Leather wrapped dash?

[khiobrien2]

Ok so… had a cracked dash, tried a dash cap. It’s on still, but looks like shit since it’s plastic and I just can’t get used to it.

Would totally buy an uncracked dash if it wouldn’t crack again soon… so that leads me to leather wrapping. There is currently one for sale on ebay that looks AWFUL, but there are also non attached leather wraps being sold. Has anyone tried using one of these wraps? Anyone gone through a company that did it for them and they were happy with the outcome? Thanks!

[Vincenze]

Real leather doesn't stretch much, so it must be sewed.

Somewhere in Poland: https://amx-performance.com/bmw-e30-interior-parts/

[It's Soda Not Pop]

Why not just flock or leather wrap the cap since you already have it. I believe CATuned did this with a cap and I think it looks pretty good IMO.

[Panici]

Real leather doesn't stretch much, so it must be sewed.
Somewhere in Poland: https://amx-performance.com/bmw-e30-interior-parts/

Something along these lines is on the 20 year plan for my E30.
Would want to get center console, glovebox, and kickpanel done to match.

[khiobrien2]

Why not just flock or leather wrap the cap since you already have it. I believe CATuned did this with a cap and I think it looks pretty good IMO.

Didnt even think about that... good idea.

[khiobrien2]

Real leather doesn't stretch much, so it must be sewed.

Somewhere in Poland: https://amx-performance.com/bmw-e30-interior-parts/

Definitely in the future for me... whole different tax bracket I've got to get to first though lol.

[reelizmpro]

I never liked caps...they always seem to warp over time if you live in a warm climate. Imagining a warped one with a wrap on it to make it look nice is cringey to me.

[khiobrien2]

I never liked caps...they always seem to warp over time if you live in a warm climate. Imagining a warped one with a wrap on it to make it look nice is cringey to me.

Yeah... wish I had a better pic but you can see mine already warped above the air vent. Only been on there a couple months too.

Honestly think Im just going to buy a nice dash and let it end up cracking. Whatever.

[reelizmpro]

Yeah... wish I had a better pic but you can see mine already warped above the air vent. Only been on there a couple months too.

Honestly think Im just going to buy a nice dash and let it end up cracking. Whatever.

I've bought used dashes when they were $100-200 like 15 years ago and they haven't cracked on me yet (knock on wood). My M3 has the original dash and it's flawless. If the previous owners took care of them, why would they crack now? Granted, dashes are only getting older but that doesn't mean they will crack on you. It all depends on who is taking care of them.

[It's Soda Not Pop]

I guess it all depends on how much money you want to spend

[benfidar]

I've bought used dashes when they were $100-200 like 15 years ago and they haven't cracked on me yet (knock on wood). My M3 has the original dash and it's flawless. If the previous owners took care of them, why would they crack now? Granted, dashes are only getting older but that doesn't mean they will crack on you. It all depends on who is taking care of them.

My understanding is that taking care of them makes no difference. The problem is with the expansion and contraction rates of the top layer and the underlying foam. If they had the same characteristics they would not have cracked. Keeping it in the garage would minimize the long-term temperature swings. My car spent 30 years outside in cloudy and mild Germany. It still cracked. I don't think it was an effect of negligence, but low materials quality. Padded dashes were not that new and right after the e30 they got much better even on really cheap cars.

[reelizmpro]

My understanding is that taking care of them makes no difference. The problem is with the expansion and contraction rates of the top layer and the underlying foam. If they had the same characteristics they would not have cracked. Keeping it in the garage would minimize the long-term temperature swings. My car spent 30 years outside in cloudy and mild Germany. It still cracked. I don't think it was an effect of negligence, but low materials quality. Padded dashes were not that new and right after the e30 they got much better even on really cheap cars.

Of course it does, otherwise all E30 dashboards would be cracked by now...but they aren't. I have never had a dash crack on me and I've had an E30 in LA since 92. Taking care of dashes means moderating the temps, UV exposure (sunshades/car covers/garages/treatments), conditioning and of course it helps living in a mild climate that isn't too cold or too hot so I won't take all the credit. From what I've read, Germany gets extremely cold in Winter so I wouldn't call that "mild." LA is mild, our temps range from 50-110F but along the coast it stays between 50-90F all year round.

[nadodude111]

Of course it does, otherwise all E30 dashboards would be cracked by now...but they aren't. I have never had a dash crack on me and I've had an E30 in LA since 92. Taking care of dashes means moderating the temps, UV exposure (sunshades/car covers/garages/treatments), conditioning and of course it helps living in a mild climate that isn't too cold or too hot so I won't take all the credit. From what I've read, Germany gets extremely cold in Winter so I wouldn't call that "mild." LA is mild, our temps range from 50-110F but along the coast it stays between 50-90F all year round.

Agreed. My dash is original to the car and it’s crack free because it spent most of its parked life in a garage. Being a California car with mild temp swings contributed.

[benfidar]

I grew up in LA with temp swings between 30 in winter and 115 in summer! I think that the vast majority of them have cracked. The car was designed for Germany, so if the cold did them in there, it means something. One other thing, more may have survived in California because the e30 was always a premium car and never an ordinary car, like the vast majority of them were in Europe. I doubt many were coddled there as they were here.

[moatilliatta]

Another AMX vote.