Removal of veneered dash panel????????

[tangoescort]

Hi everyone!
Need help again!
The 3 veneered panels of my 350 have all gone to the dogs due to the car being parked in a very warm poly tunnel!
I have removed the glove box lid panel and the heater control panel but what is the best way to remove the main instrument panel (ie; do I have to remove the dashboard or does it come off without resorting to this!) Hope somebody can help me!!

[Dave Meredith]

Mine was not secured in place with screws although I'm sure it was at some time in the past. I gently eased it out past the steering wheel.

I re-veneered it myself with satiwood that matched the steering wheel. I did a lot of rubbing down and got a lovely finish. However once the warm weather came along the plywood base must have expanded faster than the satinwood so now I have lots of little cracks in it. I'd be interested in how you get on with it!

[TVRleigh]

Not sure on the 350,

But the 400SE as 2 bolts for the center console, you can get to them via the radio cut out.
And the speedo has one bolt middle bottom.

Your need a 10mm spanner or socket.

Im in the process of re-doing mine in carbon fibre.

[Wedg1e]

On my car it's just a push-fit into some plastic bushes set into the steel backing panel. Get your fingers into the instrument cutouts and pull gently.

[tangoescort]

Thanks for your help guys; we're going to paint them BMW Titan Silver which will brighten up the dash without giving any glare (hopefully!)

[taimar78]

On both of my 280is it is a press-in fitting and was easy to get out for refinishing.

[convert]

Mine had 4 10mm nuts on the back (Plus half my knuckles when I'd got the damn thing off). It now has 3mm nuts on the back, and one somewhere in the wiring!

[GRIFFONMARK]

I've just removed an refitted my dash to do a minor repair to the veneer and it was held in with 4 bolts glued to the steel backing with sikaflex type adhesive. The nuts were murder to get at so I put a small piece of self adhesive velcro at each end to hold the panel in place. Works perfectly and can easily be prised out if needed.

[tangoescort]

Thanks guys!

Final panel now out and was held in by 4 nuts. Right pig!!