Cracked dash

[seacow]

Hi there. I have a mint 316i original keeper but fancy a 325 or soft top. My plan was to save for a decent one but I have been tempted by a cheap one. There are a few bits to fix tht don't phase me but its a good runner and long mot etc. the poor bits are small rust spot on scuttle which could hide more and a cracked dash. The latter bothers me though I know it's common but how easy to swap out or should I live with it? It's a bottom spec 325 auto with 120k.

[B7]

I'd be more concerned about the scuttle rust.

You can unbolt a dash and replace. The scuttle could be hiding all sorts, will not improve, only get worse and will require cutting out and welding.

[Kedge]

Cracked dash sounds like it's the last thing you need to be thinking about!

[seacow]

That's good to know the dash isn't an issue. Seems to be differing views on here as to how easy scuttle rust is to fix. It's small bubbling at the moment but I fully appreciate that could be hiding bigger issues!!! For the money I was thinking of running for a while and then maybe moving it on but doing some stuff. I just get these daft ideas I kick around from time to time. Someone has offered me a nice jeep Cherokee for £500 that I quite like the sound of too. Need a bigger garage!!

[sunnysr]

It wants to be cheap ,look in the wiki at the rust section and pay special attention to the drivers side rear wheel arch as that has some plastic in that hides rot and around the fuel filler pipe is a nightmare area too for rust ,a cracked dash isnt a problem .are you keeping the 31 if its that mint why dont you just do an engine conversion on that if you want a bit more poke

[seacow]

It wants to be cheap ,look in the wiki at the rust section and pay special attention to the drivers side rear wheel arch as that has some plastic in that hides rot and around the fuel filler pipe is a nightmare area too for rust ,a cracked dash isnt a problem .are you keeping the 31 if its that mint why dont you just do an engine conversion on that if you want a bit more poke

Thanks I will take a look. It was under 700. The 316 I will keep but want it to be original I'm not really into modifying etc. another factor is I want to do a bit of tinkering and I'm not that experienced so I don't want to bugger up the mint one!

[polsta]

I'd be more concerned about the scuttle rust.

You can unbolt a dash and replace. The scuttle could be hiding all sorts, will not improve, only get worse and will require cutting out and welding.

but on the flip side, the dash has gotta come out anyway, means he can see all the bulhead rust issues caused by the scuttle

[B7]

I'd be more concerned about the scuttle rust.

You can unbolt a dash and replace. The scuttle could be hiding all sorts, will not improve, only get worse and will require cutting out and welding.

but on the flip side, the dash has gotta come out anyway, means he can see all the bulhead rust issues caused by the scuttle

Depends on how it's repaired?

[capri_rob]

If you need to get the screen out to repair the scuttles properly then is also the time to swap the dash. Its fiddly but do-able - just takes time the first time you do it.