Removing insturment cluster......

[BFEINZIMER]

Taken from another site... I have not tried this, but it's worth a look!

Here's a tip if you don't have a tilt steering wheel.... so you don't have to take off the steering wheel to remove the cluster.

The problem is how to remove the cluster without taking off the steering wheel. I found that you can tip the cluster forward and sidways to remove the electrical leads from the back, but to get it out you have to:

1) Disconnect the battery before you do anything
2) Jack up the car (on both sides) so that the front wheel turn easily without the engine running
3) Extend the telescopic portion of the steering wheel all the way
4) Tilt the insturment cluster so that if fits between the steering wheel top section
5) Open the driver's door
6) Turn the steering wheel with the cluster together to the left and pull the cluster out from the left side. If the steering wheel locks, then use the key to maually unlock it.
With the wheels off the ground the steering should turn easily enough.

I hope this helps. I found it easier to do this than to remove the steering wheel I have since it has an air bag in it.

Ok so I don't want to have to remove the airbag and wheel, but I have a 1990 535 so I'm pretty sure it does not telescope or tilt, so is it still possible to remove it cuse I've been trin n gettin nowhere?

Anyone?

[Blitzkrieg Bob]

you'll have to disconnect the battery, drink a beer.

then take off the wheel

[BFEINZIMER]

damit, i dont have a torque wrench

[Blitzkrieg Bob]

damit, i dont have a torque wrench

with the guess-ta-mator torque wrench.

[Ross]

Nope, it can done. Definately disconnect the battery or plan on a trip to the dealer to reset the SRS light.

[BFEINZIMER]

Nope, it can done. Definately disconnect the battery or plan on a trip to the dealer to reset the SRS light.

It can be done...explain? Cuse I can't even get the dam thing at an agle its tight in there

[BFEINZIMER]

ok so i can twist it just enough to remove the electrical connectors, but if i remove them and the dash doesent come out i wont be able to get em back on theres not enough finger/hand space, so is whats holding the dash in the wires?...to ehre it cant be pulled out nemore, im here with the laptop so a speedy reply is appricated

[Blitzkrieg Bob]

It can be done...explain? Cuse I can't even get the dam thing at an agle its tight in there

on my 1990 and I ended up pulling the wheel, because it was still kinda tight and I couldn't even reach the plugs easily.

I think the only way without the telescopic column, would be to gain some room by removing the plastic column trim, but that seems almost as much trouible as pulling the wheel.

[Ross]

Disconnect the 4(?) plugs, tilt it forward and wiggle it around the wheel.
A rag over the column will keep you from scratching things up.
I've done it on E32s & E34s, mostly because I was too lazy to remove the wheel.
Removing the wheel is not a big deal either, just undo the nut and pull, just remember it's original position.
Sorry for slow typing.

[BFEINZIMER]

Disconnect the 4(?) plugs, tilt it forward and wiggle it around the wheel.
A rag over the column will keep you from scratching things up.
I've done it on E32s & E34s, mostly because I was too lazy to remove the wheel.
Removing the wheel is not a big deal either, just undo the nut and pull, just remember it's original position.
Sorry for slow typing.

im worried if i remove the plugs which looks like 2 then if i cant get it out will i be able to get themj back on (the plugs) becasue ill have a dead dash then if not

[Ross]

This requires a little persuassion so DON'T do this if you are working in cold plastic cracking temperatures!

[BFEINZIMER]

no im not but i need to know will i be ble to fasten the connecters when the dash is in or will i be stuck wiutha dead dash until i can emergeny get atorque rench

[filip00]

just take the f...ing wheel off... and you don't need a torque wrench, you can twist it back on just pulling your regular wrench hard.

[BFEINZIMER]

Disconnect the 4(?) plugs, tilt it forward and wiggle it around the wheel.
A rag over the column will keep you from scratching things up.
I've done it on E32s & E34s, mostly because I was too lazy to remove the wheel.
Removing the wheel is not a big deal either, just undo the nut and pull, just remember it's original position.
Sorry for slow typing.

im worried if i remove the plugs which looks like 2 then if i cant get it out will i be able to get themj back on (the plugs) becasue ill have a dead dash then if not

[filip00]

im worried if i remove the plugs which looks like 2 then if i cant get it out will i be able to get themj back on (the plugs) becasue ill have a dead dash then if not


geeez!!! just get the steering wheel off, sheesh!

you have 4 connectors behind the instrument panel, and not a chance you will plug them at first try with the steering wheel off, let alone with it ON!

[Alexlind123]

I have done it and plan to do it again soon to install the set of replacement bulbs from BMA. I removed the wheel.

[Wrighty525isport]

just take the f...ing wheel off... and you don't need a torque wrench, you can twist it back on just pulling your regular wrench hard.

Am going to jump in here cos i need to move my wheel.

It doesn't point straight when i'm driving straight which gets on my nerves.

I know i can adjust trackrods etc but it drives nice so i'd rather shift the wheel on the splines for now.

My question is what precautions do i have to be aware of to avoid detonating the airbag and then, in turn, my face . . . I had one go off in my old e34 and the f&%*er stings. . .

[Blitzkrieg Bob]

and wait a while before you unplug anything.

remove the airbag and store it in a safe place facing up.

[BFEINZIMER]

****, so i have my new self locking nut fromk the delear but the 2 nuts are slightly different in size the one on the car is a little bigger...

the new one appears to be size 13/16 and im using a spark plug socket....

the old one is documented here
http://realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=HD23&mospid=47408&btnr=32_0431&hg=32&fg=30

wtf do i do lol

[BFEINZIMER]

so i got the airbag off now the bolt the delear gave me is slightly smaller than the bolt on the wheel so i have no clue what to do


i asked the delear for one of these bolts iono what they gave me

http://realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=HD23&mospid=47408&btnr=32_0431&hg=32&fg=30

so what should i do, just get some locktite or whatever and put the old one on again?

[JerseySi]

Just bung the old nut back on & do it up nice & tight :D
You'd have to be very very unlucky for it to work loose, and even then you'd feel the steering wheel wobbling before it came off!


O, and I got my clocks out & in twice without having to take the wheel off - or jack the front of the car up :D
Yea, it's a tight fit - but no worse than having to arse around with anything else behind the dash :D

/edit: just noticed you have an airbag wheel - don't know if it's make any difference that mine's not, but I can't see it would unless the wheel's a smaller diameter or something

[BFEINZIMER]

yea well i gotta go get a bigger socket cuse mine are al too small, they just fit the nut the dealer gave me but why are they 2 different sizes