where do these 2 bits go ?

[polsta]

where do these 2 bits go ?

does the smaller bit go above glove box tht holds the right side fixing for the ecu ?

but have no idea about the other bit ?

[Jim320i]

Large one is the ECU bracket, driver side.

The other fits on the passenger side above the glove box latch area, the silver glovebox bracket attaches to it I think and that fits onto the part of the shell that sits out. It will only fit one way too so turn it around until you figure the angle

[polsta]

ok jim nice one thanks, i was fiddling with that glove bracket there and figured it goes there, but couldnt work out exactly how, it seened to look better with the smaller hole on the diagonal bit as the connector with screw through, but leaving the speed clip hidden, and the other 2 holes for the ecu , but figured it wasnt right

does the other side bracket attach to the dash fixing mount bracket ? or attach the other side ?

[Jim320i]

The larger one you mean? If so, there is another bracket that attaches to the dash fixing point on the side of the shell, then the larger one pictured attaches to that.

The other is just a right angle shape with 2 holes on each flat bit

[polsta]

yeah got that L shaped bracket for that side thanks

on the smaller one, whats the point that attaches to the ecu ? is it the speed clip end ? ie bottom in the pic there ?

[Jim320i]

I dont think it does attach to an ECU, it attaches to the shell bracket and to the glovebox bracket, although I may be wrong.

The only ECU that attaches to it is the Cruise control one if your fitting cruise control?

[polsta]

thanks jim, ive got the drivers ecu one sorted at the right side now, kept having rainshowers so stop start stop start

the glove box side, couldnt work out i think im missing something else up there, due to the rain could not get to back of garage to look

this is how it looks, then theres the glove box bracket bit at front where the bulb etc goes, what am i missing ? the ecu is bolted up to the left, and between the right side of that, and the glove box front , is a gap, so that right side of ecu is hanging there unattached

[Simon13]

u need the dash back in first to get that on properly. That bracket holds the cruise control ECU in place but its fitted to all e30's. See that strap hanging down for the glove box, she goes on there but needs to be in the right order along with the glove box latch/type bracket. I can't remember exactly as its been a while

The big one is for the engine ECU and 13 button obc ECU if fitted.

[polsta]

the dash is already in, that pic was one i took of the wiring, what is it that holds the right hand side of the ecu above the glove box ? should there also be some sort of bracket directly behind it ? ,surely someone must have some pics of the area ?

[jas025]

Here you go. This is where the smaller bit fits in - taken from when I took out my dash. It's on the passenger side above the glovebox where there's another bracket.

Fitting everything in was a little complicated to work out - what I did was fit the brackets up inside the dash before securing the dash at the side - once I'd built up these components I then pushed the dash down to get it to locate near the door panels (if you get what I mean).

For me it was a case of trying one day then sleeping on it and working out how to do it the next time I approached it.

The other one is definitely above the ECU on the drivers side - the bracket will connect the side of the car to the bracket under the steering column and then the ECU sits under it.

Hats off to anyone able to take a dash in and out in an afternoon as some have said - I'm not quite there yet

Good luck!

[polsta]

excellent thanks mate, just what i needed , looking at that pic, i dont think ive got that metal riveted on bit hanging down from the dash, which is maybe where i was struggling, is that another plastic trim bit that slots over the bit with the strap danging down ?

in and out in an afternoon youd have to really be famiiar with the job, im just making sure its all decent rather than rush, and clipping it all in as neat as i can and putting in a new stereo loom and obc aswell theres been a lot to fiddle with and get right

heres another pic, but il take some more properly when in next there, you can see the slight gap with the speed clip between the glove bit and the other bit

[jas025]

Do you mean this bit here?



I'm not sure what it is but it's some kind of control box - it fitted right up into the top of the dash and had some foam on the top which fitted around the wiring loom that went above it. In the end I couldn't get the dash to sit in place with the loom above the control box so I moved it behind it and managed to get it to fit.

The trick for me was not securing the dash at the sides while I was trying to fit it - this gave enough flexibility to get this bit in and then resecuring it at the sides was much easier.

As for taking your time, it took me from August until October. I'd say that it's probably better to try to do it a little quicker than that as even with the photos I had i still couldn't remember half of what I did when I took it out.

I'm sure I'll have a better idea of what to do next time as the easy stuff you don't have to worry about but the hard stuff I'm sure I've remembered now given how long it took me to work it out!

[polsta]

So is that bit not used for the fitting/holding of any if the trim or connecting of the bits up there ? There's a thin "slot" type thing on the smaller metal bracket as in my 1st pic

Have you got any more pics of the area ?

I want to have this all finished by end of the week, soon as my mates done the master on tues I can get the carpets in, trouble was it was all dismantled nearly 18 months ago now so can't really remember anything

[jas025]

The ECU fits onto the end of the smaller bracket at the bottom of it on your picture. This might not feel right when it first goes on but it does linkup so both sides are connected - you mention that the right side is unattached - this is where it attaches.

Mine has cruise control btw so reading through the thread Simon13 says that's what's above it - now I know

Hopefully it's starting to make a little more sense!

[polsta]

Yeah thanks mate its making sense , I did fiddle with that bracket there but couldn't quite get it, it has a "thin slot" in it, is that used ?

[jas025]

I can't remember really - I remember it slotting in diagonally against the other brackets and fitting in where the 2 screws come down from the cruise unit. When it fits together as it should then it all seems to work together but before that point everything feels more or less disjointed.

I can remember being furious with the BMW designers through the whole process for making it so f*cking complicated!

[polsta]

Right I've got it !!! It's all near done got the brackets in place all the wiring in place the trim fits

Only 1 thing - the glove box light !! Where does the glove box light come from ? Only when I was sat at home it came to me, So need to hunt out the wire tomorrow , is it on main loom or top of dash loom ?