|
|
|
|
Don Bower wrote:
Gruppes:This reminds me that I wanted to pass along a dashboard tip for the less anal among us.
Unbeknownst to me, the PO of my coupe apparently had his fill of removing the windshield to effect dash repairs. When I needed to fix a gauge, I discovered that the PO had simply placed the upper dash pad attaching bolts into the bolt slots in the metal dash structure, WITHOUT attaching the nuts from behind. So the whole dash pad/instrument pod upper cover may simply be pulled out as a unit toward the driver, without employing neighborhood children with tiny fingers to rummage around behind the dash.
The dash pad sits nicely in place without being secured, and you really can't tell that it's unbolted. Your results may vary.
Don
Art Wegweiser wrote:
Andrey,Only one weekend to complete the job? Did you use sorcery? Couperini are you paying attention? Whom the Gods would destroy they first make mad. But, yes Andrey 'twas a noble and praiseworthy project but I'll sacrifice a goat to Jove if I never have to do it on Ilse.
This should go on that web page of many BMW Horror Tales. (The one that includes the BMW parked by a hydrant and the fire hose runs right through it).
Unfortunately, I can't find it. Anybody know where it is, by chance. It must be recorded for posterity. :-)
Art
or how I spent my weekend:
http://www.thedotcommune.com/album.php?id=28
-Andrey
... and living to tell about it By Rob Siegel The Dashboard consist of 5 main pieces: the wood backing and floor; the top; the rim piece (with holes for the glove box button) and its molding; the instrument cluster, and the cowling covering it. (This terminology is mine). If you try to order a "rim piece," odds are small that anyone will know what you're talking about.
First, remove the steering wheel. If the car has automatic transmission, you may need to remove the gear indicator on top of the ignition switch housing. Remove the under dash piece to the right of the steering column. Open the glove compartment and the hood latch cover. Down the road, you may need to pull out the console, or just try to fudge your way around it.
The first things that must come out are the top and cowling. This is the piece that sits almost flush with the bottom of the windshield. The cowling that covers the instrument cluster is held on to the top piece with two Phillips head screws that are only accessible from the front. Thus, to take off the cowling, the top piece and cowling must be removed as a pair. I suspect if the windshield is out, the cowling screws can be reached from the front, but don't take my word as gospel. The top piece is held to the body of the car by four pop clips, two somewhere in the middle and one at either end. The cowling, in addition to being screwed to the top piece, is bolted down by two 8mm nuts on studs that protrude from the bottom. Remove the nuts and use a long screwdriver to ever so carefully pop the clips holding the top piece. Very carefully, tilt and maneuver the assembly out. (Note the gratuitous use of the word "carefully"). The ends are usually very brittle. The top piece has to be tilted to clear the tops of the defroster ducts.
Next comes the rim piece. It is held on by an array of Phillips screws. With a screwdriver, carefully pry off the two silver strips that cover the screws. Note: The back of the strips has posts that hook into clips buried in the rim piece. Sometimes these clips pop out when the strips are pried off. Undo all of the Phillips screws. Note: the large ones at each corner screw directly into the wood dash, and the small ones go through the metal tabs, then into the wood. When every screw is removed, carefully lift the rim piece out.
The instrument cluster is next. Undo the Speedo cable; pull out both of the plug connectors, and the trip odometer. Remove the two 8mm nuts from the end of their studs and pull the cluster out of the way.
The dash is held onto the underlying metal shelf by three 10mm bolts, one at each end, and one in the middle. In addition, there are two idiotic Phillips screws on either side of the cowling. The console hides the right hand screw. As stated above, since I was pulling it out of a junky car with an even junkier console, I got a bit rough with the console pieces. It may be necessary to pull out the console to get at it, and if the car has a/c, the condenser may have to be swung out of the way. At the top of the dash, you'll see a silver strip. Undo all the Phillips screws holding the strip to the body of the car. Remove the strip. Very, very carefully tilt the dash and pull it out. "Do not force it".
Removal is the reverse of installation, with some problems. Replace the wood dash and floor by very carefully maneuvering it into position. Put the chrome strip on the top front of the dash; screw the strip to the dash and to the body of the car. Replace the three 10mm bolts and those idiotic Phillips head screws (or not.). Replace the instrument cluster, hook it up, and put the two 8mm nuts back on their studs. Insert the rim piece, making sure it sits forward of the metal tabs (look backwards through the windshield).
Put in the two big screws on the side first. Make sure they go back in the holes in the dash. Replace the lots of screws. If parts have been changed, the holes in the metal tabs mat not line up with the holes in the wood. When the rim piece is installed, replace the chrome strips.
Finally, the top piece and cowling. This is damned near impossible with the windshield in the car. First, look where the clips are. There should be four, one at each end, and two near the middle. If the clips are lodged in the car body, turn them sideways and slide them through. Reach underneath to catch them. Replace them in the top piece by inserting them in the holes, remember, this piece sits as forward as possible. When everything is in position, push down sharply over each of the four clips until they pop into their slots. Problem is you can't push down straight with the windshield in the way. Again, best route is to do the work in tandem with painting or headliner replacement when the windshield is already out.
Good Luck.
Rob