Copied this from another forum; figured it might interest some (though the part numbers weren't provided, unfortunately):
"I found only one dealership parts department in the Dallas area (Classic) that was willing to look-up ALL the current dash trim options that will fit the E46 coupe. This includeds trim options that are more common on european BMW's:
-Light maple wood. Very pale, light in value & clean "Modern" look.
-Walnut: Dark, fake "formica" looking but it's real walnut.
-Mertyle: The common US wood trim. Looks pretty good (like wood, not plastic.)
-Titanium: This is painted plastic (same paint as the Titanium exterior color.) Looks honest, like painted trim!
-Aluminum: Still an option. Real metal veneer !!!
-Gold trim: Painted plastic. Looks like something Mary Kay Ash would like.
-M3 dash trims: same two trim colores as seen on most new M3's (dark gray & silver semi-gloss finish.) Both painted plastic.
I went with Titanium : easy care (prints and smudges), very scratch-resistant and not too reflective in bright sunlight (costing app. $550 from the dealer for 7 trim pieces plus install.)
-I have heard that the aluminum trim has a bit of a glare problem BUT I have not seen it in daylight.
PS: The steering wheel trim piece is comes in several of the colors (Titanium, Aluminum and tyhe two M3 colors.)"
"I found only one dealership parts department in the Dallas area (Classic) that was willing to look-up ALL the current dash trim options that will fit the E46 coupe. This includeds trim options that are more common on european BMW's:
-Light maple wood. Very pale, light in value & clean "Modern" look.
-Walnut: Dark, fake "formica" looking but it's real walnut.
-Mertyle: The common US wood trim. Looks pretty good (like wood, not plastic.)
-Titanium: This is painted plastic (same paint as the Titanium exterior color.) Looks honest, like painted trim!
-Aluminum: Still an option. Real metal veneer !!!
-Gold trim: Painted plastic. Looks like something Mary Kay Ash would like.
-M3 dash trims: same two trim colores as seen on most new M3's (dark gray & silver semi-gloss finish.) Both painted plastic.
I went with Titanium : easy care (prints and smudges), very scratch-resistant and not too reflective in bright sunlight (costing app. $550 from the dealer for 7 trim pieces plus install.)
-I have heard that the aluminum trim has a bit of a glare problem BUT I have not seen it in daylight.
PS: The steering wheel trim piece is comes in several of the colors (Titanium, Aluminum and tyhe two M3 colors.)"
