Removing air vents from dashboard

[nmlss2006]

I searched but I didn't really come up with an answer: it appears that the air vent assemblies are held into the dash by four little knobs, two on top of the vent and two below. Is it safe to simply pull the vents out from the dash? Can the same thing be done for the side defroster vents?

[dashboardmonkey]

there is screws up inside of there, you have to remove them to remove vents....

[nmlss2006]

Aha! How do I get to the screws?

[dashboardmonkey]

remove hvac panel and plastic inside glove box and remove cluster. im sure there is a little more to it but you just have to get into it and figure it out

[george graves]

Are you guys talking about the center vents?

[nmlss2006]

All of them actually. The dash is... well, it's the only thing left in the interior, TBH. I want to remove the vents to clean them and to try my hand at Colorplussing the dash (yes, I love easy challenges, why do you ask?). I found http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/show...ove+dash+vents this but it's clear as mud. I've had my head inside the dash for a good half hour and I could not see any screws or removable parts or tabs...

[george graves]

Why is it you don't pull the whole dash?

I just snapped you some pics. One moment please.

Here ya go:

[nmlss2006]

Thanks george, your help is really appreciated, but I think I've been misunderstood - what I want to remove are the vents that you see in front of the dash, the ones that contain the vanes that will flop downwards on old cars.
Edit to add: I know how to get the vanes out, but then I don't know how to get the surrounds out.
As to removing the dash: how exciting is it, assuming that everything is out of it?

Attached pictures for clarity.

[george graves]

Oh. Those are hard to get out, but you can. I believe you rotate down, and them rotate really hard till you hear a click. Then pull it out. It's been covered before. You'll need to search.

BTW - what is Colorplussing?

[nmlss2006]

Oh yes - the VANES are OK, it's the stupid surrounds.. the ones with the 0-1 knobs?
Colorplussing = using colorplus products = dye to get the dash black and matte AND provide UV protection.
Example of results here:

http://odysseos.smiling-web.com/~lfabio/cars/E30325iS/8.jpg

http://odysseos.smiling-web.com/~lfabio/cars/E30325iS/9.jpg

[36brua]

Oh. Those are hard to get out, but you can. I believe you rotate down, and them rotate really hard till you hear a click. Then pull it out. It's been covered before. You'll need to search.

BTW - what is Colorplussing?

removing 'vanes'

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=171238

[george graves]

^yea, now he's saying he wants the whole thing out - who know.... Undo the screws as shown in the pics.

I don't know man - I would think removing the dash is your best bet here. Good luck - you've confused me as to what you want.

[nmlss2006]

Well, I'll give it a shot and report back with pictures! I'm desperately resisting taking the dash out because I'm afraid it'll crack when I do so.
For reference BTW: assemblies 1, 2 and 3 in this page http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...86&hg=64&fg=05 are what I am referring to. They are separate from the air ducts that are screwed into the dash in your pictures and they contain the vanes that you remove by rotating down and 'clicking' free.

[gearheadE30]

I know the middle one at least pulls straight out. You have to pull HARD after you get the rotating thingies out. the tabs that hold them in usually break a little, but it should still go back in fine.

[nmlss2006]

The problem is, I tried. The *($()*#!@ are glued to the vinyl on the sides. I think they're staying where they are, I don't want to have to look for a new dash.