Do you have vinyl "bubbling" on any of your interior plastic parts?

[asinger12]

In two areas, I have "bubbling" vinyl...with no reasonable explanation. What is "bubbling" vinyl, you ask? Well, it appears that my tan interior vinyl, is really a fine coating of tan vinyl over the tannish plastic base. This thin covering of vinyl is now bubbling and peeling off the plastic structure that it is on. And, there appears to be no way to stop it or repair it.

My only thought as to why this is happening is that it may be related to the use of sun-screen lotion. I live in SoFL and play a lot of tennis. I also have had quite a few skin cancers, so I use a sun-screen lotion. The damn lotion does impart a yellow stain on the tan leather and I'm wondering if it it the cause of the bubbling, too. Although, the two areas where the bubbling occurs, doesn't seem to be where contact would be made with the lotion?

[Tim.k]

I have an 06 M and it did the same thing as you are talking about. It was behind the driver seat. I took it to the dealer and they replaced under warranty. I use sun screen also but not to extent as you do so I don't think it is that. Looks like to me it is a defect.

[Rampart]

No!

[flycaster]

I have an 06 M and it did the same thing as you are talking about. It was behind the driver seat. I took it to the dealer and they replaced under warranty. I use sun screen also but not to extent as you do so I don't think it is that. Looks like to me it is a defect.

I have gotten a response from another forum that said they had heard of the same problem with a '06 330i. And that BMW was aware of it. However, knowing that I am not crazy probably won't help me when I try to get BMW to repair it out of warranty. BTW, how did they repair it? Just do the area or replace the parts? Also, if they just did the area, how did it come out?

[Tim K.]

I have gotten a response from another forum that said they had heard of the same problem with a '06 330i. And that BMW was aware of it. However, knowing that I am not crazy probably won't help me when I try to get BMW to repair it out of warranty. BTW, how did they repair it? Just do the area or replace the parts? Also, if they just did the area, how did it come out?

They replaced it. The only bad thing it now squeaks. I took it back and they found the squeak. That lasted about 2 months and it came back. Of course it is out of warranty now. I have no idea how it comes apart.

[asinger12]

So they replaced the part. Bad news fo rme in that I sincerely doubt that they will do this for me as I am out of warranty. Also bad news as there doesn't seem to be an easier fix. However, I did speak to my local BMW dealer and he said bring the car in for assessment. I'll bring it in, but I have a very strong feeling that BMW wants to get me to their shop to replace the part...at my expense.

[asinger12]

Here are two before pics of the problem; on Tuesday I'll post the repair.

In this pic I had tried to prevent further peeling by scraping off the bubbling. But as you can see, it is starting to bubble again.


In this pic I left the bubbling as is. If you look closely, you can see how the bubbling is speading our laterally.

[Tim K.]

Your first picture is where mine was also. I have not notice that it is starting any where else. I wonder what is causing this.

[asinger12]

In another post on another forum, the bubbling/peeling material was said to be a soft-textured paint. It could be that in some areas where it is peeling, the plastic base was not properly primed??? My stealership is going to repair the areas tomorrow, Tuesday. I'll try to post the after-repair pics.

[asinger12]

Well, I've got to hand it to my stealership. They surprised me and fixed the bubbling/peeling vinyl...with no charge, although out of warranty. As you can see from the "after fix" pics below, the fix was perfect. Personally, I never thought it would come out so good. BTW, my stealership is Braman BMW (West Palm Beach), and I do very highly recommend that if you need some repair for your vinyl or leather, Joanne -their specialist, doe s a great job.

Here's the fix on the arm rest:




Here's the fix behind the driver's left shoulder

[Tim.K]

Looks like they did a great job. I sort of wish they would have done mine that way. That way I don't think I would have the squeak.