350i mk 1 dashboard removal.

[SADBLOKE]

Does anyone have any ideas? The return heater pipe through the bulkhead behind the dash was rotten. Tried to pull the replacement hose back through from the engine bay side but the two pipes detached from each other . Removing the two lower bolts on the dash panel releases the bottom of it fine, however, it appears to be fixed/glued along the top edge next to the widscreen glass. Are they usually fixed at this point? if so with what? or has someone simply glued it in place.

>> Edited by SADBLOKE on Wednesday 4th January 00:24

[jon@127]

There are two bolts at the top as well, one on either side. They are right up at the top just under the screen. I managed to get the one on the drivers side off by laying in the footwell and swearing a lot but the one on the passenger side defeated me. It is behind/above the glove box and almost impossible to reach (just managed to touch it with my finger tips). I guess you could cut a small hole in the top of the glove box to access it, see what others say.
Jon

[wedg1e]

The one above the glovebox needs an 8mm open-ender, wrists like Michael Jackson and more spare time than Ian Huntley.
Just back it off a few turns (and the one above the instruments) and the dash should slide away. Then it all becomes crystal clear
You'll probably need to disconnect the speedo cable as well, in which case fingers with GlitterGrip (tm) will prove useful...

[dickymint]

And if i were you, don't bother refitting them, just "wedge" the dash back in!

[MJG280]

I have just done this. Once you remove the seats settle comfortably in the passenger side footwell with light, mirror and spanner, when you will find the light and mirror are useless as your hands will be in the way. A couple of turns on the nut above the glovebox if you can find it and the captive bolt slides out of the slot. Replace the nuts with wing nuts and then you can re-attach easily without the acrobatics

[badredwedge]

Just to make it clear sadbloke you dont have to remove the nuts completly as they locate in a slot. I went to the trouble of taking them off and then invented a few new swear words when the dash slide up the slots, I think there was a post about this a few months ago it involved Hamsters and some sort of small tame fish if I remember. Good Luck

[mikeb]

I did this once to the 350i, another thing to remember is the weight of the dash with all of the clocks etc.

Picture the scene, me straddling the transmission tunnel, roof off, have unbolted the retaining nuts after hours of swearing, all by myself and lift the dash backwards and take the weight then 'uh oh this weighs a ton, oh f**k better put it back'.

Then quickly slide the dash back in position, tighten the bolts and forget about the job and have a beer!

MikeB

>> Edited by mikeb on Friday 6th January 00:12

[grahamw48]

That once happened to me with a woman.