Not joined yet? Register for free and enjoy features such as alerts, private messaging and viewing latest posts and topics.

removing the dash! on my own..... advice needed!

2003 - 2009, roadster, coupe, facelift
Post Reply
User avatar
Beedub
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 10973
Joined: Wed Sep 10, 2008 2:25 pm
Location: Sutton Coldfield

removing the dash! on my own..... advice needed!

Post by Beedub » Sun Sep 24, 2017 3:37 pm

Ok this is a biggy.....

i Love the style of our interiors its a really cool place to be, but the materials leave alot to be desired! sooooooo..... I'm going for it.. i want to remove the entire dash and door cards and I'm going to get it trimmed in nappa leather with ///M style stitch to match the steering wheel.... Ive never took a dash out a car before and I'm guessing this is going to be a whopper of a job, but i definitely capable just need some pointers, can anyone give me some tips, or a guide for removing this at all?? Whatever happens it need to be able to put it back exactly as it came from the factory.

Tips would be very welcome, as soon as i feel ready I'm going to start the strip down.
www.topwrapz.com - Multi Award Winning - Detailing | Vinyl Wrap | Paint Protection Film Specialists |

User avatar
groovy_hippy
Member
Member
Posts: 395
Joined: Sun Mar 15, 2015 5:37 pm
Location: Derby

removing the dash! on my own..... advice needed!

Post by groovy_hippy » Sun Sep 24, 2017 4:51 pm

Try somewhere in here....
http://workshop-manuals.com/bmw/z_serie ... im_panels/

Edit - I can't seem to find the dashboard bit, but it must be in there somewhere!

Would be interested to know how it goes. I fancy doing mine in alcantara but it's not a small job is it? :?
Current ... 2007 Z4 Coupe 3.0si Sport | Manual | Alpine White | Black leather | Piano black dash
Intro to Zeds, now sold... 2007 Z4 2.5i SE Roadster | Manual | Stratus Grey | Red Leather | CDV delete | DLV backbox

User avatar
groovy_hippy
Member
Member
Posts: 395
Joined: Sun Mar 15, 2015 5:37 pm
Location: Derby

removing the dash! on my own..... advice needed!

Post by groovy_hippy » Sun Sep 24, 2017 5:35 pm

Bingo - the dashboard is called the 'instrument panel trim'! Looks like it's an 'everything out' job...

http://workshop-manuals.com/bmw/z_serie ... anel_trim/
Current ... 2007 Z4 Coupe 3.0si Sport | Manual | Alpine White | Black leather | Piano black dash
Intro to Zeds, now sold... 2007 Z4 2.5i SE Roadster | Manual | Stratus Grey | Red Leather | CDV delete | DLV backbox

User avatar
Beedub
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 10973
Joined: Wed Sep 10, 2008 2:25 pm
Location: Sutton Coldfield

removing the dash! on my own..... advice needed!

Post by Beedub » Sun Sep 24, 2017 7:49 pm

thanks for that..... after a recent stint in the new cayman, and seeing another members post on his changes to the interior.... i decided.... its time to give the interior a new lease of life :evil: :evil:

look at this!! maybe the colours may not be to taste but wow!

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

[img]https://image.noelshack.com/fichiers/20 ... 4e6f0.jpeg[/img
www.topwrapz.com - Multi Award Winning - Detailing | Vinyl Wrap | Paint Protection Film Specialists |

User avatar
adam1985
Member
Member
Posts: 573
Joined: Fri Apr 04, 2014 12:23 pm
Location: Newcastle upon Tyne

removing the dash! on my own..... advice needed!

Post by adam1985 » Mon Sep 25, 2017 10:37 am

Those seats in red :wub: :wub: do you know what they are?
57 BMW 3.0si sport Coupe, Carbon Black, Bilstein B12 Suspension, CSL reps & style 339s for winter - Current
10 Skoda Fabia mk2 vRS, Rallye Green, Black Roof, Black Gigaro Alloys - Gone
08 Fiat Grande Punto Dynamic Sport, Red, Dual Sunroof - Gone

User avatar
tomscott
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 7466
Joined: Mon Sep 19, 2011 12:26 pm
Location: Manchester
Contact:

removing the dash! on my own..... advice needed!

