Skinning the iDrive Controller

Fronzdan · 12-10-2014, 11:16 AM

I would guess someone has done this already, but I haven't seen it yet....

I'm a freak about scratches on my phones and portable devices. I "skin" everything as soon as it comes out of the box. (Strangely, my F30 doesn't have a clear bra on it though.) There are many vendors of these films for devices, but my favorite is BestSkinsEver.com. I recently ordered a custom sized circular skin to protect the iDrive controller. The Touchpad can be scratched and certainly can get smudged..not any more.

A simple $5 "mod"

kingmonkey8 · 12-10-2014, 01:00 PM

I was wondering the same thing, I did find a slight mark on the touch pad which I think was probably done by my wrist watch.
Do you have the measurements?

Fronzdan · 12-10-2014, 01:43 PM

I ordered 43.5mm diameter. It is very very slightly undersized, but that prevents the chance of it being too big and not laying perfectly flat around the edges. That's never a good thing with skins. You get two of the same size in an order. The other one I will probably put on the roundel on my steering wheel.

I thought about doing the iDrive display, but I am concerned about added glare. The matte skins would avoid that, but they reduce brightness ever so slightly. I might skin the wife's LR4 Nav, though..it's touchscreen and looks nasty with all the fingerprints. And it swirls pretty easily.

Next up, I might try the center caps on my wheels. Not sure if they'll survive the wear and weather...we'll see.

shoptb · 12-10-2014, 01:55 PM

+1 - Definitely bookmarking this thread when I get my F32 w/ NBT

Sladester100 · 12-10-2014, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fronzdan

I would guess someone has done this already, but I haven't seen it yet....

I'm a freak about scratches on my phones and portable devices. I "skin" everything as soon as it comes out of the box. (Strangely, my F30 doesn't have a clear bra on it though.) There are many vendors of these films for devices, but my favorite is BestSkinsEver.com. I recently ordered a custom sized circular skin to protect the iDrive controller. The Touchpad can be scratched and certainly can get smudged..not any more.

A simple $5 "mod"

How come my drive controller isn't big and touchy like yours lol

philiper1 · 12-11-2014, 08:32 AM

I believe this is a later model hence the bigger dial

Proftinkerpot · 12-13-2014, 03:22 AM

The controller for pro media (not sure about business media) is bigger. Non nav models don't require the touch pad to write postcodes on.

Damon44 · 01-02-2015, 05:00 AM

Great idea. I have two covers coming my way for the IDrives.

x5mad · 01-06-2015, 07:28 AM

I actually cut an iPad screen cover to size and put that on the Idrive screen.

This is to protect it from the dealer scratching it when they clean the interior.

Fronzdan · 01-06-2015, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by x5mad

I actually cut an iPad screen cover to size and put that on the Idrive screen.

This is to protect it from the dealer scratching it when they clean the interior.

Did you cut the full size of the "glass" ie the trapezoidal shape with the round corners? Or did you do a rectangle that just covers the LCD?

x5mad · 01-07-2015, 05:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fronzdan

Quote:

Originally Posted by x5mad

I actually cut an iPad screen cover to size and put that on the Idrive screen.

This is to protect it from the dealer scratching it when they clean the interior.

Did you cut the full size of the "glass" ie the trapezoidal shape with the round corners? Or did you do a rectangle that just covers the LCD?

Just the rectangle as it was a lot easier, but I was about 1mm off when I cut it oops

Fronzdan · 01-10-2015, 09:56 AM

I'm going to try the whole screen by tracing out a template to cut. Just have to wait for it to get a little warmer out in the garage.

SteveL1 · 01-10-2015, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by x5mad

I actually cut an iPad screen cover to size and put that on the Idrive screen.

This is to protect it from the dealer scratching it when they clean the interior.

Why would you ever allow a dealer to clean your car?

x5mad · 01-11-2015, 01:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveL1

Quote:

Originally Posted by x5mad

I actually cut an iPad screen cover to size and put that on the Idrive screen.

This is to protect it from the dealer scratching it when they clean the interior.

Why would you ever allow a dealer to clean your car?

I don't

They clean it sometimes despite me leaving a note

CntryClub007 · 01-11-2015, 08:35 PM

BMW changed the controller recently to a "Textured / Dull" finish, instead of the glossy finish. In the MY2014 3-Series we had, the touch pad was shiny. In the MY2015 we have, it is dull/textured and appears to be difficult to scratch. I wonder if they received complaints?

November 2014 build for the MY2015. Nice find on the protective covering!

Fronzdan · 01-11-2015, 08:58 PM

Put the skin on and it becomes nice and shiny again!

CntryClub007 · 01-15-2015, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fronzdan

Put the skin on and it becomes nice and shiny again!

Wondering if the textured finish will show air bubbles under it?

Fronzdan · 01-16-2015, 12:22 PM

How textured is it? My 2014 wasn't shiny...more matte like a track pad on a laptop. That took the skin very well.

