[Wasko]

After a year of M235i ownership it was time for an interior change. I had a look at the M Performance interior however was not a fan of the matte carbon fibre. So my search continued until I stumbled upon the M4 GTS with its luxury Alcantara pieces. From that point forward I set out to recreate this look on the long console piece that holds the iDrive.

Here is my finished result using genuine Alcantara (9002 - charcoal) and v92 bonded polyester thread. Hope you all like it:

[StarMan]

I like it! Do you have other Alcantara bits?

[Wasko]

Originally Posted by starvmarv

I like it! Do you have other Alcantara bits?

Thanks!

Just this bit for the moment, I do have plenty of Alcantara leftover as they only sell it by the yard (JPM Coachworks). I take a piecemeal approach to these sorts of things, I do what I definitely know I want, then I sit back and assess.

So we will see...

[BMWZ4]

Man, that's well done. I wish I had the skill to do stuff like this.

[tinyTIM]

That does look nice. Awesome job man. I really like the look and feel of the Alcantara material. Thinking about purchasing some and doing the visors. I already have the M Performance carbon fiber/alcantara trim.

[Anderw]

Thats cool ! how were you able to put that stitching in so perfectly?

[Wasko]

Originally Posted by Anderw

Thats cool ! how were you able to put that stitching in so perfectly?

Cheers

I measured it all up and drew where the stitch holes would be on the back of the fabric. Then it was simple to just follow the pattern I made.

I also drew a pencil line on the original piece (brushed aluminium) that followed the line from the iDrive. When gluing, I used this line to slowly roll the fabric down so the line was in the middle of the stitches.

[Wasko]

Next piece done!

[StarMan]

FANTASTIC. I may have to copy you ... I have alcantara seats so i am thinking this interior upholstery you are doing will go perfectly with my seats. How many yards would you say I'd need?

[Wasko]

Originally Posted by starvmarv

FANTASTIC. I may have to copy you ... I have alcantara seats so i am thinking this interior upholstery you are doing will go perfectly with my seats. How many yards would you say I'd need?

Depends on what you want to cover. I ordered 1 yard and after doing those 2 pieces I still have plenty left.

[Anderw]

Originally Posted by starvmarv

FANTASTIC. I may have to copy you ... I have alcantara seats so i am thinking this interior upholstery you are doing will go perfectly with my seats. How many yards would you say I'd need?

+1
Op I may be copying you too! Looks amazing ,would you mind sharing where you picked up the genuine Alcantara from? Also what adhesive you went with?!

Thanks I appreciate any info!

[Wasko]

Originally Posted by Anderw

+1
Op I may be copying you too! Looks amazing ,would you mind sharing where you picked up the genuine Alcantara from? Also what adhesive you went with?!

Thanks I appreciate any info!

Sure thing, I got the Alcantara from JPM Coachworks:

http://store.jpmcoachworks.com/

To cover the pieces I have you will be after Alcantara Pannel (no backing).

I used Sika contact adhesive. Any contact adhesive should do, just be wary as some take 20 mins to dry before they grip and you want it to dry quicker than that (5 mins is good). And whatever you do DON'T use a spray contact adhesive. This work needs to be done in small sections at a time for the best result, so use a paintbrush to spread the glue accurately.

Here is my inspiration, this guy is a master:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IaSm3zoWrAo

[Drpoomanchu]

Originally Posted by Wasko

Sure thing, I got the Alcantara from JPM Coachworks:

http://store.jpmcoachworks.com/

To cover the pieces I have you will be after Alcantara Pannel (no backing).

I used Sika contact adhesive. Any contact adhesive should do, just be wary as some take 20 mins to dry before they grip and you want it to dry quicker than that (5 mins is good). And whatever you do DON'T use a spray contact adhesive. This work needs to be done in small sections at a time for the best result, so use a paintbrush to spread the glue accurately.

Here is my inspiration, this guy is a master:



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IaSm3zoWrAo

wow this guy is amazing, great job on your piece as well, looks awesome... Daniel Son

[VMRWheels]

Those little touches look really good! Plan on doing any other bits?

[Wasko]

Originally Posted by VMRWheels

Those little touches look really good! Plan on doing any other bits?

Thanks! The only other piece to do at the moment is the driver's side air vent.

I was considering doing the door handles as well, but not sure how people's grubby hands (read: my grubby hands) would go on the fabric. I also quite like the contrast between the aluminium door handles and the Alcantara.

Sometimes less is more...

[VMRWheels]

Originally Posted by Wasko

Thanks! The only other piece to do at the moment is the driver's side air vent.

I was considering doing the door handles as well, but not sure how people's grubby hands (read: my grubby hands) would go on the fabric. I also quite like the contrast between the aluminium door handles and the Alcantara.

Sometimes less is more...

I was going to suggest the door handles! I think they would look good! Thats a good point about people's (your) grubby hands, though.

Maybe the e-brake handle?

[Wasko]

Final piece done, phew!

[Anderw]

^^^ looks great! honestly looks OEM couldn't tell someone did that after the fact, nice work!!

[Anderw]

Im about to order material , just curious are you sanding down the trim like in the video?

[Wasko]

Originally Posted by Anderw

Im about to order material , just curious are you sanding down the trim like in the video?

No. The reason he is sanding the pieces down in the video is to make room for the additional thickness of the fabric. I went a different route:

For the centre console, you can overlay the material directly on the trim already installed (brushed aluminium for me). There is enough room to fit the additional thickness of the Alcantara.

For the two dashboard pieces, you will need to separate the piece of plastic with the existing trim glued to it from the rest of the pieces it is attached to. This means you will need to break the moulded plastic rivets holding it in place at the back (you can put a self-tapping screw in afterwards to hold it). Once you have the piece of plastic the trim is glued to separated from the rest, bake it in the oven at 125 degrees celsius for 20 mins. This will heat up the factory adhesive and you can separate the existing trim from the plastic piece so you can cover it with Alcantara.

I originally tried covering the dashboard pieces without moving the existing trim but found the added width of the fabric didn't make it sit as nicely. Personal preference really.

P.s. don't put muffins in the oven with the car parts unless you like the taste of adhesive

[1LegitM235i]

Thx for the idea and inspiration. This will be an awesome project for me.

[Wasko]

Originally Posted by 1LegitM235i

Thx for the idea and inspiration. This will be an awesome project for me.

No worries! Good luck with your project, I found this very rewarding doing it myself.

A regret of mine is not taking the Alcantara for the large dashboard piece to an embroider and having 'M Performance' sewed on. While I love how the completed project looks it is a bit neutral (I realise some people like that). I now understand why BMW included the embroidery on their OEM Alcantara piece, regardless of what it says the colour breaks everything up by just the right amount and it is perfectly positioned.

Anyway thought I would include that as an idea for anyone thinking of doing the same.