Dashboard. How many pieces?

[inkey$]

Looking to replace my dashboard with a standard black one, as the leather on the airbag and binnicle cover is shrinking. Is the dashboard made up of a few pieces? I ask becuase the middle part of the dashboard is leather covered but fine and if I can I’d like to keep And just add replacement left and right sections to it.

Thanks

 

[Pond]

The dashboard is three pieces. The main section, then the instrument binnacle and the passenger airbag section.

Hopefully the picture may help a bit. It is a bit dusty!

As I think I said before, I have a black dash in good condition which you can have for postage, just not yet. It will be a good few months before I am ready to remove mine. I have a good airbag cover and tether aswell.

 

[inkey$]

Thanks Pond. Thats really useful info. I’ll definitely have that old dash off you when its out.

 

[137699]

While we're on this topic - I have a question!
If you just want to retrim the extended leather secitons (i.e. around passenger airbag & speedo) is it possible to remove these parts with the dash in-situ, or is it dash-out in order to get to these sections?

 

[Pond]

While we're on this topic - I have a question!
If you just want to retrim the extended leather secitons (i.e. around passenger airbag & speedo) is it possible to remove these parts with the dash in-situ, or is it dash-out in order to get to these sections?

As shown in the picture above, the passenger airbag 'cover' is screwed in to the dash, so can come out fairly easily. I haven't taken the instrument binnacle off yet, but would imagine it is similar. So in theory, yes you can remove both parts without removing the entire dash.

 

[NZ00Z3]

If you just want to retrim the extended leather secitons (i.e. around passenger airbag & speedo) is it possible to remove these parts with the dash in-situ, or is it dash-out in order to get to these sections?

Both sections have fixing screws that come from the firewall side. People have been able to remove them with the main dash in place, but it's not easy.

Here is a thread about how I retrimmed the leather on my Z3: https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/...8-Leather-Dash-Repairs&highlight=leather+dash

 

[bertiejaffa]

To retrim it all has to come out - original trim can be stretched or aftermarket trim bought and applied with the original removed - I have done it twice, once because I was curious, 2nd time because I could.... I now have another dash in the loft with leather trim of the wrong colour that I am contemplating but a 3rd time would definetly be my last.

For more info see my links in my signature

 

[JonnyBravo]

My dash on a 2002 3.0 had the extended red leather. (I think)
Someone has removed the leather on this many years ago and tidied up as best as possible.
They left the instrument binnacle in red leather but that’s pretty shrunk/trashed now too and the some of the fixings have broken now anyway.

It’s not looking it’s best now at all.

If I want to replace the entire dash for just a plain black can I buy any old RHD complete dash from any year ?

many thanks.

 

[NZ00Z3]

can I buy any old RHD complete dash from any year ?

Yes, they are all the same.

 

[JonnyBravo]

Yes, they are all the same.

Thank you

 

[Synclare]

There are actually differences between years. Most have the chassis number seperate to the main dash assembly but I think earlier ones have the chasis number not as a seperate piece and you can end up fiting a dash showing the wrong chassis number to the car itself. Be careful.

 

[JonnyBravo]

There are actually differences between years. Most have the chassis number seperate to the main dash assembly but I think earlier ones have the chasis number not as a seperate piece and you can end up fiting a dash showing the wrong chassis number to the car itself. Be careful.

Aha !
Gotcha - a quick eBay look later.
thanks for the heads up

 

[Duncodin]

Aha !
Gotcha - a quick eBay look later.
thanks for the heads up

View attachment 356973

That chassis number thing is a sticker. In theory you should be able to peel it off the old dash and stick it on the new dash.

I said "in theory" because I tried to peel the (wrong) sticker off my new dash but it just snapped. It's a very brittle plastic label. But it is the middle of winter so v cold. Maybe a little heat would allow it to be peeled off. But, to make sure I got my real chassic sticker on to my new dash in one piece I chopped the whole section out of my original dash and hot-stapled it into the new dash. Can't see the join once the dash is in the car.

 

[Duncodin]

Aha !
Gotcha - a quick eBay look later.
thanks for the heads up

Just popped out to take a pic while my dash is out again.

The weld stitching is a bit rough but the join can't be seen through the little window in the windscreen

I could fill that join with plastic bumper filler and smooth it to make it prettier but, as I.said, it's not visible so maybe I won't bother.

 

[Duncodin]

As shown in the picture above, the passenger airbag 'cover' is screwed in to the dash, so can come out fairly easily. I haven't taken the instrument binnacle off yet, but would imagine it is similar. So in theory, yes you can remove both parts without removing the entire dash.

The passenger and driver's sections come off the same way. The screws are from the under side so the whole dash would need to come out to unscrew and remove those two pieces.

Ignore me cutting a bit off. That's a different topic. But you can see where the binnacle screws to the driver's side the same way that the passenger side is fixed

 

[Pond]

That chassis number thing is a sticker. In theory you should be able to peel it off the old dash and stick it on the new dash.

They are made in such a way that they can't be peeled off in one piece.
The glue on the stickers is much stronger than the sticker itself, so it will always break. Done for security reasons, presumably.

Reminds me I must get a new VIN plate made, as mine is just a label on the front top mount at present which isn't going to last forever. The sticker on mine is hidden by the front scuttle now.