Dashboard repair

Mon Jan 22, 2007 7:28 pm

Rather than change the dashboard has anyone tried repairing insitu the splits that seem to affect this item. or is there any material suitable to recover the whole Dash.

Mon Jan 22, 2007 7:38 pm

If you are going to recover the whole dash, you will need to remove it unless it's going to be a complete bodge job? Any attempt at filling and matching to the grey plastic will look crap, you would have to paint the whole thing, which means you would have to remove it...

Swappign a dash isn't that hard, a little daunting as there are so may bits of trim and screws which need to be removed - but it's fairly easy going.

Tue Jan 23, 2007 7:26 pm

Yes I am sure you are right, I found an American E30 site with a very good guide on changing the Dashboard So I will give it go, Thanks.

Tue Jan 23, 2007 7:30 pm

davidt wrote:Yes I am sure you are right, I found an American E30 site with a very good guide on changing the Dashboard So I will give it go, Thanks.

Can you post a link to the US site for the dashboard change mate, thanks!

Tue Jan 23, 2007 7:31 pm

I tried some supposedly flexible filler on one, and tried colour-matching it; sadly, the colour faded to a brown (the dash is grey/black, as you probably know), and hairline cracks soon appeared at the dashboard:filler interface. Maybe pre-coloured silicone sealant might be better...

Tue Jan 23, 2007 7:33 pm

An afternoon will see a dash swapped over even if you're (one is) useless with tools. I've sold plenty of dashes for Ã‚£20 which is about what I imagine the repair kits cost!

Tue Jan 23, 2007 7:33 pm

last dashboard I took out involved a lumphammer and wire cutters, not recommended if re-installation is the plan!

Tue Jan 23, 2007 7:35 pm

320iSE wrote:I tried some supposedly flexible filler on one, and tried colour-matching it; sadly, the colour faded to a brown (the dash is grey/black, as you probably know), and hairline cracks soon appeared at the dashboard:filler interface. Maybe pre-coloured silicone sealant might be better...

I've been told they can be filled by a specialist using a kind of epoxy type filler, needs to be heated / melted but supposidly can be a good match (the kind of thing you repair the base of skis with). However if the dashboard swap ain't too big a job I might just do that instead.

Tue Jan 23, 2007 7:37 pm

Barring removal of the heater panel, steering wheel etc., there are only four bolts holding the dash to the car. Which I've always thought was impressive!

Tue Jan 23, 2007 8:18 pm

Try this web site for dashboard info. I have tried having the dashboard repaired and it was ruined do not let any companies try repairing it be warned. Also there is a US site that sells covers for e30 dash I emailed them to see if they did a right hand drive cover, but got no response

http://home.comcast.net/~cdeegan9/dashb ... ard_1.html

Wed Jan 24, 2007 9:22 am

davidt wrote:Try this web site for dashboard info. I have tried having the dashboard repaired and it was ruined do not let any companies try repairing it be warned. Also there is a US site that sells covers for e30 dash I emailed them to see if they did a right hand drive cover, but got no response

http://home.comcast.net/~cdeegan9/dashb ... ard_1.html

Thanks David, good man!
The job looks long and boring, one of those necessary evils, but easy to do. I may give it a go. Need to find a decent dash first!

Sun Jan 28, 2007 7:18 pm

I removed mine (horrible job i thought?), filled the crack with bumper fill, and sprayed the whole thing black.

Looked brilliant.

Then it cracked again.

Basically find a new one!