Dashboard leather coming off!!!

[Hashtag_M_Rated]

Please help! Any advice is appreciated. The leather on my dashboard is coming off and there's bubbles underneath. I will post some pictures later if that helps.
Anybody faced/ facing the same issue, I would love some ideas of how I can fix that. I believe it's the sun light doing that and once I fix it I will start using some kind of a sunshade for the windshield. Thanks in advance!

[sgandotraM5]

That sucks ... same thing happen to my 13 m5 getting my repaired from dealership..thank god for warranty...

[BeamerandBimmer]

Had that happen on my 2010 M5. I was 5000 miles out of warranty but the Dealer replaced the whole dash on their dime($7000). It pays to be a repeat customer.

This is one of the reasons I opted to not get full leather this time.

[TrevorM3]

warranty? take it in. done deal.

[KMORGSM5]

Have any pics?

My wife had a IS350 and the dashboard melted(non leather)! that was replaced under warranty though.

[Wheel man]

I have been detailing background of 20 years so I have seen this on quite a few dash boards in Ferraris, Porsches, etc. The sun dries the dash out causing the leather to shrink. Then it starts pulling away from the glue under their dash. My research tells me it's a combination of UV damage and cheap leather conditioners and/or armor all. Most leathers have a protective coating from the factory which aftermarket silicone based products diminish over time w UV light exposure. The best way to care for leather dash is used two white towels with only warm water on one the other to dry the dash. White because the towels let you know if your are removing the dye or wiping to hard. The dash board will have a natural matte look. Then buy a windshield UV screen for those hot summer days.

I know it's to late for my tip but your dash will need to be pulled out of the car and reupholstered with a new hyde or factory replacement dash unfortunately.

[Miami2016BMW550]

I have a 2016 550. Warranty expired in May. Got back from a 2 week vacation 3 weeks ago to find the entire leather dash had constricted and pulled back from the windshield. Dealer said they can't do anything. Appealed to BMW of North America who said they took it under consideration but denied to assist. My dealer said this happens a lot. Sounds like a manufacturing defect to me.

Also thinking it could be the COVID disinfectant spray the dealer used when I had it serviced in May that dried out the dash further. I am going to try and find out what chemical they are using.

Any thoughts on how to get this repair by BMW without having to come out of pocket of have it repaired elsewhere at a reasonable price? BMW said it was a $5k repair job.

[M5Rick]

A fitted leather covered top dash is a bad idea with the full leather option.After a while the sun will do it's damage as well as the sprays you mention which may be adding to the deterioration.

[94jedi]

Have seen this many times; precisely why I didn't choose a car w/ full leather.

[M5Rick]

^ Mine has just the extended leather for that reason.

[Doctor_X]

I’ve had two f10 M5’s with full leather - neither car had an issue with the dash. If you don’t regularly condition the dash - the leather will harden and shrink. It’s especially important on the dash as it’s a high exposure area vulnerable to weather extremes.

I’ve also had an f10 550i with extended leather - and in my opinion, there’s no comparison between the two. The quality, fit, finish,feel, and sound dampening in the cabin is far superior on the full leather option. Like all leather, it just requires some maintenance for longevity.

[AlisterB]

Originally Posted by Doctor_X

I’ve had two f10 M5’s with full leather - neither car had an issue with the dash. If you don’t regularly condition the dash - the leather will harden and shrink. It’s especially important on the dash as it’s a high exposure area vulnerable to weather extremes.

Agreed - I've had no issues with the full leather either. My car is garaged day and night however and I can imagine it being an issue for cars that live outside.

[rockyfeller]

Absolutely agree with the last 2 posts. I'm new to the DFW area and I'm quite surprised how casually people park high priced cars out in the baking sun without a second thought. I expected to see the majority of people down in the south to have the habit to park with sunshades on the windshield when parked in the sun. It remains to be a rare sight.

Here's an experiment. The next time you park outside on a 95F+ sunny day for more than an hour, when you come back, try putting your hand on the dashboard to see how hot it gets. It will burn your hand and feel a like a stove! It gets WAY hotter than most people ever think. Imagine that happening hours every day for years. How is it possible for a manufacturer to make a dashboard that will withstand those conditions? They just can't.

Make it a habit to ALWAYS use a sunshade on the windshield of any car you own, especially if it has an expensive leather dashboard. I've always done this with every car I've ever owned, even for short durations. Why not, it's a painless habit and peace of mind. I've never had a single problem with the dashboard on any car I've owned. Make it a habit also to condition your leather with a product that's designed to block UV rays. And lastly, use a crystalline tint or window film with a high light transmittance and heat rejection/UV block on the windshield. This is an additional measure that will also help protect the interior.

If none of this sounds doable to you, full leather definitely isn't a good choice for you.

[Killerbob9]

Same thing happened to my 2015 F02 b7 alpina. Hate to replace the entire dash carrier for $8k... New to this, so don't know how to attach a photo of my dilemma. Any suggestions as to a fix?

[M5_Brandoe]

Originally Posted by Killerbob9

Same thing happened to my 2015 F02 b7 alpina. Hate to replace the entire dash carrier for $8k... New to this, so don't know how to attach a photo of my dilemma. Any suggestions as to a fix?

If the dealer is out of the question… I advise any upholstery company that can re wrap with the existing leather or similar leather. Will be so much cheaper than dealer.

They will use an adhesive to reattach or place new leather.