Post by tomscott » Mon Sep 25, 2017 11:26 am

As long as you dont get the steeringwheel stitched like that :rofl: The lines are terrible.

Image


love the rest tho! Would love the dash top to be done in leather with the tri stitching. Super cool.

Wonder if the bottom part has also been done in leather, the white section. The extended leather packages in the Porsches are lovely.

Would stay well clear of alcantara. Not sure why anyone likes it, it feels awful is a cheap man made fibre that wears really badly as the oils from your hands gets embedded it cant be cleaned so has to be replaced. GT3s etc that have seen some use look awful with patchy dark rubbed up areas. Least with leather unless it gets cut or scratched 30 mins of elbow grease will get it looking like new.

Image

Leather all the way :thumbsup:
Last edited by tomscott on Mon Sep 25, 2017 12:25 pm, edited 2 times in total.

User avatar
Roundozo
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts: 1526
Joined: Wed Dec 18, 2013 5:17 pm
Location: Hampshire

removing the dash! on my own..... advice needed!

Post by Roundozo » Mon Sep 25, 2017 12:15 pm

I like that interior and wish you all the best beedub! It's nice to see people take a fresh look at things. One thing of note however, isn't that steering wheel airbag cover a bit of an issue though. That part is thoroughly thought out in design so that when/if the airbag goes off its designed to do so in a certain way to avoid injury. Surely that cover will effect the dynamics of the airbag release? Who knows but I wouldn't want to be the first to try.
Past - Z4 Coupe, gone but not forgotten
Present - 530d M sport touring

User avatar
tomscott
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 7466
Joined: Mon Sep 19, 2011 12:26 pm
Location: Manchester
Contact:

removing the dash! on my own..... advice needed!

Post by tomscott » Mon Sep 25, 2017 12:44 pm

Roundozo wrote: Mon Sep 25, 2017 12:15 pm I like that interior and wish you all the best beedub! It's nice to see people take a fresh look at things. One thing of note however, isn't that steering wheel airbag cover a bit of an issue though. That part is thoroughly thought out in design so that when/if the airbag goes off its designed to do so in a certain way to avoid injury. Surely that cover will effect the dynamics of the airbag release? Who knows but I wouldn't want to be the first to try.
That is probably why the stitching is there, following the release line of the airbag. Weak part to let the airbag release.

Worth considering tho, any good car trimmer should sort this as a normal part of workflow.

User avatar
Roundozo
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts: 1526
Joined: Wed Dec 18, 2013 5:17 pm
Location: Hampshire

removing the dash! on my own..... advice needed!

Post by Roundozo » Mon Sep 25, 2017 1:21 pm

^good point.
Past - Z4 Coupe, gone but not forgotten
Present - 530d M sport touring

User avatar
MrPT
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 4745
Joined: Sun Oct 21, 2012 7:44 pm
Location: Bucks/Oxon

removing the dash! on my own..... advice needed!

Post by MrPT » Mon Sep 25, 2017 1:32 pm

Nice - where did you find those pics?!

I've looked into this too - just a copy of extended leather (plus dash in two tone with an Imola lower half), alcantara roof liner, Recaro PPs - but won't get round to doing it any time soon (£££s!).

Alcantara is a thin material and will get you flat seams. If you want that "factory" Porsche/Aston/BMW etc flat seamed look in leather, you need to find an upholsterer with decent skiving skills/equipment, or design everything carefully so the raised seams don't look too amateurish (e.g. follow the edge of the binnacle, the corners of the transmission tunnel etc).

This guy might be a good starting point as he's a forum member and has already done quite a few things for his own coupe.
2008 Z4MC: heavy wheels | crap suspension | skittish rear end | wobbly engine | not enough induction noise | underwhelming turn in | inconsistent braking | lardy battery | chubby steering wheel
2006 Z4 2.5si: gone

User avatar
Beedub
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 10973
Joined: Wed Sep 10, 2008 2:25 pm
Location: Sutton Coldfield

removing the dash! on my own..... advice needed!

