Cracked Center Console on my 540i

[LetsPlayPDX]

I have a 1998 540i and the simulated wood that is around the gear selector on the center console has a crack in it and keeps getting larger. I have not spent much time investigating at this point, but am wondering where to get a new part and then also any info on how to pull the center console apart. I cant tell if the simulated wood piece is an insert, of if it is one large piece and I would have to replace the entire center console.

Any Thoughts?

Thanks

[d3ity]

Hey man. i just did the exact repair your talking about.

PS (its not a plastic piece, its actual wood, with lamination)

See my "center console piece replaced" post for the results

Unfortunatley, you wont get a perfect match for the wood grain, but it'll still give a very nice appearance.

The part you need to replace is around 150-170 bucks from a dealer...its a dealer only type thing.

take a flathead screwdriver and pry up the "front" (being the section towards the front of the car). there are two retention clips in the rear, the piece will come out easily at this point.

You do need to remove the shift knob as well to do this. It's an easy replacement. save all screws and parts from the old piece as you will need to reuse them. if something like a bulb is bothering you, now would be a good time to replace that as well. Also, give the shifter area a decent cleaning before you install the new part, it gets mad dirty down there.

[LetsPlayPDX]

Sweeeeeeeeeeeeet!

Thanks for the reply and your other post, this is just what I needed.

[d3ity]

glad to help

[CosmosBlack]

Or...for an easy fix and a change...
you could get one of those carbon fiber pieces with stick-on adhesive
where you just stick onto the current wooden piece. They're on ebay and are inexpensive, only thing is it might not match the rest of the wood interior.

[d3ity]

yeah, but CF doesnt go with bimmers usually...