[EatThatLunchBaby]

I did some searching but I didn’t find any threads related to this (other than a thread on replacing the piano black altogether). To avoid confusion, I’m not talking about the carbon fiber trim, but instead about the buttons around the shift knob. I know a lot of us who didn’t get the M3/M4 Comp badges have replaced the black piece with one containing the correct badging.

My question is this, has anyone manufactured any better buttons for the center console? If so, has anyone done a replacement of these and have any thoughts?

I’m not sure if I’m just picky or if my car needs to be serviced but these buttons are a really big let down for me. They feel super mushy and sometimes don’t register unless I push in a very specific spot. Maybe I shouldn’t compare to Porsche but every button had good haptics or a physical click so I could easily engage with it. Changing M Modes is a pain because I usually have to press it twice because my finger is off by .1mm and it feels the same whether it worked or not.

Is anyone else feeling my pain here or am I just a freak who needs to relax?

[skyline408]

Nothing aftermarket obviously and yes - I hate those buttons too. On my other car, the piano black started delaminating as well.

[EatThatLunchBaby]

Originally Posted by skyline408

Nothing aftermarket obviously and yes - I hate those buttons too. On my other car, the piano black started delaminating as well.

Okay, so there is for sure no upgrades out on the market then? Based on your response, it sounds like there wouldn’t ever be anything I can do to improve this lol

[MMnut]

I PPF'ed it right on the day of delivery and the buttons is ok to me (I dont have big fingers). But I rarely use them anyway, except the wheel controller - and neither the touch screen. I use steering wheel buttons all the time, and voice command.

[EatThatLunchBaby]

Originally Posted by MMnut

I PPF'ed it right on the day of delivery and the buttons is ok to me (I dont have big fingers). But I rarely use them anyway, except the wheel controller - and neither the touch screen. I use steering wheel buttons all the time, and voice command.

Yeah, I usually only use them for M modes and maybe hitting the Home Screen. I forgot about using voice commands… maybe I can put it in sport mode through that instead of pressing the m mode button

[skyline408]

Also on my other car the console started delaminating out of the blue. The glass cracked and started splitting!

[vasillalov]

PPF that thing already! 😂

[EatThatLunchBaby]

Haha my car is going to get beat up on the track enough, I don’t have time to worry about PPF on some shit buttons

[achawla10]

Hi guys I’m interested in this as well. I’m not a big fan of the plastic covering in this area. I feel like the rest of the interior is amazing, but for some reason they didn’t give an option to upgrade the surface material here.

Does anyone know if there is carbon fiber option here?

[MichaelB1969]

Originally Posted by achawla10

Hi guys I’m interested in this as well. I’m not a big fan of the plastic covering in this area. I feel like the rest of the interior is amazing, but for some reason they didn’t give an option to upgrade the surface material here.

Does anyone know if there is carbon fiber option here?

Dunno but I much prefer the matte finish to the gloss.

[EatThatLunchBaby]

Yeah, I would 100% prefer the matte finish with real buttons! The gloss haptic/mushy buttons suck

[skyline408]

Originally Posted by achawla10

Hi guys I’m interested in this as well. I’m not a big fan of the plastic covering in this area. I feel like the rest of the interior is amazing, but for some reason they didn’t give an option to upgrade the surface material here.

Does anyone know if there is carbon fiber option here?

My other car had the gloss finish and haptic buttons. It sucks. The 'cheaper' 6MT setup is sooo much better, but yeah visually it looks cheap, but no big deal.

[LuvMyE92]

Originally Posted by skyline408

My other car had the gloss finish and haptic buttons. It sucks. The 'cheaper' 6MT setup is sooo much better, but yeah visually it looks cheap, but no big deal.

Ah ha! I was kind of confused by this thread, as my car has the matte finish, and I guess this confirms that it is a manual/automatic thing.

My 5 has the gloss, but it also has the ceramic controls, which is a really stupid high-cost option until you go back to "regular" car with the plastic bits and you think, "Wow, I really miss it!"

However, for the non-iDrive controls, yes, the gloss/haptic "buttons" are not as good.

[M3coco]

Originally Posted by skyline408

Also on my other car the console started delaminating out of the blue. The glass cracked and started splitting!

Did the dealership replace this?

[skyline408]

Originally Posted by M3coco

Did the dealership replace this?

They replaced it under warranty. The car was about 5 months old at the time.