CSL Sill Plates

[GROMIT]

After the debacle with the bumper, I now want to change the sill plates as they are 'milkified'. Could anyone tell me please:

1. Are they freely available?

2. Are they easy to fit? and

3. What can I do to protect the new ones?

I have the part numbers and cost, so any answers from the above would be appreciated.

:beer:

PS I was good on Christmas Day, wasn't I? Its tough not having a mouth, though!

:hahaha:

[Mark CSL]

I have armorfend film over the silver part now and they are lasting well
thats 2 years no water marks.

And i wash my CSL almost every day :thumbs:

[E46ACS]

1. Are they freely available?

Yes from the dealers, and mine arrived in a matter of days.

2. Are they easy to fit?

Yes, 5 min job. I used a screwdriver wrapped in a cloth to lift the old ones up, and popped the replacements straight in.

3. What can I do to protect the new ones?

Pass.

[Andyk]

1. Are they freely available?

Yes from the dealers, and mine arrived in a matter of days.

2. Are they easy to fit?

Yes, 5 min job. I used a screwdriver wrapped in a cloth to lift the old ones up, and popped the replacements straight in.

3. What can I do to protect the new ones?

Pass.

Can you buy them separate or do you have to have them as a pair? Just need a passenger side one.

If you don't mind me asking how much are they?

[GROMIT]

Thanks for the replies, think I will fit some new ones.
Reckon they are about £70 a side, according to E46ACS, who mentioned it in another thread.

Thanks again for the info

:notworthy:

[GROMIT]

Update on the sill panel price........£97.29 inc. VAT. Each.

Blimey!!

Told the guy I don't want the gold ones!!

Can I buy armorfend tape easily or will something else do?

:beer:

[Andyk]

Update on the sill panel price........£97.29 inc. VAT. Each.

Blimey!!

Told the guy I don't want the gold ones!!

Can I buy armorfend tape easily or will something else do?

:beer:

Bloody hell...thats a lot for a bit of plastic.

[E46ACS]

You can buy them seperately. I think I might have got mine at trade price :wink: Although I think BMW have put up their prices lately!! :moan:

[Windowlicker]

Are these actually just plastic and not alloy inserts into a plastic carrier??
I was looking at mine today, and was thinking if they are alloy, i will just pop out the insert and scotch pad it off or maybe polish it up.
Was thinking it might be quite sweet if sprayed all black, (so it fills the recessed parts of it with black) then block sand it so that all the raised parts , basically the bulk of it, go back to alloy.
Which will therefore leave the recessed parts highlighted in black.
Rainy weekend job me thinks.

[Andyk]

Thinks it's black plastic with and alloy insert. Think there may be a very thin covering over the alloy which can atract moisture and water. This leaves water marks or corrosion.

[sailorbaz]

just pop out the insert and scotch pad it off or maybe polish it up.
Was thinking it might be quite sweet if sprayed all black, (so it fills the recessed parts of it with black) then block sand it so that all the raised parts , basically the bulk of it, go back to alloy.
Which will therefore leave the recessed parts highlighted in black.
Rainy weekend job me thinks.

I think you might have given me an idea. Remove them and polish them up myself. The recessed black thing would look good but I don't think I'm brave enough to try something like that.

[Windowlicker]

Thinks it's black plastic with and alloy insert. Think there may be a very thin covering over the alloy which can atract moisture and water. This leaves water marks or corrosion.

Once polished then, it will be just a case of keeping on top of it every now and then, if the protective coating is removed.
Alternatively.....i will let you into a little secret , get some Holts damp start.. http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_18 7211_langId_-1_categoryId_165750

Its fantastic stuff, used it for years on my Evo's many exposed alloy/steel parts. Engine bay, swirl pot etc.
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m306/Windowlicker_2006/swirl.jpg
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m306/Windowlicker_2006/newintake1.jpg
All these parts were made by me and a mate, so were raw alloy, as the pics show , it leaves a really nice, semi gloss finsish, which i used to used clean with a damp cloth, always beads water, doesnt corrode, fooking marvellous!!
Its basically just sprays on, then when dry it leaves a semi flexible, super thin plastic film over the metal, basically seals it from water ingress, hence its designed for ignition systems, it beads water like a high quality wax, but doesnt rub/wash off. In fact the only real way to remove it is with cellulose thinners.
Sprays on really easily, and the best way to quick dry/set it is to pop in a WARM, not furnace hot oven for literally 2 minutes, comes out bone dry and baked.
Before spraying the part/parts make sure they are super clean, use brake cleaner or isopropyl alcohol, something that leaves no residue, and make sure there are no fingerprints etc, as they will all be sealed in so to speak.
Just buy a tin, few quid, and have a little practice with some random alloy object, polish/clean, wipe over with brake cleaner, then spray, stick in oven or air dry, then marvel at the end result.
(it may appear initially a little milky, but this evaporates away to leave it clear, also ideally have the parts at room temp!!)


just pop out the insert and scotch pad it off or maybe polish it up.
Was thinking it might be quite sweet if sprayed all black, (so it fills the recessed parts of it with black) then block sand it so that all the raised parts , basically the bulk of it, go back to alloy.
Which will therefore leave the recessed parts highlighted in black.
Rainy weekend job me thinks.

I think you might have given me an idea. Remove them and polish them up myself. The recessed black thing would look good but I don't think I'm brave enough to try something like that.

Give it a go dude, should be a piece of the proverbial p1ss :wink: :thumbs: