Why doesnt this fit?

[grays]

maybe get a dremal and trim the metal bracket

[jrobie79]

that little cutout on the left side of the picture needs to be bigger...I got a non-airbag console in mine right now, bit of trimming underneath, and that cutout on the left side needs to be lengthened

[MR 325]

So...will an '88 console fit in a '90?

No, 1990 cars have airbags. 1988-1989 had their own console too.

[flying_violin]

If I trim much more I'll come right thru the thing...

That explains why it was so hard to install my center console... I rescued my car from a careless cigarette smoker (dumb idea, by the way), and needed to replace the interior due to the number of burns everywhere. If you trim where you were trimming until your notch is flush with the surrounding material, it will fit in there. However, I think the early model consoles must have been a hair taller as well, as it is a pretty tight squeeze to jam it under the dash.

As for the breaker button, if you like the look of only having the two window buttons, you could put the breaker button under the shift boot area. You can still get to it pretty easy if you need to (I never have) but it will be out of the way most of the time. Or I imagine you could run it up and put it in one of the blank spots by the rear defroster button.

[lambo]

No, 1990 cars have airbags. 1988-1989 had their own console too.

Damn...guess I'll have to trim it, if possible.

As for the breaker button, if you like the look of only having the two window buttons, you could put the breaker button under the shift boot area. You can still get to it pretty easy if you need to (I never have) but it will be out of the way most of the time. Or I imagine you could run it up and put it in one of the blank spots by the rear defroster button.

I've been wondering what I was gonna do with that breaker button...

[bmw325csi]

When I installed a airbag knee bolster into my non airbag car, I trimmed the center console a bit where the bolster meets it.

Then I went back the the stock bolster and now I have a gap between the console and bolster. ;(

[Simon S]

It can be done.
I put an early model console in my late model..

My next battles involved retrofitting early model/non-airbag parts including console, trim piece above steering wheel column, and driver’s side kick panel. Luckily, BMW had kept/used the same tooling (essentially the same part) with minor trimming. I could almost envision factory workers – standing in front of some jig – trimming out the parts as needed for the air bag models.

Cross-member getting trimmed to fit over brace from transmission tunnel.



Comparison shot of old and new consoles. Note big chunk trimmed from airbag console.



Here's where we can see the work of an hourly paid employee banging out trim work on the airbag console. I just needed to copy that work.



Made a quick template to mimic the shape.







Finished. Cut-out area allows for clearance of airbag knee bolster.

[Todd Black 88]

That explains why it was so hard to install my center console... I rescued my car from a careless cigarette smoker (dumb idea, by the way), and needed to replace the interior due to the number of burns everywhere. If you trim where you were trimming until your notch is flush with the surrounding material, it will fit in there. However, I think the early model consoles must have been a hair taller as well, as it is a pretty tight squeeze to jam it under the dash.

As for the breaker button, if you like the look of only having the two window buttons, you could put the breaker button under the shift boot area. You can still get to it pretty easy if you need to (I never have) but it will be out of the way most of the time. Or I imagine you could run it up and put it in one of the blank spots by the rear defroster button.

Damn...guess I'll have to trim it, if possible.



I've been wondering what I was gonna do with that breaker button...

Go pick up an early e3"0 breaker. They were mounted on the dash, next to the defrost/hazard buttons, and they have the right bezel surround to match.

[Simon S]

not to mention, I need a three button cuz of breaker..

Fuck the window breaker button. Just tuck it under (mine is). Why that [useless] button is on the passenger side was always an additional mystery to me..



Edit:
Nutshell: All models and years of e30s use the same tooling/mold for the console. Selective trimming accommodated fit as needed.

Additional: there are indentations on the underside where buttons are located. You can see them in the background of the first photo I posted.

Like if you really wanted to mount the breaker in the console, just use an exacto knife to create the hole per location. Note that this wouldn't be factory form working from your "2 button", as "3 button" consoles have window switches at middle position/hole - and breaker button is at most-forward/passenger side. It appears that "2 button" consoles from factory have both of the forward-position holes punched out.

If I had to put three buttons in a virgin console, I'd put the window buttons in the most rearward "holes" - and put the breaker button in the forward-most drivers-side "hole".

So yeah, again, fuck the breaker button. The labeling on it has probably long faded out anyway. If I were you I'd be happy to celebrate having a 2 button and carry on.

[lambo]

So, could I just put a non-airbag knee bolster in my car and not have to cut up the center console? Or does that involve completely taking out the airbag computer and crap? In other words, which method is a bigger pain in the ass?

[Simon S]

So, could I just put a non-airbag knee bolster in my car and not have to cut up the center console? Or does that involve completely taking out the airbag computer and crap? In other words, which method is a bigger pain in the ass?

Just make a quick template from your original console and trim the chunk out of the non-airbag console. The photos I posted show all the tools and steps needed. A monkey could do it.. and way easier than fiddle-fuckin around with the knee bolster mounting bracket/hardware.

[mulletman]

No, 1990 cars have airbags. 1988-1989 had their own console too.

Not all of them, right? My 1990 model is an August '89 build, with no airbag.

[MR 325]

Not all of them, right? My 1990 model is an August '89 build, with no airbag.

I've heard some super early 1990 cars were non-airbag although I haven't personally seen one.

[Varinn]

I've got a 1990 325i that was luckily a non-airbag model, I'm also doing the breaker relocation to the dash as well so I can put my heated seat switches where the 2 window breaker buttons go on a 4-door.

Oh, I also learned yesterday that the iX front console is different from the non iX, it's a different height to account for the different trans tunnels

[ScHpAnKy]

for what it's worth - I have a '91 airbag center console (as well as the rest of the interior) in my '88