Dashing about!
Moderator: martauto
Morning Dudes, this is my first post so please be gentle!. I was wondering how much of a giggle it is to replace the dash top on a e30?. I won a mint second one on ebay and want to replace my cracked one, but I keep getting conflicting info
, . Love the site and love the banter!!!!, I'm on the 6 pot side as we're all torque.

It's more than just a car dear!
Took me the best part of a day to swap mine over, theres a good guide floating about somewhere, make sure you label EVERYTHING and take your time, plenty of wiggly to get it out...so to speak
1990 318i Lux
Not difficult to swap , but be thorough and be careful to note where everything fits as you take things out.
You don't want any screws/ nuts left over at the end or the resulting rattles/vibrations will drive you nuts.
You don't want any screws/ nuts left over at the end or the resulting rattles/vibrations will drive you nuts.
I'm not completely perfect.......there are some bits missing or broken.
But the weather here helps!!!
But the weather here helps!!!
- Brianmoooore
- E30 Zone Team Member

- Posts: 49358
- Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm
Not a difficult job at all!
Centre console out, bracket holding the glove box light on the left, ECU bracket on the right, release the heater sliders and pull of the temperature knob, remove instrument cluster, unplug the wiring at the big plug at the back of the glovebox, unscrew two bolts each side and lift out.
Centre console out, bracket holding the glove box light on the left, ECU bracket on the right, release the heater sliders and pull of the temperature knob, remove instrument cluster, unplug the wiring at the big plug at the back of the glovebox, unscrew two bolts each side and lift out.
http://home.comcast.net/%7Ecdeegan9/das ... ard_1.html
As mentioned, nothing to it. Took me a few hours? Certainly more than worth the effort!
Above guide is excellent. Only thing I missed when putting it back together was that the side repeaters are wired through the loom on the dash - no mention of them on the site.
Oh - take note of the mention about replacing the foam. The conduit for the blower vents in the dash sits on the heater unit with a wide foam seal. Mine had deteriorated and I didn't bother replacing it. After all, there's no harm. Just be ready for it!
As mentioned, nothing to it. Took me a few hours? Certainly more than worth the effort!
Above guide is excellent. Only thing I missed when putting it back together was that the side repeaters are wired through the loom on the dash - no mention of them on the site.
Oh - take note of the mention about replacing the foam. The conduit for the blower vents in the dash sits on the heater unit with a wide foam seal. Mine had deteriorated and I didn't bother replacing it. After all, there's no harm. Just be ready for it!

Roughly translates to lift, wiggle, pull, swear, sweat, have a brew then go back to itBrianmoooore wrote:Not a difficult job at all!
Centre console out, bracket holding the glove box light on the left, ECU bracket on the right, release the heater sliders and pull of the temperature knob, remove instrument cluster, unplug the wiring at the big plug at the back of the glovebox, unscrew two bolts each side and lift out.
Mine was a bitch to do but worth it, certainly didnt just lift in/out though
1990 318i Lux




