prevent dashboard cracks?

The place to pick up tips on bringing that showroom shine back to your E30.

Moderator: martauto

skipunda
E30 Zone Team Member
E30 Zone Team Member
Posts: 5672
Joined: Thu Sep 04, 2008 11:00 pm
Location: Cornwall/Plymouth

Post Sat May 23, 2009 11:23 am

How do you prevent this?
Chris
pac1982
Engaged to the E30 Zone
Engaged to the E30 Zone
Posts: 5330
Joined: Fri Mar 07, 2008 11:00 pm
Location: isle of wight

Post Sat May 23, 2009 11:56 am

No real way to stop this bar keeping it out of the sun, you could always use one of those windscreen sun shades when your not driving.

On another note window tints are good for stopping the sun from ageing other parts of your interiour, dont need to be midnight black as long as it have UV protection built in to the film
Image

1991 BMW E30 318i Neon Design Convertible (Sold)
1990 BMW E30 325i Touring (Sold)
1990 BMW E30 318IS (Sold)
1990 BMW E30 316i (RIP)
skipunda
E30 Zone Team Member
E30 Zone Team Member
Posts: 5672
Joined: Thu Sep 04, 2008 11:00 pm
Location: Cornwall/Plymouth

Post Sat May 23, 2009 1:00 pm

pac1982 wrote:No real way to stop this bar keeping it out of the sun, you could always use one of those windscreen sun shades when your not driving.

On another note window tints are good for stopping the sun from ageing other parts of your interiour, dont need to be midnight black as long as it have UV protection built in to the film
no magic ointment then
Chris
pac1982
Engaged to the E30 Zone
Engaged to the E30 Zone
Posts: 5330
Joined: Fri Mar 07, 2008 11:00 pm
Location: isle of wight

Post Sat May 23, 2009 1:37 pm

Some of the stuff that cleans/shines your plastics some times has UV protection built in but the only real way is to keep the sun off it in the first place
Image

1991 BMW E30 318i Neon Design Convertible (Sold)
1990 BMW E30 325i Touring (Sold)
1990 BMW E30 318IS (Sold)
1990 BMW E30 316i (RIP)
Phatz
E30 Zone Regular
E30 Zone Regular
Posts: 799
Joined: Sat Apr 02, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire

Post Sun May 24, 2009 11:18 am

Years ago I sold a few parts to an old bloke who had a 325i. He told me that he treats his dash with baby oil which, according to him, helped prevent the cracks from appearing. Not sure about it myself, but he did have a crack free dash at the time.

Might be worth a go?
Image
The Sport - Gone to a new home to be slowly brought back to life :)
SeymourCake
E30 Zone Regular
E30 Zone Regular
Posts: 783
Joined: Sat Mar 21, 2009 11:00 pm

Post Mon May 25, 2009 2:03 am

If you want a oily dash then it sounds like a plan lol
ian332isport
E30 Zone Team Member
E30 Zone Team Member
Posts: 5380
Joined: Wed Dec 22, 2004 11:00 pm
Location: West Sussex

Post Mon May 25, 2009 12:51 pm

303 Aerospace Protectant is what you need. As well as leaving a non greasy finish, it has a good UV blocker as well.

Ian.
If it aint broke - Modify it...
n1tr0_9
E30 Zone Camper
E30 Zone Camper
Posts: 1083
Joined: Tue Aug 14, 2007 11:00 pm
Location: Kent (the shame)

Post Mon May 25, 2009 12:55 pm

Factor 50 sun cream?
oze30
E30 Zone Addict
E30 Zone Addict
Posts: 4133
Joined: Mon Oct 24, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Sydney

Post Mon May 25, 2009 12:57 pm

We have a tried and true method in Oz,

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/DASH-MAT-DASHMAT ... 7C294%3A50

Excuse the non pics, but you get the idea.
sam325is
E30 Zone Addict
E30 Zone Addict
Posts: 2002
Joined: Thu Jul 06, 2006 11:00 pm
Location: Cheltenham

Post Mon May 25, 2009 10:22 pm

Remove your dash get underneath it where all the foam is and the soak the underside of it (the foam stuff) in some sort of oil based product and bingo. Its the contraction of the underside foam in the heat which causes the cracking of the upper surface.