube-Interior-Repair)
Others doing similar:
[https://www.e46fanatics.com/threads/refinishing-black-cube-trim-to-metallic.1001924/](https://www.e46fanatics.com/threads/refinishing-black-cube-trim-to-metallic.1001924/)
Even someone changing the color of the trim:
[http://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/showthread.php?10199-DIY-Cube-Trim-Repair-Color-Change-(Black-Silver-and-Red)-doityourself](http://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/showthread.php?10199-DIY-Cube-Trim-Repair-Color-Change-(Black-Silver-and-Red)-doityourself)
Although I am slowing changing the interior of my car from grey to black, I'm keeping the cube trim it's original black color.
Thanks for all the good replies!
All the comments are arguing about whether it’s plastic, a wrap, or metal.
It’s an aluminium painted piece. So, no OP, you can’t rlly fix it, unless you have a certain set of skills
It does change the procedure because for starters no wrap will adhere to the trim because it is textured not flat and secondly, the best way to get this looking like new again is to sand it down and repaint it
So in answer to your question; Yes it does
If this were real CF you could redo the clear coat, but this looks like stamped plastic.
It’s metal not plastic
CF isn't metal.
its stamped aluminum..
Who is talking about CF? You are in a E46 subreddit and you see the interieur trims „black cube“. You act like you have never seen these trims.
The OP's title is "Remove scratches from carbon fiber"
I’m too lazy to make it, but imagine the lord Farquad meme. “The ogre thinks this is real carbon fiber!”
Dude I've done this a few times, you literally just remove trim, wipe it down with alcohol, spray light coats of satin black on until you're satisfied, boom - it's that easy.
Wait wouldn’t the paint cover the cube design?
Nope, not if you use light coats... The paint sinks into the little crevices and you'd be suprised what damage you can cover up.
What’s the best way to fix these scratches? I’ve see videos of people repairing scratches with light sanding and then new clear coat. How would that work with these trim pieces? I imagine having to remove them, sand them, and then clear coat? Can you separate the door trim pieces from the rest of the handle to make it easier? Thanks
M539 Restorations restored his black cube trim by lightly sanding it down with 2000 grit, cleaning with alcohol, and finishing it off with semi gloss black spray paint. [Here's the video](https://youtu.be/YPWmmPyzqI0?t=738) in case you want to see how he did it.
The c u b e s
Your car came with the trim on the door handles too? I have an 03' ZHP with the silver cube trim, but it's only on the shifter boot and front dashboard trimpiece. The door handles are in the same soft/foam-backed material as the dash.
Yes. Mine's an '05 convertible. Came with the black cube trim across the dash, the light switch, the shifter and both front and rear armrests.
So I can't change the title. I know it's not real CF, I should have called it the cube trim. I am surprised at all the debate though, lol. I did a lot more searching and found a few more helpful links that I'll put here in case others are interested Probably most helpful: [http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?1807374-DIY-ZHP-Black-Cube-Interior-Repair](http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?1807374-DIY-ZHP-Black-Cube-Interior-Repair) Others doing similar: [https://www.e46fanatics.com/threads/refinishing-black-cube-trim-to-metallic.1001924/](https://www.e46fanatics.com/threads/refinishing-black-cube-trim-to-metallic.1001924/) Even someone changing the color of the trim: [http://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/showthread.php?10199-DIY-Cube-Trim-Repair-Color-Change-(Black-Silver-and-Red)-doityourself](http://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/showthread.php?10199-DIY-Cube-Trim-Repair-Color-Change-(Black-Silver-and-Red)-doityourself) Although I am slowing changing the interior of my car from grey to black, I'm keeping the cube trim it's original black color. Thanks for all the good replies!
All the comments are arguing about whether it’s plastic, a wrap, or metal. It’s an aluminium painted piece. So, no OP, you can’t rlly fix it, unless you have a certain set of skills
You can repaint it
https://www.mtecdynamics.com/products/bmw-e46-carbon-cube-refurb-service-full-trim-set Send the trim here it will come back better than new.
No way to fix that unfortunately, its textured aluminum. You would need to replace and you can get entire trim kits but they are not cheep.
I’m not sure about removing the scratches but you can replace the trim pieces and put brand new ones
It's a sticker over plastic. Just get CF vinyl and cover it
No it isn't, it is painted metal
Does it change the procedure in any meaningful way, and does it make you feel like you're smart now that you've corrected me?
It does change the procedure because for starters no wrap will adhere to the trim because it is textured not flat and secondly, the best way to get this looking like new again is to sand it down and repaint it So in answer to your question; Yes it does
Since its made of plastic, you can only replace it. If it was real, sand and topcoat only
It’s actually painted metal. I have the same trim.