Dash Swap Help

[StuCollinsUK]

Hey hope all reading are well,

I want to do a dash swap between my Z3's.

Both are extended leather beige, but I want the nicer one in my main Zed. The car I'm taking it from will be getting a regular beige one I have stored, then the left over extended dash originally from my main zed will be repaired (if possible) then sold.

I'm just reaching out to see if anyone has the space and knowhow to get this done, I'd be more than happy to pay for that persons time and expertise!

If not, any tips/tricks/guides would be super appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

Stu

 

[the Nefyn cat]

Where's @Southernboy when you need him? Oh yeah, miles away.

 

[Jjim]

Taken out and swapped over a couple of dashes.

Shame you’re quite far away.

 

[handsomejackuk]

Same here got two cars with beige dash ideally would love to swap them over a d repair the leather on the one

 

[StuCollinsUK]

Taken out and swapped over a couple of dashes.

Shame you’re quite far away.

Damn, this is where I need a flatbed transporter!

 

[mrscalex]

I’ve just done a dash removal. Having done 2 before on breakers. It’s one of the more complicated jobs to be fair.

The most important thing is knowing where all the fixings are. With some being a lot more difficult to get at than others.

The centre console ideally needs to come out. It’s a struggle with it in. And the steering wheel certainly needs to come off.

It can be done but requires a good deal of being methodical and having patience.

 

[Sean d]

I took the dash out of my last z, I don't remember it being that difficult, but my memory is not what it was

 

[NZ00Z3]

I have done 1 dash removal/replacement job. Not difficult, rate it 4 out of 10. Followed the procedure in the Bentley manual. Take lots of photos and label all electrical connections as you taken them apart. Be prepared to find extra electrical connections for features that your Z3 does not have (hence the labels on connectors). Must be methodical and patient. If items don't want to move, then there will still be fixings to find.

 

[mrscalex]

I have done 1 dash removal/replacement job. Not difficult, rate it 4 out of 10. Followed the procedure in the Bentley manual. Take lots of photos and label all electrical connections as you taken them apart. Be prepared to find extra electrical connections for features that your Z3 does not have (hence the labels on connectors). Must be methodical and patient. If items don't want to move, then there will still be fixings to find.

I don't think it is difficult as such. But being methodical, having patience and also having confidence and some ingenuity in this sort of thing are all important. As is allowing for the car to be off the road for a couple of weekends if you hit any snags. Removing the 3 bolts on the top of the dash right under the windscreen requires some creative thinking. And the headlamp switch, steering wheel & airbag all potentially need reading up in their own right to remove.

Scoring it out of 10 is subjective so if you rate it as 4 I can't disagree a such. But to put some context around it and thinking beyond the word difficult to consider all aspects, for me if changing an engine is 8 of 10 I'd probably say this is nearer to 6 out of 10. 4 out of 10 I'd probably say is doing a set of pads and disks. A 2 out of 10 would be changing a wheel. And doing a full rear end overhaul is 9 out of 10. 10 out of 10 we leave to the professionals like spraying

 

[Jack Ratt]

Is the dash cover for the passenger air bag removable? My dash is extended leather in my black zed and on this little section the leather is "baggy"

 

[Jack Ratt]

Is the section of dash that covers the passenger air bag removable without taking the dash out?

 

[Jack Ratt]

Problems with computer again. Posted on here and my post disappeared when I pressed post reply, so I posted again and then my first post shows too

 

[mrscalex]

Problems with computer again. Posted on here and my post disappeared when I pressed post reply, so I posted again and then my first post shows too

I’m getting that quite a bit at the moment. I presumed it was because I was on a slow connection.

The section you are referring to has to come out before the dash to get the airbag out.

 

[Jack Ratt]

Is it just pressed in? Do I just lever it out with a trim tool @mrscalex

 

[mrscalex]

Yes it has to sit loose so it can fly out in an accident. It’s retained by a fabric hinge that flops it downwards.

In theory you can lever it out. But as I’ve been doing other work each time I’ve done it the glove box has always been out to push it from underneath instead.

 

[Mario]

Happy to help if you are happy to drive to Watford this week that I am "on holidays"

 

[2DunnsZ3]

I took the dash out of my last z, I don't remember it being that difficult, but my memory is not what it was

hell nothing is that difficult for you Sean, you build them from scratch