3m Di-NOC

[Cletonius]

You would have to degrease and clean the dash REALLY well.
Problem is that since the dash is slightly soft, it'll be very prone to damage by anything with sharpish edges, fingernails, etc. In the summer, any concave parts that didn't adhere will shrink and lift. In below freezing temps, the vinyl will tend to be very brittle and again prone to damage.
I agree its not worth the trouble.

With the correct adhesive it won't lift. You just need to use a high heat contact cement (like landau top adhesive) applied with a spray gun.

I was thinking of doing my dash like this, I'm not sure I'm down for alcantara.

http://roykeithclassics.com/Dash_Pad_Repair.html

[Fusion]

I can imagine doing a fiberglass track car dash.
I haven't tried sticking anything to the e30 dash, but vinyl just doesn't stick to some surfaces like the fake leather plastic dash in my DD, or the shitty vinyl stuff on the sunvisors, engine covers. As long as it has a texture, you've basically got air channels and the adhesive never sticks 100%. A smooth, hard material is best of course.

I would take a sample piece and clean/degrease a part of the dash to check how well it sticks. If you can peel the vinyl off with ease, you'll never get it to work.

[Cletonius]

I can imagine doing a fiberglass track car dash.
I haven't tried sticking anything to the e30 dash, but vinyl just doesn't stick to some surfaces like the fake leather plastic dash in my DD, or the shitty vinyl stuff on the sunvisors, engine covers. As long as it has a texture, you've basically got air channels and the adhesive never sticks 100%. A smooth, hard material is best of course.

I would take a sample piece and clean/degrease a part of the dash to check how well it sticks. If you can peel the vinyl off with ease, you'll never get it to work.

Did you look at the pics in the link?

Just looking at a dash recover objectively, you'd obviously want to start with a cracked shitty one. You'll have to fill/sand the cracks and glue some new foam. Then after that's sculpted you can glue your vinyl down. You'd have to use upholstery vinyl and sprayed on adhesive, peel and stick isn't going to cut it by any stretch of the imagination

[Fusion]

OP meant cast vinyl, like the sticker carbon stuff, not fake leather vinyl.

[Cletonius]

OP meant cast vinyl, like the sticker carbon stuff, not fake leather vinyl.

Yeah, the sticker stuff is a no go for sure

[NV325i]

Thanks all for the advice.