Does anyone else get blinded by their carbon fiber interior trim?

[db.]

Funny that i've stumbled across this thread.

I'd misplaced my sunnies on the weekend and on several occasions whilst out and about complained about the glare in the cabin from the CF on the centre console.

Can confirm, good quality polarised sunnies work a treat on the glare but do reduce HUD visibility a little. Fair trade-off IMO.

[Poiseuille]

"blinded by the light
revved up like a deuce
another runner in the night...."

ahhhh, sorry. I don't know what came over me, but I think the same thing every time I see your thread on the list.

Edit for typo

[zillymc]

This has happened to me regularly over the years; particularly on my commute home on Fridays given the time of day and where the sun is at. It totally blinds me even with sunglasses on, to the point where I have to keep my hand on the shifter to reduce this (which i don't like to do!)

[hilld]

Originally Posted by M3VSRCF

Tinting windows helps

I have tinted windows, but that doesn't help when the top is down.

[Dr._Who]

Originally Posted by Poiseuille

"blinded by the light
revved up like a deuce
and a runner in the night...."

ahhhh, sorry. I don't know what came over me, but I think the same thing every time I see your thread on the list.

Hey,

I thought the same thing.

Although it is utterly nonsensical however way you get it stuck in your head!

"Blinded by the light
Revved up like a deuce
Another runner in the night"

Aargh!! What does it mean....???

[JamesMA]

Now this is definitely a first world problem

[Poiseuille]

Originally Posted by Dr._Who

Hey,

I thought the same thing.

Although it is utterly nonsensical however way you get it stuck in your head!

"Blinded by the light
Revved up like a deuce
Another runner in the night"

Aargh!! What does it mean....???

ha! Thanks for pointing that out, I have corrected my typo.

[Aaaaaaaaa]

Sometimes I get distracted by how beautiful the CF trim looks and disappointed they didn't give us more but no ever blinded by it.

[uniqueMR]

Its an issue (for sure)..

[CanAutM3]

Not anymore. I now have alcantara everywhere where I used to have CF on my previous car

[Aaaaaaaaa]

Originally Posted by CanAutM3

Not anymore. I now have alcantara everywhere where I used to have CF on my previous car

Just poking the fire a bit...
https://jalopnik.com/suede-is-a-garb...ors-1733409981

Honestly though CF is more expensive to make than Alcantara. I'd venture a guess that leather is even more expensive than Alcantara too.

[CanAutM3]

Originally Posted by pheerIx

Just poking the fire a bit...
https://jalopnik.com/suede-is-a-garb...ors-1733409981

Honestly though CF is more expensive to make than Alcantara. I'd venture a guess that leather is even more expensive than Alcantara too.

My comment was tongue in cheek. I never got blinded by the CF trim in my previous M4 and actually loved the look of the CF trim (I even paid extra for it as it a $500 option in Canada).

I also agree that alcantara is a cheaper material than both leather and CF. My new M4 came with the alcanatara trim, there was no other option. It's not something I chose.

However, the article you quoted is a bit over the top. There is a reason for using alcantara in car interiors: extra grip. An alcanatara steering wheel communicates much better because of it and you dont need to wear gloves, you will also move about less in an alcanatara seat because of it. However, I don't see any practical reason to use it on "trim" besides that it is agreable to the touch. Further, contrary to the article, alcanatara is very easy to clean. My dining room chairs are in beige ultrasuede and are super easy to maintain, even after 15 years they still look like new.

[Dr._Who]

Originally Posted by CanAutM3

My comment was tongue in cheek. I never got blinded by the CF trim in my previous M4 and actually loved the look of the CF trim (I even paid extra for it as it a $500 option in Canada).

I also agree that alcantara is a cheaper material than both leather and CF. My new M4 came with the alcanatara trim, there was no other option. It's not something I chose.

However, the article you quoted is a bit over the top. There is a reason for using alcantara in car interiors: extra grip. An alcanatara steering wheel communicates much better because of it and you dont need to wear gloves, you will also move about less in an alcanatara seat because of it. However, I don't see any practical reason to use it on "trim" besides that it is agreable to the touch. Further, contrary to the article, alcanatara is very easy to clean. My dining room chairs are in beige ultrasuede and are super easy to maintain, even after 15 years they still look like new.

Hey,

Alcantara... Uugh!

This is a brand name for a cheap synthetic suede substitute usually called micro(/"ultra") suede, which itself is a
version of polyester terry.

Both it and Suede are subject to the same ills, but Alcantara much more so:

* Easily Worn and suffers Abrasions ("It can be easily be cleaned." - Yeah, twice!)
* Absorbs Dust
* Absorbs Contaminants (Who needs gloves?!? - grease/sweat!)
* Absorbs Odors (Flatulence!- smelly sock!)

I do plan on getting the previously mentioned "BMW Performance Alcantara/Carbon Fiber Trim kit, if only for the matte
C.F. center console piece, as I will be reupholstering the dash trim piece with Individual Leather, embroidered with the
"///M" logo.

That's the plan (solution to the gloss/reflections!), for now.

Enjoy that Alcantara!


Cheers!

[Aaaaaaaaa]

I'm getting a laser etched Schmee150 logo myself

[CanAutM3]

Originally Posted by Dr._Who

Hey,

Alcantara... Uugh!

This is a brand name for a cheap synthetic suede substitute usually called micro(/"ultra") suede, which itself is a
version of polyester terry.

Both it and Suede are subject to the same ills, but Alcantara much more so:

* Easily Worn and suffers Abrasions ("It can be easily be cleaned." - Yeah, twice!)
* Absorbs Dust
* Absorbs Contaminants (Who needs gloves?!? - grease/sweat!)
* Absorbs Odors (Flatulence!- smelly sock!)

I do plan on getting the previously mentioned "BMW Performance Alcantara/Carbon Fiber Trim kit, if only for the matte
C.F. center console piece, as I will be reupholstering the dash trim piece with Individual Leather,
embroidered with the "///M" logo.

That's the plan (solution to the gloss/reflections!), for now.

Enjoy that Alcantara!


Cheers!

As I said, I agree that it's a cheaper material.

However, my experience with it has proven it to be quite resistant and easy to maintain.

[3PedalMINI]

Originally Posted by pheerIx

I'm getting a laser etched Schmee150 logo myself

[smr123]

another solution

[Vehicle]

Of course, I think we all do occasionally. But hey, it's no worse than the glare from one of those mirrored chrome football team license plate frames on the minivan in front of me. When you have to flip down your visor, while wearing polarized Ray bans, and sit tall in the seat just to get your eyes high enough to avoid it, that's a real glare issue my friend.

[BzsBimmer]

Originally Posted by smr123

another solution

Looks good!
How much?

[minn19]

Originally Posted by Dr._Who

Hey,

I thought the same thing.

Although it is utterly nonsensical however way you get it stuck in your head!

"Blinded by the light
Revved up like a deuce
Another runner in the night"

Aargh!! What does it mean....???

It's a car reference.

[SD ///M4]

Since this popped up again, I thought I'd share my experience.

I've had my M4 for 3 years now and I can't say that this has really been a problem that I've noticed. However, my wife complains about the glare from the CF on the console all the time in her 1 YO M3. She keeps a microfiber cloth in her car to put on the console when this happens. We both have our side windows tinted, but the tint on my wife's front side windows is lighter than mine. We both wear similar non-polarized Ray-Ban sunglasses in our cars.

That said, I did notice this problem this past weekend on an overnight club drive. One other difference between my wife and I is that she drives pretty much in the morning and evening during rush hour when the sun is at a greater angle. I'm retired and I avoid driving during rush hour if at all possible.

[NashvegasR]

Who cares if we're blinded, it looks gorgeous !