how to switch the VIN tag?

[Gadea]

When replacing a cracked dashboard with another one from another E30 (duh), how do you remove the VIN tags without causing cracks on the dash?

['e30love']

Use a razor those clips are two one on top of the other, the lil ball up top just carefully slide a razor under it and it'll pop up after that your golden I just went through this.

[Gadea]

how do you then attach the old tag to the new dash?

[MR 325]

You can pop it out very carefully with a small screwdriver. If done right it should pop in to the "new" dash.

[StereoInstaller1]

You need to smear grease all over your face and do it on a dark sidestreet, wearing a black jacket and a black beanie. You should also be carrying a brick.

[ak-]

lololololol^

Listen to Luke, he's been here longer.

[Gadea]

You need to smear grease all over your face and do it on a dark sidestreet, wearing a black jacket and a black beanie. You should also be carrying a brick.

[FredK]

Yeah, the part that gets popped up with a razor, small screwdriver, or rivet popping tool is a plastic rivet. It is easily extracted and reinstalled with a minimum of fuss.

[elmercc]

What if the dash was replaced, and they did not switch the VIN tags. Is there anyway to order one for your car? Does BMW sell replacement VIN tags for the dash?

[Gadea]

What if the dash was replaced, and they did not switch the VIN tags. Is there anyway to order one for your car? Does BMW sell replacement VIN tags for the dash?

Never heard of someone doing that, but I've been wrong before. I will try to switch the VIN tags tonight as suggested above. Somehow I thought it would be harder. Guess I just have to be careful enough not to apply excessive force when pulling the tag. Even more careful when removing the one I don't need.

[StereoInstaller1]

What if the dash was replaced, and they did not switch the VIN tags. Is there anyway to order one for your car? Does BMW sell replacement VIN tags for the dash?

Back in Springfield, OR, our local dealer sent a parts driver out to my shop. Parts driver "pencil etched" (rubbed a pencil across a piece of paper) across the VIN under the hood and ordered me a new one for the dash.

It cost me $7.00

Delivered.

Luke

[Gadea]

Did this today, I removed them all no problem, but only one out of 4 rivets made it. The two on the bad dash were so brittle they shattered when they saw the screwdriver coming. I'll figure out a way to re-attach the tag.

[swerved300]

Did this today, I removed them all no problem, but only one out of 4 rivets made it. The two on the bad dash were so brittle they shattered when they saw the screwdriver coming. I'll figure out a way to re-attach the tag.

dude... in the future(for anyone searching for this, actually)- use an awl to carefully push each fastener up from the back; there's two small holes on the underside of the dash to do this. It will look like two little black mushrooms. then, so as not to put any strain on the 'cap' carefully slide a shiv under the vin plate and work it free.

[ck_taft325is]

dude... in the future(for anyone searching for this, actually)- use an awl to carefully push each fastener up from the back; there's two small holes on the underside of the dash to do this. It will look like two little black mushrooms. then, so as not to put any strain on the 'cap' carefully slide a shiv under the vin plate and work it free.

Spoken like a true inmate!

He's got it down to a T.

[Gadea]

one of my dashes had that foam that covers the underside over the holes you're talking about, and the holes on the other one were really pinholes. The fastener didn't actually go through them, so I think should I had used your approach it wouldn't have done any better. But I understand what you mean by looking at the fasteners now they're out.