Does myrtle wood trim darken over time?

[Pvt. Joker]

I replaced a section of myrtle wood trim in my 2000 E46. The new piece of myrtle wood trim is considerably lighter than the 4 year old original pieces. Am I correct to assume that the trim will darken over time?

[Salvator]

I replace a section of myrtle wood trim in my 2000 E46. The new piece of myrtle wood trim is considerably lighter than the 4 year old original pieces. Am I correct to assume that the trim will darken over time?
Don't know about it darkening, but when the dealer replaced my broken myrtle wood door pull, my SA told me that he had to visually inspect the old door pull, and using a "color / shade" key that the dealership had, he would compare the pull to the various shades of Myrtle wood, and try and get the closest match... he also indicated that it still might not be a perfect match, as the myrtle wood is real wood, and thus color variations are inherent... Maybe your dealer can help find a better match?

[PhilH]

Considering how much plastic is coating that wood, I really doubt it'll darken over time...unless you mean over the next 2000 years as the plastic decays into carbon.

[numbersguy]

Some finishes, such as oil-based polyurethane, will yellow with age and UV exposure. I doubt BMW would use anything like that. Their trim is probably covered with something like epoxy. Certain woods like cherry will darken dramatically with prolonged exposure to light.

I think you just have a piece that was a different color to begin with. The best way to get a good match would be to replace the whole set with somebody's takeoffs. I've seen myrtle sets offered for as little as $100.

[Terry Kennedy]

I replaced a section of myrtle wood trim in my 2000 E46. The new piece of myrtle wood trim is considerably lighter than the 4 year old original pieces. Am I correct to assume that the trim will darken over time?Mine got a lot darker - it turned into Birch Anthracite - but I had to pay $1380 and do the labor myself :D

Seriously, BMW produces matched sets of each wood (one part number for the 2/4 doors and 3 dashboard pieces) which guarantees color match (and, at least on Individual wood, grain match). Pieces ordered as single-piece replacements may have natural variations in shade and changes in the manufacturing process.

Fortunately, Myrtle take-off sets are commonly available quite inexpensively.

[kmohr2]

undefinedSome finishes, such as oil-based polyurethane, will yellow with age and UV exposure. I doubt BMW would use anything like that. Their trim is probably covered with something like epoxy. Certain woods like cherry will darken dramatically with prolonged exposure to light.

I think you just have a piece that was a different color to begin with. The best way to get a good match would be to replace the whole set with somebody's takeoffs. I've seen myrtle sets offered for as little as $100.

Hi Numbersguy-

I am about to purchase a 325i sportswagon, but have found out that, to get myrtle wood trim, I must order the premium package. This would be fine, except that the premium package comes with BMW Assist, which does not allow me to get Sirius radio or use Bluetooth. Sooo, because I want Sirius, I am considering going without the premium package and thus the myrtle wood trim, and having the wood installed afterwards. Is this a good idea? If it's possible, how would you suggest going about it, e.g. ordering the wood, etc? This is my first BMW . . . hooray!

[numbersguy]

[FONT=Times New Roman]I am considering going without the premium package and thus the myrtle wood trim, and having the wood installed afterwards. Is this a good idea? If it's possible, how would you suggest going about it, e.g. ordering the wood, etc?

I don't know if all the trim pieces are the same for the wagon as for the sedan. I'm sure somebody here can tell you.

If they are the same then you are in luck. Just go to the for sale forum at E46fanatics.com and look for a myrtle sedan trim set for sale, or post a want ad if necessary. So many of these have been taken off that they take a while to sell at any price. Installation of sedan trim is easy and I have seen illustrated DIY instructions somewhere. If the wagon takes sedan trim you can buy the trim and install it yourself for really cheap.

[kmohr2]

[QUOTE=numbersguy]I don't know if all the trim pieces are the same for the wagon as for the sedan. I'm sure somebody here can tell you.

If they are the same then you are in luck. Just go to the for sale forum at E46fanatics.com and look for a myrtle sedan trim set for sale, or post a want ad if necessary. So many of these have been taken off that they take a while to sell at any price. Installation of sedan trim is easy and I have seen illustrated DIY instructions somewhere. If the wagon takes sedan trim you can buy the trim and install it yourself for really cheap.[/QUOTE

Thanks numbersguy. Why have so many myrtle wood trim sets been taken off? Also, do you know if the wood trim installs right over the aluminum trim, which is what my wagon would come with? If anyone else has installed trim, I would appreciate any advice.

[Sean]

I replaced a section of myrtle wood trim in my 2000 E46. The new piece of myrtle wood trim is considerably lighter than the 4 year old original pieces. Am I correct to assume that the trim will darken over time?

I was told this after the piece above my radio was replaced. It still does not match. It is noticably lighter than the rest of the wood including the piece that was replaced around the shifter.

[Terry Kennedy]

Why have so many myrtle wood trim sets been taken off? Also, do you know if the wood trim installs right over the aluminum trim, which is what my wagon would come with? If anyone else has installed trim, I would appreciate any advice.A lot of the E46Fantics seem to feel that the wood makes the car into more of a luxury look than the performance look they're going for, so they swap to one of the metal or carbon fiber trims.

The wood is held in place by friction pins - you just carefully pry it out. The door panels start from the end away from the door release handle (it hooks into the black plastic around the handle) and the dash starts from the passenger door end and works toward the left. I used a credit card to wedge between the wood and the dash panel and wiggled it until it was loose enough to get a grip on. There's an official BMW trim tool for this, but you really don't need it (I'm the only one I know of outside a dealer who has the tool set, and I've never used it).