If the climate control buttons on your BMW 5 Series F10 or 7 Series F01 look scuffed, sticky or patchy, you are not alone. It is one of the best-documented interior faults on BMWs of this era, and BMW itself described the cause in a service bulletin. The good news is that the fix doesn't involve taking the dashboard apart. This guide explains why the buttons peel, which cars are affected and how to replace the caps yourself.
What goes wrong
The buttons on the climate control panel (BMW calls it the IHKA panel) are made of plastic with a soft-touch coating on top. The coating gives the buttons a slightly rubbery, matt feel when new. With use, it softens, wears through and peels away, leaving patches of bare plastic. The symbols on the buttons can fade with it. The buttons pressed most often tend to go first.
Why it happens: BMW SI B64 01 13
BMW addressed the problem in Service Information SI B64 01 13, "IHKA Operating Panel Buttons Are Peeling". The April 2013 edition replaced an earlier version from February 2013. It covers the F01, F02, F04, F06, F07, F10, F12 and F13.
The bulletin names the cause as ingredients in certain skin-care products, including sunscreens and hand lotions. They react with the soft-touch coating and break it down. So how quickly the buttons wear depends partly on what was on the hands that pressed them, not only on age or mileage.
BMW's remedy was a kit of improved replacement buttons, and the bulletin says to replace all the buttons in the kit rather than only the worn ones. It also describes the repair as one that can be done in the car, without removing the centre console, using two narrow picks. At the time, the repair was covered under the new-vehicle warranty. Most of these cars are now well outside that warranty, which is why owners do the job themselves.
Which cars are affected
The bulletin lists these chassis:
- 5 Series: F10 and F07 Gran Turismo
- 6 Series: F06 Gran Coupé, F12 convertible and F13 coupé
- 7 Series: F01, F02 and F04
Our climate control button replacement kit is listed for the F01 to F04, F06 and F07, F10 and F11, F12 and F13, and F18. Always check the fitment table on the product page against your car before ordering.
First, identify your panel layout
Not every panel has the same buttons. Depending on the options your car was built with, such as seat heating, seat ventilation and multi-zone climate control, the panel has 11, 12 or 14 buttons. BMW's own repair kit also comes in more than one version for this reason. Before you order, count the buttons on your panel and compare it with the layout photos on the product page. Our guide 11, 12 or 14 buttons? How to identify your BMW climate panel layout walks through it step by step.
What you need
- The replacement button kit that matches your layout
- Two narrow picks or thin plastic trim tools, as described in BMW's bulletin
- Low-tack masking tape to protect the panel surround and the trim around it
- A soft, clean cloth
- Good light, and a phone to photograph the panel before you start
Plastic tools are kinder to the panel than metal ones. If you only have metal picks, wrap the tips in a layer of tape.
The fix, step by step
- Photograph the panel. A clear photo of every button in place means you can always check which cap goes where.
- Mask the surround. Put tape around the edge of the panel so a slipping tool can't mark the trim.
- Work on one button at a time. Removing one cap and fitting its replacement before moving to the next is the simplest way to avoid mixing up positions.
- Lift the old cap. Slide the two picks in at opposite edges of the cap and ease it straight off. Use steady, gentle pressure rather than force. The bulletin notes that the fan-speed buttons are rocker type and the others are push-button type, so the fan-speed caps pivot and need a little more care.
- Fit the new cap. Line it up with the same orientation as the old one, check the symbol is the right way up, and press it on evenly until it sits flush with its neighbours.
- Check it works. Press the button a few times. It should move freely, return on its own and operate its function.
- Repeat for every button. Following BMW's advice, replace all the caps, not only the worn ones. New caps next to old ones rarely match in colour or finish.
- Clean up. Remove the tape and wipe the panel with a soft, dry cloth.
The swap itself takes a few minutes once you have the right kit. Give yourself a quarter of an hour the first time so you can work calmly.
Tips and common mistakes
- Don't pull at an angle. Lift each cap straight off. Twisting can stress the part underneath.
- Keep the old caps until you have finished. If a position is unclear, the old cap and your photo settle it.
- Check at night. Once you are done, switch the lights on and check that every button looks right with the panel illumination on.
- Clean gently. Wipe the new caps with a soft cloth. Avoid solvents and strong cleaners.
Replace or repaint?
Some owners try to strip the remaining coating or repaint the buttons. Stripping leaves bare plastic that no longer matches the rest of the panel, and new paint has to survive the same finger contact that wore out the original coating. Replacement caps restore a uniform finish in one go. The caps in our kit are made from ABS and polycarbonate with a gloss black finish.
Before you order
- Confirm your chassis code. If you are not sure, see how to find your chassis code.
- Count the buttons on your panel and choose the matching layout.
- Still unsure? Email a photo of your panel to info@bmwmods.com and we will check it before you order.
Our kit is covered by our fit guarantee: if it doesn't fit a car shown in its fitment table, we send a replacement or refund you in full. You will find it, with other parts for tired interiors, in worn interior fixes.
bmwmods sells aftermarket parts and is not affiliated with, authorised or endorsed by BMW AG. BMW, model names and chassis codes are used only to describe compatibility.