12-10-2014, 11:16 AM	#1
Fronzdan Lieutenant Colonel 304 Rep 1,739 Posts Drives: '24 M240 xDrive Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: MA iTrader: (0)	Skinning the iDrive Controller I would guess someone has done this already, but I haven't seen it yet.... I'm a freak about scratches on my phones and portable devices. I "skin" everything as soon as it comes out of the box. (Strangely, my F30 doesn't have a clear bra on it though.) There are many vendors of these films for devices, but my favorite is BestSkinsEver.com. I recently ordered a custom sized circular skin to protect the iDrive controller. The Touchpad can be scratched and certainly can get smudged..not any more. A simple $5 "mod"
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

12-10-2014, 01:00 PM	#2
kingmonkey8 Lieutenant 81 Rep 552 Posts Drives: BMW 428i Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	I was wondering the same thing, I did find a slight mark on the touch pad which I think was probably done by my wrist watch. Do you have the measurements?
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-10-2014, 01:43 PM	#3
Fronzdan Lieutenant Colonel 304 Rep 1,739 Posts Drives: '24 M240 xDrive Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: MA iTrader: (0)	I ordered 43.5mm diameter. It is very very slightly undersized, but that prevents the chance of it being too big and not laying perfectly flat around the edges. That's never a good thing with skins. You get two of the same size in an order. The other one I will probably put on the roundel on my steering wheel. I thought about doing the iDrive display, but I am concerned about added glare. The matte skins would avoid that, but they reduce brightness ever so slightly. I might skin the wife's LR4 Nav, though..it's touchscreen and looks nasty with all the fingerprints. And it swirls pretty easily. Next up, I might try the center caps on my wheels. Not sure if they'll survive the wear and weather...we'll see.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-10-2014, 01:55 PM	#4
shoptb Major 176 Rep 1,063 Posts Drives: '19 G01 X3 m40i Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Denver Area iTrader: (0)	+1 - Definitely bookmarking this thread when I get my F32 w/ NBT __________________ Delivered --> '21 G01 X3 M40i, 8SA, Sunstone Metallic with Cognac Vernasca, 22Z, ZDA, ZDB, ZPK, ZPP w/ 4HA, ZPX, 2VF, 3AC, 4K1, 688, 6NW, 5DF Past --> ?19 G01 X3 m40i, 15 F33 328xi, 8SA, '13 F30 328i, '08 E92 335xi, '95 E34 530i, '88 E30 M3
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12-11-2014, 08:32 AM	#6
philiper1 Colonel 771 Rep 2,468 Posts Drives: F21 M135i LCI Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Norfolk iTrader: (1) Garage List 2006 BMW Z4 Coupe [0.00] 2016 BMW M135i [0.00]	I believe this is a later model hence the bigger dial __________________ Current: F21 M135i Mineral Grey and few options Previous: F30 320i XDrive, E85 2.5i, E21 323i
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12-13-2014, 03:22 AM	#7
Proftinkerpot Major 219 Rep 1,359 Posts Drives: F30 335d M Sport -Superman Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Belfast iTrader: (0)	The controller for pro media (not sure about business media) is bigger. Non nav models don't require the touch pad to write postcodes on.
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01-02-2015, 05:00 AM	#8
Damon44 Private First Class 41 Rep 158 Posts Drives: 2015 435i Imperial Blue Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: S Florida iTrader: (0)	Great idea. I have two covers coming my way for the IDrives.
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01-06-2015, 07:28 AM	#9
x5mad Lieutenant Colonel 352 Rep 1,772 Posts Drives: iX 40 Join Date: May 2009 Location: Australia iTrader: (0) Garage List bmw [0.00]	I actually cut an iPad screen cover to size and put that on the Idrive screen. This is to protect it from the dealer scratching it when they clean the interior.
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01-10-2015, 09:56 AM	#12
Fronzdan Lieutenant Colonel 304 Rep 1,739 Posts Drives: '24 M240 xDrive Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: MA iTrader: (0)	I'm going to try the whole screen by tracing out a template to cut. Just have to wait for it to get a little warmer out in the garage.
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01-11-2015, 08:35 PM	#15
CntryClub007 Major 490 Rep 1,067 Posts Drives: 2016 340i \| 2015 X5-50i Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Chicago iTrader: (8)	BMW changed the controller recently to a "Textured / Dull" finish, instead of the glossy finish. In the MY2014 3-Series we had, the touch pad was shiny. In the MY2015 we have, it is dull/textured and appears to be difficult to scratch. I wonder if they received complaints? November 2014 build for the MY2015. Nice find on the protective covering!
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-11-2015, 08:58 PM	#16
Fronzdan Lieutenant Colonel 304 Rep 1,739 Posts Drives: '24 M240 xDrive Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: MA iTrader: (0)	Put the skin on and it becomes nice and shiny again!
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01-16-2015, 12:22 PM	#18
Fronzdan Lieutenant Colonel 304 Rep 1,739 Posts Drives: '24 M240 xDrive Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: MA iTrader: (0)	How textured is it? My 2014 wasn't shiny...more matte like a track pad on a laptop. That took the skin very well.
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