[Berzerker]

Hey guys. Had a little bit of an accident with a certain sugary drink in my 2017 F32...ended up getting some of the buttons a little crudy and sticky...a bit of steam jet fixed up the area around the iDrive navigator, but the driving mode selector and DSC button are still a bit mushy and/or hard to press.

I purchased a replacement part for that from BMW. It looks like it's just a plug-n-play snap in replacement, but my question is, are there any instructions out there for replacing something like this? Is it just a pry and pull? And specific tools I should be using or things I should be doing or things to watch out for?

And, replacing this myself won't void any warranties or anything, will it (I assume not since it's a BMW first-party part).

Thanks!

[mfstrby]

Doesn't seem so hard. Seems like you need a pry tool and screw drivers to get the controller out. Cannot comment on the warranty, but I would be surprised if it was voided

[bimmer456]

If you purchased the part yourself and installed it I'm not sure they would know. If it's oem shouldn't affect warranty

[spuntyb]

Which part in this diagram are you talking about? 27? If you just mean the trim around the idrive controller (part #2), all you need is a pry tool and a torx screwdriver.

[Berzerker]

Originally Posted by spuntyb

Which part in this diagram are you talking about? 27? If you just mean the trim around the idrive controller (part #2), all you need is a pry tool and a torx screwdriver.

Yeah, it's #27 but it's the entire unit.

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...t/61319252912/ This is the part, but I bought it directly from BMW.

Does the entire middle trim area come off first? Or do I just pry the individual console piece (aka the old part of the one I bought) out?

Thanks for the advice guys, I'll give it a shot.

[Dang3r]

No, you could more or less easily pry out just the unit, the harness is long enough to turn the switch unit around and unplug/replug it.

[spuntyb]

Originally Posted by Dang3r

No, you could more or less easily pry out just the unit, the harness is long enough to turn the switch unit around and unplug/replug it.

+1

Haven't done it myself, but this would be my assumption and approach too. Most of this stuff comes right out with a pry tool and has enough length on any wires to manipulate it and get it off.

[Billfitz]

Originally Posted by Berzerker

Yeah, it's #27 but it's the entire unit.
https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...t/61319252912/ This is the part, but I bought it directly from BMW.
Does the entire middle trim area come off first? Or do I just pry the individual console piece (aka the old part of the one I bought) out?

First pry up the trim piece, which will expose the switch assembly. There are tabs at the front and back of the switch assembly, depress those one at a time and the assembly lifts out.

[COKen]

Just don't use a screwdriver as a pry tool. You need a plastic pry tool to help avoid damage.

Something like this ...

[Berzerker]

Originally Posted by Billfitz

First pry up the trim piece, which will expose the switch assembly. There are tabs at the front and back of the switch assembly, depress those one at a time and the assembly lifts out.

My impression was the entire unit is one, the plastic (trim) protecting the area around the buttons comes off with the entire unit, as pictured in the link I posted for the part...is this not the case? Again, not the iDrive controller, but the driving mode selector (sport, comfort, etc.) on the left side.

Originally Posted by COKen

Just don't use a screwdriver as a pry tool. You need a plastic pry tool to help avoid damage.

Something like this ...

Yup, bought a set like that on Amazon over the weekend, thanks.

[Billfitz]

Originally Posted by Berzerker

My impression was the entire unit is one

It isn't. I'm a surprised they sell it as such. You can't access the release tabs on the switch assembly to get it out without first removing the trim plate. Getting the trim plate off is easier if you first remove the trim plate around the gear shift, which comes off a lot easier than the switch trim plate does.
BTW, if this had happened to me I'd have just cleaned the switches with this:
https://www.walmart.com/ip/CRC-Elect...sem#about-item

[Berzerker]

Originally Posted by Billfitz

It isn't. I'm a surprised they sell it as such. You can't access the release tabs on the switch assembly to get it out without first removing the trim plate. Getting the trim plate off is easier if you first remove the trim plate around the gear shift, which comes off a lot easier than the switch trim plate does.

Huh...interesting. Do I need to pop off the silver guard around the gearshift first or does the entire thing just pop off?

[Billfitz]

Originally Posted by Berzerker

Huh...interesting. Do I need to pop off the silver guard around the gearshift first or does the entire thing just pop off?

The silver guard is attached to the plate around it with press nuts, so you can't remove it from the plate without removing the plate first.

[Berzerker]

Originally Posted by Billfitz

The silver guard is attached to the plate around it with press nuts, so you can't remove it from the plate without removing the plate first.

Cool. So just to make sure:



Pop off the part I marked in red first, then the trim in blue next? Then the part itself can pop out?

[Dang3r]

Thats a no, because what you couldnt see is a sparestud below the shifter frame and the switch unit...never try to be more clever than BMW
But: It would be more easy overall if you first pop off the shifter frame and only the frame, the silver trim is - you may read it already - attached at the frame with 8 or 9 steel shims. I'd written a DIY for trim frame removal/installation and wrapping with some kind of foil but thats here not further to mention.
After removing the frame, you'll be able to access the switch unit also from below, by tangling your fingers down and around the unit and press it slight gently upwards, then you would not need any more tools.
Oh, and dont be unpatient and use a screwdriver to remove any plastic parts, you would never remove the caused nicks or dents, thats for sure.

[Billfitz]

Originally Posted by Berzerker

Pop off the part I marked in red first, then the trim in blue next? Then the part itself can pop out?

Yes. Been there done that, as you can see here:

[Berzerker]

Originally Posted by Billfitz

Yes. Been there done that, as you can see here:

Thanks. It looks like the silver trim around the shifter covers part of the black trim, sorry if it seems like I'm utterly confused but do I need to do anything about that first? Or just don't worry about it and pop out the black trim around it? ...or does that come off with the black trim?

[Billfitz]

Originally Posted by Berzerker

Or just don't worry about it and pop out the black trim around it?

That.

[Berzerker]

Originally Posted by Billfitz

That.

Thanks again.

[Berzerker]

Originally Posted by Billfitz

Yes. Been there done that, as you can see here:

What was the process for removing the plastic on the gearshift? Just pry and pull also?

[Billfitz]

Originally Posted by Berzerker

What was the process for removing the plastic on the gearshift? Just pry and pull also?

Do you mean on the stick? If so the indicator lens pries off, revealing a couple of screws. The lens attaches with double sided tape, which you'll need to replace.

[Dang3r]

Originally Posted by Berzerker

What was the process for removing the plastic on the gearshift? Just pry and pull also?

Dude, seriously: I highly recommend you the search function instead of asking things double or triple, refer to the right section and find tons of DIY's, pictures and detailed descriptions.
Im everytime willing to help, but if you cant get the right start although here are more than enough hints... Im out