1992 325i convertible - Instrument Cluster light replacement
johnqin
10-30-2004, 08:40 PM
Okay I am stumped.
I need to access the back (or forward side depending on your point of view) of the instrument cluster to replace the illumination lamps backlighting the speedometer for night driving. I have been looking for a descriptive process and / or diagrams as to how to disassemble the dash assembly to gain this access without luck to date. I cannot figure it out and am afraid to force these plastic parts and end up breaking them. I have seen some information about the instrument cluster removal but nothing on the decorative dash trim that must be removed first.
We have had the car since July and really like it. Most of the repairs now are general maintenance or details to keep her in good shape. But I just cannot figure out how to get into this area of the dash, I have discovered that although the 325 changed in 1992 the convertible retained the old styling until the 1993 edition, body, engine, drive train, etc. The repair manuals I have do not address the dash instument cluster very well.
Thanks in advance for any help.
John Q
I need to access the back (or forward side depending on your point of view) of the instrument cluster to replace the illumination lamps backlighting the speedometer for night driving. I have been looking for a descriptive process and / or diagrams as to how to disassemble the dash assembly to gain this access without luck to date. I cannot figure it out and am afraid to force these plastic parts and end up breaking them. I have seen some information about the instrument cluster removal but nothing on the decorative dash trim that must be removed first.
We have had the car since July and really like it. Most of the repairs now are general maintenance or details to keep her in good shape. But I just cannot figure out how to get into this area of the dash, I have discovered that although the 325 changed in 1992 the convertible retained the old styling until the 1993 edition, body, engine, drive train, etc. The repair manuals I have do not address the dash instument cluster very well.
Thanks in advance for any help.
John Q
dark_islight
10-31-2004, 09:57 AM
jeffreyb4me
10-31-2004, 10:36 AM
If that doesn't help, remove the two phillips screws on each side of the cluster [top left & right] then caefully with a tiny screwdriver gentle pry down the cluster mounting ears and pull the cluster, gently' towards you tipping it up and down as it pulls free of the dash panel. Depending on how 'tightly' YOUR car went together, you should be able to 'sneak' the cluster out to the left side having the signal switch down [left turn] and the steering wheel turned left @ about 8 o'clock.
No other dash dissassembly is needed or will help.
IF you can't slide it out to the left in this manner, the air bag and steering wheel must be removed with accepted precautions taken to prevent triggering of the system.
No other dash dissassembly is needed or will help.
IF you can't slide it out to the left in this manner, the air bag and steering wheel must be removed with accepted precautions taken to prevent triggering of the system.
johnqin
10-31-2004, 12:45 PM
Thanks for the tips, but I still have a question. This is an E-30 model as I understand the nomenclature. The link that dark islight provided is helpful but it does not picture my dash condition, i.e. due to the age of the model all gauges are analog there is no LCD in the cluster and the lower trim above the steering column is different.
The twisting and turning to remove the cluster that JeffreyB mentions makes sense but it seems to me that there is other trim in the way. For the sake of discussion I will call this "cowling" and "dash" trim. It looks to me as if this dash trim must be removed to completely remove the cowling trim to gain access to the instrument cluster. The lower trim is a decorative face plate above the sterring column and below the cowling trim. There are no screws so I am guessing that it just snaps in place but I do not want to force anything. The cowling has two upper screws and appears to have lower attachment points hidden behind this lower dash trim so I think I must remove the dash trim first. Am I wrong about needing to remove this trim? If I do need to remove it is there a technique that can be used to avoid breaking the trim?
I tried to load digital photos of this dash and trim but could not figure out how to do it. A photo being worth many words.
Thanks again in advance for the help.
The twisting and turning to remove the cluster that JeffreyB mentions makes sense but it seems to me that there is other trim in the way. For the sake of discussion I will call this "cowling" and "dash" trim. It looks to me as if this dash trim must be removed to completely remove the cowling trim to gain access to the instrument cluster. The lower trim is a decorative face plate above the sterring column and below the cowling trim. There are no screws so I am guessing that it just snaps in place but I do not want to force anything. The cowling has two upper screws and appears to have lower attachment points hidden behind this lower dash trim so I think I must remove the dash trim first. Am I wrong about needing to remove this trim? If I do need to remove it is there a technique that can be used to avoid breaking the trim?
