Q re dashboard below steering wheel

[SC ic]

I replaced my cracked dash and I'm in the process of putting my car back together. I attempted to reattach the part of the dash in the picture, but discovered that my dash does not contain any fasteners/nuts for the three highlighted screws. Unfortunately I threw away my cracked dash after I thought I had scavenged everything I'd need off of it.

Can any of you tell me what kind of fasteners I need?

Thanks.



p.s. Credit goes to "Chris' BMW Page" for the picture, which I borrowed. He has an excellent DIY re the dashboard swap which I referenced repeatedly during my swap. http://home.comcast.net/~cdeegan9/da...shboard_1.html

[VacMan]

Realoem has it listed as 51451916579. I just ordered some of these the other day. Part #12.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=1113&mospid=47309&btnr=51_1003&hg=51&fg=30

[SC ic]

Realoem has it listed as 51451916579. I just ordered some of these the other day. Part #12.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...03&hg=51&fg=30

That part (#12) is described as a "lock" but it just looks like a screw. Does it come with whatever fastener goes into the main dash?

[VacMan]

That part (#12) is described as a "lock" but it just looks like a screw. Does it come with whatever fastener goes into the main dash?

There isn't a fastener in the dash. The hole in the dash is rectangular. You stick the lock in and twist it 90 degrees to lock it.

EDIT: the "lock" is flat on 2 sides, so it fits through the rectangular part with no problem. When you twist it, it locks into place.

[Cobra Jet]

The areas to which your green arrows are pointing - there are (3) Phillips head screws that go into the holes. The screws go through the holes then secure that knee bolster to the dash.

Pull that panel off again and look where the holes are, I think the screw just threads into the upper dash area, I don't think there is a clip or anything there for it to screw into.

[VacMan]

The areas to which your green arrows are pointing - there are (3) Phillips head screws that go into the holes. The screws go through the holes then secure that knee bolster to the dash.

Pull that panel off again and look where the holes are, I think the screw just threads into the upper dash area, I don't think there is a clip or anything there for it to screw into.

Sorry, but negative. There are no phillips head screws. The airbag knee bolster is a 2-piece affair and there are phillips screws holding the 2 pieces together, but there are no screws in the dash at all.

Tim

[SC ic]

Sorry, but negative. There are no phillips head screws. The airbag knee bolster is a 2-piece affair and there are phillips screws holding the 2 pieces together, but there are no screws in the dash at all.

Tim

Hmmm. I'm pretty sure (at least I was) that the three green arrows are pointing to philips head screws. The holes in that piece would only allow for a screw to pass -- And I have no recollection of removing three "locks."

The areas to which your green arrows are pointing - there are (3) Phillips head screws that go into the holes. The screws go through the holes then secure that knee bolster to the dash.

Pull that panel off again and look where the holes are, I think the screw just threads into the upper dash area, I don't think there is a clip or anything there for it to screw into.

If that's the case, I think my holes must have gotten stripped upon dash removal. I think I'd have to look for fatter screws.

BTW, I appreciate both of you providing your assistance.

[VacMan]

Hmmm. I'm pretty sure (at least I was) that the three green arrows are pointing to philips head screws. The holes in that piece would only allow for a screw to pass -- And I have no recollection of removing three "locks."



If that's the case, I think my holes must have gotten stripped upon dash removal. I think I'd have to look for fatter screws.

BTW, I appreciate both of you providing your assistance.

They're called "locks," but what they are is a plastic screw with 2 of the sides flattened. That way it will pass into the hole with no problems. When you turn it a quarter turn the wide part locks into the dash so you can't pull it out. It allows you to pull all 3 in about 10 seconds with a penny.

Here's a pic of one from Bavauto, as well as the description:

showing products for 1987 325i Convertible.

Part Number Description Price Qty. 51 45 1 916 579 Lock Screw - For Lower Trim Panel - 3 required per car
$0.95
<< Back Related Products

If you don't remember them, it's because the PO probably lost them and replaced them with the wrong stuff. Even the new "locks" for the airbag cars function the same way, they just have a built-in plastic washer on them.

Tim

By the way, in your own picture you can clearly see that those aren't phillips head screws. They're plastic slotted screws wide enough so a coin will fit in them.

[SC ic]

They're called "locks," but what they are is a plastic screw with 2 of the sides flattened. That way it will pass into the hole with no problems. When you turn it a quarter turn the wide part locks into the dash so you can't pull it out. It allows you to pull all 3 in about 10 seconds with a penny.

