Dashboard removal E86

StigJ · 01-15-2020, 03:47 AM

Have anyone here removed the whole dashboard? Is it too much of a hassle?
I have a water leak and would like to get the front part of the carpet out both to bring it inside my house to let dry and to fix the leak.
Looks like the water is coming in from the firewall around where the fan is placed.

This is the current status of the car

Here are traces of water and mould. So I believe it comes in from here.

Michael9218 · 01-15-2020, 06:12 AM

As far as you’ve gotten, no. I would go for it. Remove the steering wheel (disconnect battery first), remove the column trim piece then just hunt down the various fasteners and electrical connections.

Vanne · 01-15-2020, 06:41 AM

have fun with that

remeber to take your time. I hope its from that part, and not further behind the HVAC box.

Efthreeoh · 02-02-2020, 03:04 PM

Maybe you do, or don't know about newtis.info:

I think this is the bulk of the info to remove the dash panel.

https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/e...ements/GEbF3xe

That said. A good way to find water leaks in the firewall area is to use a smoke test machine. You need to use a commercial smoke test machine that creates odorless smoke. There are inexpensive DIY smoke machines, but they use mineral oil, which smells like a dead dog and probably would stay in the interior for some time.

StigJ · 02-04-2020, 01:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

Maybe you do, or don't know about newtis.info:

I think this is the bulk of the info to remove the dash panel.

https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/e...ements/GEbF3xe

That said. A good way to find water leaks in the firewall area is to use a smoke test machine. You need to use a commercial smoke test machine that creates odorless smoke. There are inexpensive DIY smoke machines, but they use mineral oil, which smells like a dead dog and probably would stay in the interior for some time.

Thanks. I removed everything the day after I posted this thread

Also found the area where the leak is. It's just around the air inlet for the fan.

Vanne · 02-04-2020, 05:41 AM

Perfect, glad you tracked it down mate

Black911S · 02-07-2020, 10:16 AM

Any thought of installing a replacement dash w/o the navigation opening? Good time to get rid of that monstrosity. :-)

StigJ · 02-10-2020, 06:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SDMCoupe

Any thought of installing a replacement dash w/o the navigation opening? Good time to get rid of that monstrosity. :-)

Nope. The car was delivered with this so it stays. I like to have my car easily returnable to stock.

racerbruce · 02-10-2020, 05:56 PM

Wowie - you are to be commended for your tenacity to resolve this leak. Is there any chance the air inlet for the fan that you referenced has a gasketed surface....and a replacement gasket and perhaps additional caulking or sealant approved for wet surfaces could be added. If yes, does this mean the gasket could only be replaced from the interior which may require dashboard removal, or could it be addressed from the engine compartment side?

StigJ · 02-11-2020, 03:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by racerbruce

Wowie - you are to be commended for your tenacity to resolve this leak. Is there any chance the air inlet for the fan that you referenced has a gasketed surface....and a replacement gasket and perhaps additional caulking or sealant approved for wet surfaces could be added. If yes, does this mean the gasket could only be replaced from the interior which may require dashboard removal, or could it be addressed from the engine compartment side?

This picture is taken from the engine bay. I have removed the panel that is just in front of the windscreen. Here you can see that the gasket is foam. And it's installed from the inside. I guess you can seal it better from the outside with some kind of sealant, but I will try to replace the OEM from the inside. https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/sho...diagId=64_1365

The panel that is in front of the windscreen should hold the water out and from running down, but I guess mine was a little crooked, so I will also replace that including the plastic plugs.
Part no. 1:https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/sho...diagId=51_4961

racerbruce · 02-11-2020, 08:42 AM

Well done - such an incredibly enormous undertaking to remove the dash; we're hoping it's successful and will watch for your updates -

01-15-2020, 03:47 AM	#1
StigJ Lieutenant 333 Rep 509 Posts Drives: '06 Z4 Coupe & '14 F30 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Norway iTrader: (0)	Dashboard removal E86 Have anyone here removed the whole dashboard? Is it too much of a hassle? I have a water leak and would like to get the front part of the carpet out both to bring it inside my house to let dry and to fix the leak. Looks like the water is coming in from the firewall around where the fan is placed. This is the current status of the car Here are traces of water and mould. So I believe it comes in from here. __________________ My Hellrot '06 BMW Z4 3.0si Coupe and My Mineral Grey '14 F30 (sold) New daily: Sunset Orange 330E G20 Instagram: @StigJ77 & @bmwe86driver
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01-15-2020, 06:12 AM	#2
Michael9218 Lieutenant 595 Rep 484 Posts Drives: 2007 Z4 M Coupe Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Woodstock, GA iTrader: (0)	As far as you’ve gotten, no. I would go for it. Remove the steering wheel (disconnect battery first), remove the column trim piece then just hunt down the various fasteners and electrical connections.
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01-15-2020, 06:41 AM	#3
Vanne Down Under!! 1621 Rep 4,294 Posts Drives: 2007 Z4MC Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Dubai iTrader: (4)	have fun with that remeber to take your time. I hope its from that part, and not further behind the HVAC box. __________________ 2007 EuroSpec Z4///MC - Building/Developing Z4 GT3 Powered by
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02-02-2020, 03:04 PM	#4
Efthreeoh General 17303 Rep 18,729 Posts Drives: The E90 + Z4 Coupe & Z3 R'ster Join Date: May 2012 Location: Virginia iTrader: (0)	Maybe you do, or don't know about newtis.info: I think this is the bulk of the info to remove the dash panel. https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/e...ements/GEbF3xe That said. A good way to find water leaks in the firewall area is to use a smoke test machine. You need to use a commercial smoke test machine that creates odorless smoke. There are inexpensive DIY smoke machines, but they use mineral oil, which smells like a dead dog and probably would stay in the interior for some time. __________________ A manual transmission can be set to "comfort", "sport", and "track" modes simply by the technique and speed at which you shift it; it doesn't need "modes", modes are for manumatics that try to behave like a real 3-pedal manual transmission. If you can money-shift it, it's a manual transmission. "Yeah, but NO ONE puts an automatic trans shift knob on a manual transmission."
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02-04-2020, 05:41 AM	#6
Vanne Down Under!! 1621 Rep 4,294 Posts Drives: 2007 Z4MC Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Dubai iTrader: (4)	Perfect, glad you tracked it down mate
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02-07-2020, 10:16 AM	#7
Black911S Private First Class 55 Rep 145 Posts Drives: 2007 BMW Z4M Coupe - Imola Red Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: San Diego iTrader: (0)	Any thought of installing a replacement dash w/o the navigation opening? Good time to get rid of that monstrosity. :-)
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02-10-2020, 05:56 PM	#9
racerbruce Brigadier General 3854 Rep 3,004 Posts Drives: 21 X3 & 13 335is E93 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Seattle iTrader: (1)	Wowie - you are to be commended for your tenacity to resolve this leak. Is there any chance the air inlet for the fan that you referenced has a gasketed surface....and a replacement gasket and perhaps additional caulking or sealant approved for wet surfaces could be added. If yes, does this mean the gasket could only be replaced from the interior which may require dashboard removal, or could it be addressed from the engine compartment side? __________________ Racerbruce
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02-11-2020, 08:42 AM	#11
racerbruce Brigadier General 3854 Rep 3,004 Posts Drives: 21 X3 & 13 335is E93 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Seattle iTrader: (1)	Well done - such an incredibly enormous undertaking to remove the dash; we're hoping it's successful and will watch for your updates - __________________ Racerbruce
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