E46 Interior Trim

[aussieal]

I'm currently plotting what car to pick myself up when I eventually return to the UK next year. Given the way prices are going even for late low mileage E46 330i saloons, I think it's about time I got myself one.

So I've just been trying to come up with my ideal spec, obviously lots of info on here regarding what to look for.

However, I'm intrigued to know what interior trim options choices there were with the E46, lots of the M spors seem to come with the carbon fibre finish, but I would really prefer something lighter to just lift the black interior a little.

What interior trim do you guys have in your E46s?

Is there anything similar to the brushed aluminium finish that you get in a MkV Golf GTI? I seem to remember X5s and E39s having something really similar to that.

Aside from the trim, I'll be looking for a saloon from 2002 onwards, manual, xenons, leather, ideally the 17" M double spokes but can always pick them up on ebay.

[Jobbo]

The Sport versions came with the carbon cube trim as standard - I'm not a big fan of it, personally, but since I wanted a Sport I decided I'd live with it. Then I realised how easy it is to remove and replace; there are plenty of guides online. I got a set of light birch wood trim on eBay for about £80 and fitted it in around 15 minutes. Maybe not to everyone's taste but aluminium trim does exist; just keep your eyes open. I think it's more in demand than wood but probably shouldn't cost any more than mine.

Before:


After:

[aussieal]

Cheers Jobbo, that explains why I see so many M Sports with the carbon cube trim!

Your myrtle wood trim looks great, not normally a fan of wood but that provides a lovely contrast.

Any idea what the optional trims were on the E46?

[playalistic]

Jobbo said:

After:

Ahoy captain, hard a stern! Hoist up the main sail (and other nautical terms)

[Luca Brasi]

There is also this darker wood trim I have on my 02 325i Sport.


But personally alu trim fits a black interior a lot better.

[Zod]

My 330Ci had black leather with the aluminium trim. A mate has one with piano black.

[Jobbo]

aussieal said:

Cheers Jobbo, that explains why I see so many M Sports with the carbon cube trim!

Your myrtle wood trim looks great, not normally a fan of wood but that provides a lovely contrast.

Any idea what the optional trims were on the E46?

Mine's light birch rather than myrtle - I think it would have been an Individual spec from new rather than being a standard option in any E46 from the factory.

There are absolutely loads of different trims; have a look at RealOEM and click through to the interior bits for any E46 to see what should be the full selection.

[aussieal]

Yeah, sorry Jobbo, I meant light birch. Really does look good with the black leather.

Will take a look on realoem and see what BMW have listed. Would still be good to see some other interior trims in here though.

Also thought about trying to pick up an old brochure which from memory has the trims options in it.

[Jobbo]

You might find a 3-series forum with a post containing the majority of the options; I'm sure there was something similar on bmw5.co.uk when I used to use that.

[Seeker UK]

I got an e46 with black leather / Myrtle trim which doesn't look as 'contemporary' as some but it seems to be a lot more durable than "carbon cube" which in all the e46s that I looked at and which had it, had worn to buggery on the driver's side door where you rest your elbow.

[Zod]

I had dark ash in an M3 - it's a dark grey wood trim that works well with black leather.

[Jobbo]

Zod is correct - I had something similar in my Alpina B3S. Unfortunately the M3 trims are for coupes, so (apart from the three dash pieces and the gear surround) they won't fit my Touring. Shame, because there are some lovely ones in the M3, such as eucalyptus wood:

[a_bread]

First, avoid any non-leather interiors.

Second, it's not just available as black leather. you can also get light grey (the best in my view), or beige or red. There may be others I don't know about.

Third, the choice is basically between carbonfibre, aluminium (probably goes best with black), or various wooden inserts, or some basic option where it just looks like there's no trim there at all.

finally, the sport versions have much nicer seats.

[aussieal]

Don't get me started on B3S's! They're part of the reason I'm focusing on a saloon, otherwise I know I'll get carried away and instead of getting something nice on a budget, the purchase price will just go up!!

The eucalyptus looks very nice. I'm off to scour the classifieds for B3S's....

[Jobbo]

I didn't rate the B3S to be honest. Might just be because it was a convertible and therefore heavier and floppier than my 330 Touring, but the gearing was too high so it really needed winding up to go, it was a bit highly strung and I ended up giving it back to the dealer from whom I bought it because it didn't work properly. The 3.4 engines seem to need a head gasket from around 70k miles too, and that's an Alpina part. Go for an M3 or a 330 in preference, IMO.

[jb111s]

I thought the same with mine, black car with black leather interior & black trim just looks too dark.

Bought some silver trim pieces from ebay (brand new) for £60 (the silver VW/Audi S-line type trim) & sold my carbon ones on ebay for the same amount.

Car looks much better imo with the silver trim, brightens up the interior. As the other poster says very easy to change over, 10 minute job.

[aussieal]

Good to get some advice on the B3S. The 330i would be the better option for me anyway and I prefer a manual.