Leather dash covering starting to bubble?

[grboggs]

Has anybody else had their leather top dash covering start to bubble up? Looks like the adhesive is starting to give up. I have about three areas about the size of a silver dollar starting to bubble up and getting bigger. A 2013 should never start doing this.

[Lambobimmer]

I had this problem on my 2009 and BMW replaced the entire dash under warranty.

[spacegrayz4]

What type of glue or adhesive does bmw use? Does heat play a factor?

[airmarc]

Originally Posted by grboggs

Has anybody else had their leather top dash covering start to bubble up? Looks like the adhesive is starting to give up. I have about three areas about the size of a silver dollar starting to bubble up and getting bigger. A 2013 should never start doing this.

Yep, happening to mine too. Actually on the covering over the nav screen. i am diligent about putting a windshield sun visor up now during any extended period of time in the direct sun. But for a 2013, I would try and claim warranty ASAP if possible

[STR3T]

Mine has bubbled and is coming up big time...my car was originally in California and I figured the owner must've left it outside, top down, in the sun a LOT. But since others have the issue maybe not.

BMW may have found a cheap glue supplier and looked to save a few bucks on the dash.

Took it to an upholstery/leather repair shop a few months back and they quoted $500-600 to take the windshield out, repair the dash, replace windshield and clean my ivory seats really well. Another shop said it was, to them, not repairable (that thru the BMW dealer).

But if the windshield broke or seal didn't take, that would be on my dime to get fixed at the dealer or other shop. They didn't want that risk w/ this car.

Not a bad deal but think I'm selling her in the Spring and wouldn't get that much back out of it...

A new dash is ~$1000 and figure another $1000 to have it installed...or take many, many hours and risk rattles w/ a DIY install.

[grboggs]

Well, I took the Z in for a scheduled oil change and the maintenance guy saw the dash and has ordered me a new dash, FANTASTIC!! Wonder how long this will take? At least they are willing to do it under warranty.

[BMWZ4RIDER]

Pictures???

[STR3T]

The refurb shop I hit last year has closed...and another refurb owner said the leather has shrunk...wasn't really wrapped around the frame sufficiently by the looks of it and was not able to therefore refurb the dash...can't stretch the leather enough to guarantee it would hold or even look like it's covering the frame again. Guess I'm glad the other shop is gone...and I didn't waste my money there.

I called a local BMW indie shop about potentially replacing the dash.

While their hourly rate would be ~1/2 of the dealer's but he's really hesitant to tackle this on a ~7yr old vehicle.

First comments were they haven't done a Z4 dash and other models he's seen obviously issues with broken pins/brackets, etc. as they get deeper into the replacement. So he has no good way to estimate the time...likely ~10hrs but he could be off significantly if they need to diagnose new issues created.

Looking at oemparts and the dash diagram, he thinks they'd need to remove steering wheel, gauges and that the dash is further hooked up to other electronic components (fans, etc.) which could create issues at any point in the process.

I can't find it now but thought I recalled seeing that the dash was not connected to much at all other than the frame and this was a relatively simple remove/replace operation, assuming you knew what you were doing, of course.

Any thoughts or links to full dash removal? Searches are pulling up dash "trim" pieces primarily.

Obviously, will look to contact another indie shop for their opinion.

[paris1]

As mentioned above, pictures would be VERY HELPFUL here.

[STR3T]

California sun...likely given the warping. But the other side has little to no warp and is coming 'up' away from frame:
You

[Lambobimmer]

That is exactly where my Z4 bubbled, but it didn't look as bad as yours. How in the FXXX can BMW make a 60k car with this defect.

[paris1]

Originally Posted by Lambobimmer

That is exactly where my Z4 bubbled, but it didn't look as bad as yours. How in the FXXX can BMW make a 60k car with this defect.

That is really ugly! To some extent, the answer is that it's really a $40k car made with overpriced German labor!

[STR3T]

The real pain is thought of paying $1300-$1700 just for the new dashboard...plus 8-12 hours labor at $100 plus per. Then watching in 2-3 years as it begins to peel away again... Ugh.