I tried to load digital photos of this dash and trim but could not figure out how to do it. A photo being worth many words.
Thanks again in advance for the help.
jeffreyb4me
10-31-2004, 03:25 PM
SORRY ! ! I don't read enough, too quick on the trigger, a '92 ic is an E30, last year......and yes, but it's still easy AND it WILL wiggle out.
a] remove the under cover [plastic flat head 'screws', total 4]
b] reach under the dash panel and on the left & right sides there is a thumb nut retaining that 'thin' black panel under the cluster. Remove both, careful with the right side, this nut likes to fall down into the center console if you drop it........Your E30 has SRS so the removal of the piece is much tighter than earlier E30's w/o SRS. Pushing on the thumb nut studs from the backside, try to get the panel far enough away from the dash to release the two inner plastic buttons [part of the panel] that help locate it into the dash. NOTE, you may have to lower the steering colunm to remove this panel, it can be real tight.
c] Next, there are 4 lower screws and 2 upper screws retaining the cluster facia panel, removethem and the facia.
d] Finally, remove the 2 screw holding the upper cluster ears and gently pry them free of the dash [they 'stick']
e] BE CAREFUL reinstalling all, the cluster and the facia must be 'perfectly' positioned and secured for that lower cover plate with the thumb nuts, to fit properly.
f] It will take longer to read these 'winded' instructions than to do the job.................best to you, stay in touch...........................jeff b.
a] remove the under cover [plastic flat head 'screws', total 4]
b] reach under the dash panel and on the left & right sides there is a thumb nut retaining that 'thin' black panel under the cluster. Remove both, careful with the right side, this nut likes to fall down into the center console if you drop it........Your E30 has SRS so the removal of the piece is much tighter than earlier E30's w/o SRS. Pushing on the thumb nut studs from the backside, try to get the panel far enough away from the dash to release the two inner plastic buttons [part of the panel] that help locate it into the dash. NOTE, you may have to lower the steering colunm to remove this panel, it can be real tight.
c] Next, there are 4 lower screws and 2 upper screws retaining the cluster facia panel, removethem and the facia.
d] Finally, remove the 2 screw holding the upper cluster ears and gently pry them free of the dash [they 'stick']
e] BE CAREFUL reinstalling all, the cluster and the facia must be 'perfectly' positioned and secured for that lower cover plate with the thumb nuts, to fit properly.
f] It will take longer to read these 'winded' instructions than to do the job.................best to you, stay in touch...........................jeff b.
dark_islight
10-31-2004, 04:37 PM
Sorry, I didn't pick up on the fact that you have a convertible. This is an excerpt from http://www.strictlyeta.net/technical/dashboard.html maybe this is more useful.
Remove the instrument cluster by doing the following:
a.) Remove the panel that is under the steering wheel. There should be 3 black screws that only get turned 90 degrees and one black plastic screw plug above the brake pedal.
b.) Remove the panel below the cluster. There are two round nuts holding it in. Reach behind the panel to get them (one on the right side, the other near the foglight switch).
c.) Remove the foglight and headlight switch. The nut closest to the door does not come off, it just loosens. The other nut just comes off normally. Wiggle it out.
d.) Remove the two upper screws on the cluster bezel.
e.) Remove the two screws on the lower bezel and the two screws behind it. There may be four right under the steering wheel panel.
f.) Remove the two screws that hold the cluster. NOTE: Before you take the cluster out, take a good look at how it sits (a pic might help). This will help you when you put it back together.
g.) Pull down on (but do not break) the tabs. The cluster comes out top first.
h.) Disconnect all the wiring plugs in the back of the cluster.
