[AlecX5]

Hi Folks-
Killing time here waiting for my end of run 330i. (one of the very last on order). Should be here in 2 weeks. My question is: is the "wood" trim really wood? I've got "poplar" on order in my car. Is it really poplar or just another version of faux plastic bullsh*t going around these days? Curious.

Thanks

AS

[climkt]

i think the wood trim is not really wood trim. the aluminum trim is certainly not aluminium, unlike audi which feels cold to touch and is really metallic.

[fibercus]

i think the name(s) are purely based on perception.

i dont know how durable and resistant actual wood interior would be - but our e39 wood trim looks just like the day we got it (2001).

[canucklion]

I'm pretty sure the aluminum IS real aluminum, mine feels cool to the touch and is soft, like aluminum, so it's easily scratchable, in Canada we have another trim called 'titanium', std on the 325's, that is plastic

Originally Posted by climkt

i think the wood trim is not really wood trim. the aluminum trim is certainly not aluminium, unlike audi which feels cold to touch and is really metallic.

[ver.e90]

Hmm- thats a good one. I was under the impression it was a thin slab of wood with a thick, clear lacquer on top. Who knows??? Ignorance is bliss...

[BK]

It is real wood, but it is heavily coated with protection against scratches so it might look a little fake to some, I suppose. The plastic fake "wood" trim in some cars is awful. BMW isn't like that.

I think the aluminum is really aluminum, too, although maybe just not as handsome or thick as Audi's.

[Paul330d]

Some one posted a picture of the poplar trim dismantled in one of the DIYs a couple of days ago and you could tell it is really just thick brown plastic

[visor]

Originally Posted by Paul330d

Some one posted a picture of the poplar trim dismantled in one of the DIYs a couple of days ago and you could tell it is really just thick brown plastic

I had some suspicions when I was shopping for my car, the wood trims looked too plasticky to me, with no depth to the grain.

That's why I went with the aluminum which is the real thing and at least looks and feels like the real thing.

[nhhiep]

i also believe that Al is real because when I have AC on, on the place near the vents, it's cold, meaning it conducts the coldness from the vents. Just like the computer case that is made out of AL, it runs hot.

[visor]

Originally Posted by nhhiep

i also believe that Al is real because when I have AC on, on the place near the vents, it's cold, meaning it conducts the coldness from the vents. Just like the computer case that is made out of AL, it runs hot.

Oh yeah, the Al is real alright...
I've had my parents put dents and scratches on the passenger side trim when they released the seat belt buckle too quickly and whacked the metal trim to my utter displeasure...

[Asiann]

If it looks fake I really can't tell. It does have better protection than AL as far as being scratched.

[simnew]

The wood is wood veneer protected by plastic to stop it fading in sunlight etc... common sense really. Its not a slab of wood - you would have to buy a Bentley or Rolls to get that. The BMW wood is pretty good in fact. In my experience very scratch resistant and its never faded on any of my cars. My E46 MSport had real aluminium trim but mounted on plastic. Remember that all these trims have to not injure you should you hit one - so thats why there is often a compromise. The Audi trim is no different in this respect

[BMW to BMW]

Originally Posted by simnew

Its not a slab of wood - you would have to buy a Bentley or Rolls to get that.

Or a closer competitor - a Jaguar....

[simnew]

Jag uses the same technology as MB and BMW and Audi. Just that they use it in a more luxurious way sometimes... Nice cars - they just need to engineer out a few more of the bugs and take some more risks with the styling. I hope they make it. A ride in an 1981 XJ4.2 Sovereign when I was 18 was still one of my most impressive rides ever. That car simply had the best suspension available at the time anywhere. It just eliminated the road surface yet still handled.

[txusa03]

I think it is wood laminated onto a plastic piece and then heavy thick coat of lacquer to protect it.

[LEDZEP]

It is wood. As far as durability, my hardwood floors certainly get much more wear than the trim on my dash and they are holding up okay.

[TheAcAvenger]

The dash on the Acura RL has a pretty hefty piece of real wood.

[BK]

"A couple of notes from the cockpit: Burl walnut wood trim is standard equipment on the 330i, and it looks terrific. This may be the most cabinet-worthy lumber in any car south of $70,000."

- Dan Neil, LA Times, August 3, 2005

http://research.cars.com/go/crp/rese...=&aff=national

Also, if you Google, you'll see the wood is described by BMW and in the press as "genuine [walnut burl, poplar] wood trim," so I think it's safe to say it is real, just heavily covered with a protective coating. It may not be a fat slab of wood, but it's real and IMO looks great.

[Darrel Revok]

I read that for the IS250/350 Lexus tracks the 3 individual pieces of wood that go into a car. This way the 3 pieces are cut from the same section and the grain patterns are consistent. Talk about quality control.

I love my Poplar on black interior. It would have been cool if BMW did it more like Lexus though, as my dash and door grains don't really look uniform.

I've got wood.

[ALPINE6SPD]

All BMW avaliable now with wood use real wood not plastic.

[ksfrogman]

Originally Posted by AS

Hi Folks-
Killing time here waiting for my end of run 330i. (one of the very last on order). Should be here in 2 weeks. My question is: is the "wood" trim really wood? I've got "poplar" on order in my car. Is it really poplar or just another version of faux plastic bullsh*t going around these days? Curious.

Thanks

AS

Just keep in mind that if you get tired of the trim, you can easily replace it with your new preference, even CF.

[Paul330d]

This is the photo I mentioned of the light switch surround posted in the fog light DIY a few days ago. OK, so it's the back of the wood, but it looks like solid plastic to me. Maybe the veneer is applied to the front face?