Removing Fusebox

[Contours]

89 316i---Just wondering if someone has any pointers on this in terms of maybe detaching it or at least moving it out of the way. I have some rust in that area of the firwewall to sort out. I know where all the screws are incl the one under the relay but movement of the box is restricted by the wiring. Is it possible to detach these cables maybe. The accessory circuit and wiring/cabling inside the car on the passenger side will also have to be moved somehow--whole thing seems a right mess to deal with.

[Cloggy Saint]

Unfortunately the only way to remove the fusebox is to detach the entire in-car loom, which is quite a headache. BMW really missed a trick not having some kind of quick release at the box.

[Brianmoooore]

The fusebox is integral with the main body wiring loom, so isn't easy to get out of the way.
Removing the access panels behind the glove box, releasing a few plugs/sockets and cutting a few cable ties will loosen things up enough to pull the fusebox up enough to give some kind of access under it, after releasing the end of the large rubber duct from the box at the bulkhead.
If you have the carpet out of the car (which you need to do if you're on any kind of rust hunt), then it's not that bad of a job to release all of the body loom from inside the car, so that it can all be fed up into the engine compartment and get the fusebox completely out of the way. The loom basically runs down the entire left hand side of the car, with branches right across the car behind the dash, by the front seats, across the back of the rear seats, and across the rear panel in the boot.

[Contours]

Thanks very much for replies. I will follow that Brian and hopefully the panel man has enough access to work with. I don't think its so bad that I need to buy a panel which the Valcas garage in Norway do for the firewall. They do a driver side firewall panel but I'm assuming its for a left-hand drive car so don't know if it would be of much help. Considering they manufacture a panel for that side of the car only shows how common this problem is.

[Ziai]

Off topic kinda, but for sake of correctness - Valcas Garage is from Lithuania
https://www.valcasgarage.com

[Contours]

Correctness is important. It is great to have a company making panels for the e30's as it will likely save a lot of them. Why, I thought they were in Norway, I do not know. Having said that, a few Lithuanian lads have been knocking at my door wondering would I sell the car.

[flybynite]

Correctness is important. It is great to have a company making panels for the e30's as it will likely save a lot of them. Why, I thought they were in Norway, I do not know. Having said that, a few Lithuanian lads have been knocking at my door wondering would I sell the car.

I think you were confusing them with 'E30 Garage Norway' who also make E30 replacement panels.

[Contours]

Think you might be right. Even better with two outfits supplying panels.