here are some other helpful links:
http://e30.bmwdiy.info/
http://www.dirtye30.net/
dark_islight
Remove the instrument cluster by doing the following:
a.) Remove the panel that is under the steering wheel. There should be 3 black screws that only get turned 90 degrees and one black plastic screw plug above the brake pedal.
b.) Remove the panel below the cluster. There are two round nuts holding it in. Reach behind the panel to get them (one on the right side, the other near the foglight switch).
c.) Remove the foglight and headlight switch. The nut closest to the door does not come off, it just loosens. The other nut just comes off normally. Wiggle it out.
d.) Remove the two upper screws on the cluster bezel.
e.) Remove the two screws on the lower bezel and the two screws behind it. There may be four right under the steering wheel panel.
f.) Remove the two screws that hold the cluster. NOTE: Before you take the cluster out, take a good look at how it sits (a pic might help). This will help you when you put it back together.
g.) Pull down on (but do not break) the tabs. The cluster comes out top first.
h.) Disconnect all the wiring plugs in the back of the cluster.
here are some other helpful links:
http://e30.bmwdiy.info/
http://www.dirtye30.net/
dark_islight
johnqin
10-31-2004, 07:37 PM
Sorry, I didn't pick up on the fact that you have a convertible. This is an excerpt from http://www.strictlyeta.net/technical/dashboard.html maybe this is more useful.
Remove the instrument cluster by doing the following:
a.) Remove the panel that is under the steering wheel. There should be 3 black screws that only get turned 90 degrees and one black plastic screw plug above the brake pedal.
b.) Remove the panel below the cluster. There are two round nuts holding it in. Reach behind the panel to get them (one on the right side, the other near the foglight switch).
c.) Remove the foglight and headlight switch. The nut closest to the door does not come off, it just loosens. The other nut just comes off normally. Wiggle it out.
d.) Remove the two upper screws on the cluster bezel.
e.) Remove the two screws on the lower bezel and the two screws behind it. There may be four right under the steering wheel panel.
f.) Remove the two screws that hold the cluster. NOTE: Before you take the cluster out, take a good look at how it sits (a pic might help). This will help you when you put it back together.
g.) Pull down on (but do not break) the tabs. The cluster comes out top first.
h.) Disconnect all the wiring plugs in the back of the cluster.
here are some other helpful links:
http://e30.bmwdiy.info/
http://www.dirtye30.net/
dark_islight
Many thanks to JefferyB and dark islight. Their tips were right on the mark. I would have never expected the thumb screws but that was the key. Beyond that it was just patience and lots of holding my mouth just right and "sneaking the cluster" in just the right way and all went well. It took a little more than 15 minutes but I took my time. Once I had the cluster in my hand the lamp change was a piece of cake.
Remove the instrument cluster by doing the following:
a.) Remove the panel that is under the steering wheel. There should be 3 black screws that only get turned 90 degrees and one black plastic screw plug above the brake pedal.
b.) Remove the panel below the cluster. There are two round nuts holding it in. Reach behind the panel to get them (one on the right side, the other near the foglight switch).
c.) Remove the foglight and headlight switch. The nut closest to the door does not come off, it just loosens. The other nut just comes off normally. Wiggle it out.
d.) Remove the two upper screws on the cluster bezel.
e.) Remove the two screws on the lower bezel and the two screws behind it. There may be four right under the steering wheel panel.
f.) Remove the two screws that hold the cluster. NOTE: Before you take the cluster out, take a good look at how it sits (a pic might help). This will help you when you put it back together.
g.) Pull down on (but do not break) the tabs. The cluster comes out top first.
h.) Disconnect all the wiring plugs in the back of the cluster.
here are some other helpful links:
http://e30.bmwdiy.info/
http://www.dirtye30.net/
dark_islight
Many thanks to JefferyB and dark islight. Their tips were right on the mark. I would have never expected the thumb screws but that was the key. Beyond that it was just patience and lots of holding my mouth just right and "sneaking the cluster" in just the right way and all went well. It took a little more than 15 minutes but I took my time. Once I had the cluster in my hand the lamp change was a piece of cake.
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