I have a solution that's held for 7-8 years without any sing of tearing:

1. Buy brand new floor mats.
2. Stitch the Velcro circles to the mats around the periphery using a think needle, pliers, and a strong thread of the same color as the mats.
3. Install the mats, and don't forget to use the supplied new plastic pieces that go under them.

This was a lot of work (eight Velcro pieces to stitch, as each mat has two of these), but looking back now, I'm glad I did it.

The driver mat piece now has minor wear top side, but still looks brand new underneath. Use to be the other way around with my previous mat sets...

 

either upgrade to BMW’s bayonet locking fastener or remove the foam from the area of the Velcro patch that peeled off and glue it back to mat with gorilla glue.

I have several threads/posts on this with the locking bayonet tabs over the decade.

 

upgrade to BMW’s bayonet locking fastener

^This. One of the first mods I did. I hated those stupid velcro pads.

 

Buy WeatherTech mats.

 

Contact cement.

 

I love my new mats...glad I got them. Much improved over the older style with crappy, think foam backing. (But, as suggested, you could glue the velcro circles onto the mat after removing that foam.

 

I bought factory BMW rubber mats for our xi, which have nice hooks that mount in the floor. They don't move at all, and keep the carpets/interior quite clean throughout the year. Easier to clean as well. The PNW weather necessitates something above the standard carpeted mats, as debris and rain amounts are greater. I believe the "factory" BMW mats are made by Weather Tech.
Regards

 

I’ve had rubber mats laid on top of the carpet mats for years. My carpets are pristine.

However I recently wanted to remove them to clean the carpet underneath. Of course the Velcro ripped the foam when I pulled up the mats.

Since the rubber mats were really dirty I decided not to re-install them. I noticed right away that the cabin is much quieter. The rubber must reflect sounds much more than bare carpet.

I won’t go back to large rubber mats again.


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^Yes, the carpet floor mats are very nice, especially in places where it doesn't rain much.
The only flaw is that the Velcro strips are attached to the bottom layer only, which doesn't adhere firmly to the top side. Once this is addressed, these mats last for years.
I don't like the bayonet style fasteners that go through the mats.

 

To repair the torn Velcro patches, I used the same GOOP that is used to patch wetsuits. It's been holding just fine since 2011.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/MARINE-G...BRBnEiwAmNJsNiMMwGma_0iULoYN--oEVeI2qLTG81-eyxhhfcRwtFnjKbqWhDGJ7BoCgQUQAvD_BwE

 

Goop



I used Goop to glue the velcro circles back to the mats too, works great, got in the habit of lifting them up slowly and then holding the velcro when taking out to clean.

 

Just buy a new set of OEM E46 rubber floor mats from ebay & move on with your life.

 

I second the advice of removing that crappy foam backing and straight gluing your velcro onto the back of the mats. I've been running that on my M3 for a while now after not finding suitable replacement mats w/ the velcro.

 

I had rubber. They are great.

But the carpet ones look much nicer. I went back.

 

To each his own. I personally think the rubber mats look way better.
I kept my back seat carpet because it's a coupe and rarely does anyone sit back there

 

I second the Weathertech floor protectors suggestion. I keep mine in all year long, just wish the POs had put them in too. There is a lot of salt in the carpet around the gas pedal. I haven't found a way to remove it yet.

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You're telling me BMW does the velcro pads from factory? Very new info to me! I have rubber winter mats in my car, couldnt stand to get the beige mats dirty