dashboard removal

[mattyb]

hi guys, im thinking of getting a black interior to replace the grey and ive scoured the archives but couldn't find any detailed dash removal information. just wondering if any have had experience with this and are there any important details I need to know, or pics/threads/sites that might have the info. thanks in advance, all advice and thoughts are welcome

[Rustam]

I did this using the Bentley repair manual for e34. You will have to pry off the covers at windshield pillars, to get exposure to the screws holding the board. There are more screws through, and the manual gives good explanation.

[mattyb]

many thanks, did u do it without too many probs?

[genphreak]

Hey Matty,

It's no small job, and may include the carpet: Replacing the carpet is the very hard- during production it goes in before the HVAC unit/box, in the middle of the dash. Unless you leave the grey carpet alone- some are dark grey, you might get away without having to change it, if you have one of those. It is probably easiest to carefully cut the old front carpet and leave a whole load of it under the HVAC unit. Fitting the new one would require cutting it too.

The rear carpet is no problem at all.

Expect to be stripping the entire interior. Rear seat is a piece of piss but plan a day of hard work to do it all. The seats require care to get them in and out without damage. It is easiest to swap the front seatbelts along with the seats, so remove them together using a 17mm, a large torx and a flat screwdriver to help you with the seatbelt adjuster cable clips connected to the underneath of the seat.

[mattyb]

Thanks for the replies guys! nick, the seat removal Ive learnt having done all prior, but not the seatbelts. im definatley doing new carpet to go with the new interior, hood liner etc .