Damaged dash board from suction GPS grip

[Holtdahooligan]

So I just bought my beautiful 2011 128i with only 13k miles on her last month and I've already damaged the interior. I made the mistake of putting an suction iphone grip on the dash to use as a gps since I got the car without idrive.

After leaving this phone grip on for a week in the hot Florida sun, I took it off and noticed an unsightly ring shaped indentation it left behind. This thing is a massive eyesore and I just can't stop staring at it. Apparently the constant heat and pressure from the suction grip squashed the soft touch dashboard material down for so long that it's now stuck this was.

I took it to the dealership and all they said the could do was put a heat gun on it for a while and see if it rises back up. That ended up not working and they told me the only other option I had was to buy a replacement dash for almost $2000!!!

Anyone else has ever had this issue? What other things can I try to get my soft touch dash back to its normal appearance? I would really appreciate any input on this.

[pizzaman09]

It almost seems that you didn't crush the foam more then you might have stretched the vinyl.

This is pretty drastic but there are kits out there that you can buy that allow you to inject liquid foam into the dash and fill in an area, it dries. This is commonly used for people that are redoing the leather on their dash board and get a few wrinkles in it that they need to have filled out.

[BimmerBreaker]

I would massage the area with a lot of pressure but it may very well be permanent. I persoanlly would not recommend injecting any sort of liquid foam or anything... I can almost guarantee it will just end up looking worse.

[ChristopherG]

I would massage the area with a lot of pressure but it may very well be permanent. I persoanlly would not recommend injecting any sort of liquid foam or anything... I can almost guarantee it will just end up looking worse.

What he said.

A bad repair will look worse than the mark in the dash you have now.

[MarcoZandrini]

I'd wait a week or so to see if the dash heals itself. You've got to wonder what modern car makers are using for materials these days.

[downeaster1]

I'd wait a week or so to see if the dash heals itself. You've got to wonder what modern car makers are using for materials these days.

This. I would be surprised if it didn't fix itself.

[ross1]

This. I would be surprised if it didn't fix itself.

It will may get better but who knows what the heat gun has done to it. The materials have some memory but a heat gun will almost certainly relax the material enough that if it doesn't cure it becomes permanent.
I'd NOT attempt any repairs, it will be worse. Even if a very competent job by a vinyl repair expert that can fill the depression and match the grain this is a prominent spot that you KNOW is there so it will always be visible, at least to you.
A replacement dash from a wrecker would be the practical solution.

[slocar]

For starters, I'm staggered by the fact that the suction cup even stuck and stayed on the grainy material.

That said, I'd give it time (and when I say that I mean a couple of hot weeks) ... that material should flex back into it's original shape at least a little: might not be perfect but it will be better than anything you can do at this point, short of buying a brand new dash (which is a bear of a job).

[montaillou]

...the only other option I had was to buy a replacement dash for almost $2000!!!

Start keeping an eye out for someone parting out your model, and you can probably get this dash for lots less.

Still, as the damage is done, if it doesn't improve in the next couple of weeks, maybe just put the grip back, because even an iphone looks better.

[SpeedsterBek]

stick a bmw badge to cover the area

[Critter7r]

At least it's centered.

Don't sweat it. In a couple of weeks, either it'll disappear, or you'll stop noticing it, which is almost as good.

[Racerhoze]

I wish my cars were nice enough to where I could be concerned with stuff like this.

Hashtagmycarsareturdboxes

[downeaster1]

If you were closer, I'd say bring it in and someone at my shop will warranty it lol