But again, anyone with insight into the removal of the dash. I don't think steering and gauge cluster need to be removed...maybe would allow extra space. Nor do I think there are any real electric components attacjphed to the Z's dash...but I also doubt I know more than this indie shop owner.

[STR3T]

Ok, I was going to try but I wanted some help from the salvage yard.

I had found a dash for ~$300...asked them if they would record the removal of the dash. No go...not interested. Told them there was potentially more buyers on this site who would have interest if it was a fairly simple process and I'd refer them if they helped document the process. No real interest.

So I traded the Z4 (and my Touareg) in on an 435i xDrive.

So I'm outta here. Was fun while I had her...a real beast of a vehicle.

But out of warranty, was looking to get too pricey to maintain and I needed at least 4-seats (usable) and one less car overall.

Appreciate all the info/knowledge/insight found here over the past couple years. Really good group...take care and drive safe!

[Lurcher]

Well that was quick....

Good luck with the 4. Care to share who had the leather dash? I struggle to find any junkyard with a z (for future reference)

and never have a BMW without a warranty :-)

[STR3T]

At home now and had done the search at work...pretty sure I tossed the info but I found more than one over the past 2 weeks or so.

The $300 unit was in an '09, non-Nav out of Houston...something 'Pilot' or 'Airplane' salvage? They wanted $250 to ship but I been using a Fed Ex guy from a Touareg forum who would ship it for $25-$30.

Here's an '11 for $420: http://www.partshotlines.com/component/phl/search/

I didn't call them...but newer, A grade and at the lower shipping rate, I'd probably go there.

There's a guy on the 3/4 Series forums who has a nice picture history of his mods...and he's torn it all down...dash, gauge cluster, doors, seats, etc. may be a great source for removal tips.

For great service on shipping, check out madyspop here: http://www.clubtouareg.com/forums/f9...ms-104586.html

He is responsive, honest and some how very inexpensive.

David51 on modding...really good stuff on his F30: http://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1027008

[zedguy]

Yep same issue here on my 2011 that sits in the garage most of the time! BMW uses some cheap ass glue as far as I am concerned. What is the best fix? Has anyone tried to inject glue with a needle to avoid the cost of repairs??

[airmarc]

Originally Posted by zedguy

Yep same issue here on my 2011 that sits in the garage most of the time! BMW uses some cheap ass glue as far as I am concerned. What is the best fix? Has anyone tried to inject glue with a needle to avoid the cost of repairs??

Im considering doing this, but it only bubbles in the florida sun when I dont have the sun shades up and its in direct sun in the middle of the day. Its about the size of a quarter on the dash.

[DailyGuy]

Can't see the pics above.

Has anyone else had success on fixing this outside replacing the entire dashboard that cost over 3K plus labor? My 09 dashboard leather has shrinkage and bubble by the passenger airbag side. Upon further investigation, I see other parts, although not bubbled, have unglued itself by vent areas.

[ManiacGT]

Originally Posted by zedguy

Yep same issue here on my 2011 that sits in the garage most of the time! BMW uses some cheap ass glue as far as I am concerned. What is the best fix? Has anyone tried to inject glue with a needle to avoid the cost of repairs??

It's caused by material expansion and contraction eventually breaking down the glue. The leather (fake leather) covering doesn't expand like the plastic and metal dash underneath does. I had this in my UK 2009 car.

I bought some fabric glue that remains tacky after its cured and used a big syringe and large bore needle to inject glue under the dash cover (by taking out the centre speaker cover) and then moving the glue blob around by hand to the areas that were separating.

It worked and other than a tiny bit I missed, you'd never know.

[Bob20124]

Originally Posted by ManiacGT

It's caused by material expansion and contraction eventually breaking down the glue. The leather (fake leather) covering doesn't expand like the plastic and metal dash underneath does. I had this in my UK 2009 car.

I bought some fabric glue that remains tacky after its cured and used a big syringe and large bore needle to inject glue under the dash cover (by taking out the centre speaker cover) and then moving the glue blob around by hand to the areas that were separating.

It worked and other than a tiny bit I missed, you'd never know.

Do you remember the name of the glue?

[Bob20124]

Got tired of looking at bubbles. Put DashMat in.