Here's a pic of one from Bavauto, as well as the description:



If you don't remember them, it's because the PO probably lost them and replaced them with the wrong stuff. Even the new "locks" for the airbag cars function the same way, they just have a built-in plastic washer on them.

Tim

By the way, in your own picture you can clearly see that those aren't phillips head screws. They're plastic slotted screws wide enough so a coin will fit in them.

Cool. I'm sold. Will be ordering those locks tonight. Thanks for the help.

[SC ic]

Duh. I re-read the dash removal instructions from the link I posted and, with your explanation, they now they make sense to me. You are right that the PO must have removed them. He did a lot of monkeying around with the wiring right there. Thanks again.

[VacMan]

No problem. I just checked out that link and the picture after the one you linked clearly shows the rectangle holes I was talking about. Sure wish I'd seen that earlier. :D

Tim

[Cobra Jet]

On my 1991 318ic, my lower knee bolster DEFINITELY has (3) black Phillips head screws in the location as pictured above by the OP. These are the same type of screws found elsewhere in the vehicle. I have removed this part several times and that is what is there on my 318ic... I don't know if something was changed in the 91 model year, but on my vehicle, I definitely have (3) black Phillips head screws. They hold the knee bolster in place without any issues and as far as I can tell, they are 100% factory installed. The other part or section that is under the knee bolster (under streering column and goes between the clutch & brake pedals) is secured by (4) 8 or 10mm fasteners to the bottom of that same knee bolster.

I can take pics to prove for any doubtfuls.

Maybe there was an engineering or design change?

Can someone post a picture of the same area w/ the plastic fasteners installed? I'm curious to see how it looks with those installed.

[VacMan]

On my 1991 318ic, my lower knee bolster DEFINITELY has (3) black Phillips head screws in the location as pictured above by the OP. These are the same type of screws found elsewhere in the vehicle. I have removed this part several times and that is what is there on my 318ic... I don't know if something was changed in the 91 model year, but on my vehicle, I definitely have (3) black Phillips head screws. They hold the knee bolster in place without any issues and as far as I can tell, they are 100% factory installed. The other part or section that is under the knee bolster (under streering column and goes between the clutch & brake pedals) is secured by (4) 8 or 10mm fasteners to the bottom of that same knee bolster.

I can take pics to prove for any doubtfuls.

Maybe there was an engineering or design change?

Can someone post a picture of the same area w/ the plastic fasteners installed? I'm curious to see how it looks with those installed.

Look at his original post, the pic has them installed. You have a different knee bolster than he does, but they didn't change the way they are installed. There are no screws that go into the dash. If yours has them, they're wrong.

Here's realoem's exploded view of a 318ic built in 12/92...note the same fasteners.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=BA73&mospid=47325&btnr=51_1003&hg=51&fg=30

[LovableSheep]

On my 1991 318ic, my lower knee bolster DEFINITELY has (3) black Phillips head screws in the location as pictured above by the OP. These are the same type of screws found elsewhere in the vehicle. I have removed this part several times and that is what is there on my 318ic... I don't know if something was changed in the 91 model year, but on my vehicle, I definitely have (3) black Phillips head screws. They hold the knee bolster in place without any issues and as far as I can tell, they are 100% factory installed. The other part or section that is under the knee bolster (under streering column and goes between the clutch & brake pedals) is secured by (4) 8 or 10mm fasteners to the bottom of that same knee bolster.

I can take pics to prove for any doubtfuls.

Maybe there was an engineering or design change?

My car is like this too. I've taken the stupid thing off so many times in the past few weeks, and it definitely is screws holding it on. The lower section uses 8mm fasteners and the metal part behind these two uses 10mm bolts.

[SC ic]

As a clarification, that isn't my picture. I just borrowed it from the dash replacement DIY website that I used. So the fact that the picture shows the plastic locks doesn't mean that I ever had the plastic locks.

It could be that earlier models used the plastic locks and later models used screws. Mine is a '90 (with airbag), and it definitely had screws in it when I pulled it off. I don't know the year of the replacement dash I installed. but it has the slots that would work with the locks. My knee bolster trim (from my '90) has slots big enough for a screw, but I seriously doubt that plastic lock would fit. Note too that the guys saying there are screws have '91s, and the guy saying there are locks has an '87.

Vac Man, I'll try to post a picture of the holes in my knee bolster trim tonight so you can tell me if that is what your looks like.

Now I'm wondering whether I'm going to need to find a pre-airbag knee bolster and buy the locks.