E30 Zone

one of the biggest issues with e30s in australia is finding one with an uncracked dash pad.
is this just an issue with us due to the heat or is this common every where?

Quite common on UK cars but seems to be much worse in countries with a hotter climate

Common everywhere - but worse in Australia / other hot places.

Dashes crack here too, but usually only a little line in the common place above the glove box, unless they are left to bake in the sun too much.

We can get sever rust issues though! 80

when i mean cracked i mean totally ratsh*# generally lots of cracks and no defined pattern of cracking,
replacement dashpads are very expensive to get even second hand-$700-$900 dollars aus-approx 400-500 pounds if you can get them .

Good uncracked ones do still exist. It might be worth your while putting a 'wanted' ad in that section of the forum. You may find that with shipping included you can get one for substantially less that the 4 - 500 pounds you're talking?

Flocking?

Uncracked dashes are generally £25-50 over here - almost certainly worth having shipped, but they are fragile and prone to damage in transit I suppose. I have seen an Australian zoner with a moulded dash top cover that was evidently available in period, but it was a bloody ugly carpeted thing. Worked though. Fit a good dash and keep your car in a garage is probably the best way to obtain and keep a tidy dash in your climate!

The dash in my car has cracked in two places since I have had it - kept ungaraged, it will happen even under our excuse for summer. I'm interested to know if it's a heat or UV thing though - if it's the latter, just leaving a blanket over your dash while parked would be a good idea.

ive got one of those dash mats ,they do the job but are not real flattering,might explore the option of importing some over as there is a ready market over here for them

they crack like hell over here to so its definatley a heat/sun thing - but then again after 20 years in the sun every day i doubt you would look as good!!

for small cracks i simply fill the crack with black silicone, whilst it does not hide the crack completely it does look better from a metre away and only noticable from up close

If you are patient and make some contacts (on here, BMW Owners Club or Eurocca) you will get a good one in Australia. I got mine totally uncracked, for $120.
Scour Euro wreckers is my tip.
The dash mats are
Oh, and welcome to the zone - the ANZAC contingent is growing

the dask mats may be a nasty site to look at but as a protective cover for 90% of the time which saves your dash it is worth it

if you ever go to a show or a meet you just take it off

Kos wrote:the dask mats may be a nasty site to look at but as a protective cover for 90% of the time which saves your dash it is worth it

if you ever go to a show or a meet you just take it off

Very true - if the car is a daily driver. After a dozen or so years of looking at one I just hate them, especially seeing the difference without it.
I also noticed that the cracks in mine became worse even under the mat - the heat maybe. It had a few cracks, I didn't check under the mat for years and when I did found several sections of the grand canyon

[quote="poolnoodle"]If you are patient and make some contacts (on here, BMW Owners Club or Eurocca) you will get a good one in Australia. I got mine totally uncracked, for $120.
Scour Euro wreckers is my tip.
The dash mats are
Oh, and welcome to the zone - the ANZAC contingent is g
rowing [/
thanks poolnoodle ,have a look at ebay aus atm ,new dash for $1145.00 cheap at half the price hehe.
love this site, wish id found it years ago.quote]

You'll get one for a lot less if you are patient.
That one is near me in Hobart and the guy is dreaming (not to mention to BS about the price of a new one!). The dash isn't even mint.
It would be worth posting in the wanted ads on here and get and idea of freight - even if it costs a few hundred to get it here would still be in front as the dash prices in UK are noghting like here and there are plenty of good ones.
Good luck with it, will let you know if I spot on.
Yes, this site is great - never would have made anything like the progress I have on my E30 with out it