E46 M3 cluster swap

[nando]

it only occured to me last night that I have an extra dash in the garage, right next to me, for test fitting this stuff...

anyway - the plan for now is to mount the E46 cluster into a gutted E30 cluster shell. The E46 cluster is significantly smaller (and lighter!). It actually fits pretty well, but what do I do about the gaps around the outsides?

I was thinking maybe there's some sort of expanding foam I could use, maybe vynil wrap or plasti-dip it? thoughts?

I also thought about cutting the face off the E46 cluster and putting everything inside an E30 cluster, but they have very different shapes. Ironically, the E30 cluster is curved while the E46 cluster is basically square. I'd also have to buy another parts cluster, which I don't really want to do. This one was already broken so I didn't feel bad about hacking it to peices.

[Jean]

Make a cover that will overlap the whole thing?

[nando]

you mean over top? then I wouldn't have access to the trip odometer buttons..

I have some plastic I could use to go around the cluster, but it would be really hard to get that curved shape without gaps.

[e30sd]

Buy an e46.

[Jparkr]

talk to this guy, he did it.

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=163048

[Jean]

^Yep, since the e46 cluster is smaller than the e30, looks like you have to hack/cut the e30 cluster housing and make it fit lol

[IRON-E]

Nando; use a piece of cardboard and wrap it with some vinyl. I covered my GPS in the center console this way and I can move it from car to car without much effort.

Shitty pic for reference

[nando]

Buy an e46.

no thanks :p

[nando]

talk to this guy, he did it.

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=163048

that's perfect! it looks like he made his own lense/coverplate.

[James Crivellone]

whatcha working on?

[nando]

well I want a tach that actually goes as high as my rev limiter.. and E46 M3 clusters are cheap. :p

[James Crivellone]

I have an e30 m3 gauge face I could scan for you... that plus an E28 m5 coding plug (I have one you can buy)

2cents ;)

[nando]

yeah, but I want the trick adjusting-redline tach too, and I've already got all the stuff I need. :)

besides, I've already modified the cluster to fit an LC-1 wideband gauge where the SMG display used to be..

[James Crivellone]

yeah, but I want the trick adjusting-redline tach too, and I've already got all the stuff I need. :)

besides, I've already modified the cluster to fit an LC-1 wideband gauge where the SMG display used to be..

lololol, that is cool though


<-----Purist (as you know) :p

[nando]

It will be 100% reversable, dont worry :D