Post by Beedub » Mon Sep 25, 2017 5:13 pm

MrPT wrote: Mon Sep 25, 2017 1:32 pm Nice - where did you find those pics?!

I've looked into this too - just a copy of extended leather (plus dash in two tone with an Imola lower half), alcantara roof liner, Recaro PPs - but won't get round to doing it any time soon (£££s!).

Alcantara is a thin material and will get you flat seams. If you want that "factory" Porsche/Aston/BMW etc flat seamed look in leather, you need to find an upholsterer with decent skiving skills/equipment, or design everything carefully so the raised seams don't look too amateurish (e.g. follow the edge of the binnacle, the corners of the transmission tunnel etc).

This guy might be a good starting point as he's a forum member and has already done quite a few things for his own coupe.
This is who I'm planning to use 8) 8) 8) 8) 8)
www.topwrapz.com - Multi Award Winning - Detailing | Vinyl Wrap | Paint Protection Film Specialists |

User avatar
mcbeee
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 3309
Joined: Tue Nov 10, 2009 3:13 pm
Location: Chestermere, Alberta

removing the dash! on my own..... advice needed!

Post by mcbeee » Tue Sep 26, 2017 3:49 am

Sold the Z4 M Roadster and a 911 Carrera S now I have a 2021 Z4 3.0i
8) 8) 8)

User avatar
Darkangelv2
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts: 1276
Joined: Fri Apr 10, 2015 1:20 pm
Location: Southampton

removing the dash! on my own..... advice needed!

Post by Darkangelv2 » Tue Sep 26, 2017 7:40 am

Beedub wrote: Mon Sep 25, 2017 5:13 pm
MrPT wrote: Mon Sep 25, 2017 1:32 pm Nice - where did you find those pics?!

I've looked into this too - just a copy of extended leather (plus dash in two tone with an Imola lower half), alcantara roof liner, Recaro PPs - but won't get round to doing it any time soon (£££s!).

Alcantara is a thin material and will get you flat seams. If you want that "factory" Porsche/Aston/BMW etc flat seamed look in leather, you need to find an upholsterer with decent skiving skills/equipment, or design everything carefully so the raised seams don't look too amateurish (e.g. follow the edge of the binnacle, the corners of the transmission tunnel etc).

This guy might be a good starting point as he's a forum member and has already done quite a few things for his own coupe.
This is who I'm planning to use 8) 8) 8) 8) 8)
I've got his previous interior. Still looks and feels lovely. Can seriously recommend!! :evil:
BMW Z4 2006 2.5SI - 437M Wheels - Strut Brace - H&R ARBs
Image
3.0si Brake Conversion - Custom Nappa Sport Interior - Z4M Bumper+Bonnet -
BC Racing BR Coilovers - AFE Stage 2

User avatar
MrPT
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 4745
Joined: Sun Oct 21, 2012 7:44 pm
Location: Bucks/Oxon

removing the dash! on my own..... advice needed!

Post by MrPT » Tue Sep 26, 2017 9:51 pm

2008 Z4MC: heavy wheels | crap suspension | skittish rear end | wobbly engine | not enough induction noise | underwhelming turn in | inconsistent braking | lardy battery | chubby steering wheel
2006 Z4 2.5si: gone

User avatar
Beedub
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 10973
Joined: Wed Sep 10, 2008 2:25 pm
Location: Sutton Coldfield

removing the dash! on my own..... advice needed!

Post by Beedub » Tue Sep 26, 2017 10:14 pm

MrPT wrote: Tue Sep 26, 2017 9:51 pm https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/152715392315

Worth a low bid maybe? :D
have done so and offers were rejected :-( offers which i felt were fair.
www.topwrapz.com - Multi Award Winning - Detailing | Vinyl Wrap | Paint Protection Film Specialists |

Post Reply