Changing Dash

[Reck]

My current dash is cracked as the car spent a long time in a hot climate. I want to swap across the uncracked dash from my old 316. The Haynes manual isn't much help - is this an easy job? Does the top bit lift off in one piece, meaning I don't have to unplug all the switches etc? How do I remove it?

Cheers
Jason

[mr edd]

disconnect/remove the clocks .disconnect all the switches in the dash .remove the central heater panel and disconect the heater pipes on the under side of the dash to the heater .remove the dash support brackets between the dash and the crossmember . at this point the only thing holding the dash in should be two 7mm nuts one at each end of dash which are right under the dash in the corners where the dash meetsthe bottom of the screen pillar.there are a couple of clips holding the middle of the dash in place but dont worry about these has they pop out easy once the nuts are removed at the ends ...ps you will need a long extension on you rachet to reach the nuts at the corner...If you car has come a foreign country you could possibley find a extra vin tag on the bulkhead once the dash as been removed..witn regard to the back seat i did ring you this time last week to sort something out but did not get through and since last week my car (318is coupe) has started to eat its own engine by the sound of the metalic grinding noises comeing from the engine bay so i am a bit stuck at the minute for getting out and about....edd..

[Reck]

Thanks for the detailed reply mate. A bit more involved than I feared then! I did manage to remove the heater control panel but those sleeved cables that come from the heater controls are a bit of an arse to disconnect. How many brackets are there between the dash and crossmember? I could see two - one in the glovebox and one behind the heater control panel. Is there another behind the clocks?

And when you say heater pipes, do you just mean the air duct passages or the actual coolant feed to the heater? I hope the former!

Sorry if I missed your call. I'll remove both back seats and keep them at my mums for now then. Hopefully there's nothing too wrong with your E36.. Or maybe that'll give you an excuse to use one of the E21's as a DD!

[mr edd]

From memory there are two support brackets and yes its air ducting that i meant .I have had a little look at the e36 and i don't think its the engine more likely the clutch/ gearbox as the noise gets louder when i push the gearstick towards reverse for some reason .At the weekend i am going to remove the oil filter and check for any debris (No debris/no damage?)...edd...

[yagermiester]

anyone know of a kit. my dash and center console is in bad shape. this is my first car and am looking for a replacement