dashboard leathe is coming away at the back

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handsomejackuk
Joined: Sat 18 Jun, 2016 10:35
Posts: 296

  Z3 roadster 1.9
Location: Blaenau Gwent South Wales...

dashboard leathe is coming away at the back

Post by handsomejackuk »

Hi to all,

Just bought a Z3 and didnt really notice but the leather behind the instrument cluster is coming away from the binnacle and also the leather just behind looks as though it has popped out, i did try and put it back in but it wont go back in.. is it easy enough to just remove the binnacle and reglue or stretch the leather back in place. ?

i need at some stage to remove the steering wheel to get it refurbed or replaced, i assume i need to disconnect the battery so that the air bag light wont activate...

please advise

thanks Al.
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('_')Z3
Joined: Sun 21 Mar, 2010 19:29
Posts: 555

  Z3 roadster 2.0
Location: Lymm

Re: dashboard leathe is coming away at the back

Post by ('_')Z3 »

http://www.zroadster.net/forum/viewtopi ... t=zedcarer

The leather does tend to dry out over time and peel away as you have described. The link above should tell you everything you need to know, it's a reasonably big job that a lot of people have done more regularly for various reasons. Zedcarer was one of the first to remove the dash to enable the re-sticking of the leather. The steering wheel is described too but as you've said disconnect the battery to avoid the airbag light and the possibility of it discharging in your face as you remove it!!
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handsomejackuk
Joined: Sat 18 Jun, 2016 10:35
Posts: 296

  Z3 roadster 1.9
Location: Blaenau Gwent South Wales...

Re: dashboard leathe is coming away at the back

Post by handsomejackuk »

so just to confirm then the whole dash had got to come out to sort this..... ?

sounds like a big job i thought maybe just the binnacle could be reomoved. Grrrrr
spurs fan in a coupe
Joined: Fri 18 Apr, 2008 19:24
Posts: 1446

  Z3 coupe 2.8
Location: woking

Re: dashboard leathe is coming away at the back

Post by spurs fan in a coupe »

Yep the dash needs to come out to get the binnacle off.

It is a big job to be honest, I've got black or beige dashs for sale if you are interested.

I'm in Woking, Surrey
we expres: " He did hear the bells ringing, but doesnt know where where the clapper hangs".
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('_')Z3
Joined: Sun 21 Mar, 2010 19:29
Posts: 555

  Z3 roadster 2.0
Location: Lymm

Re: dashboard leathe is coming away at the back

Post by ('_')Z3 »

The only way to remove the part you're talking about is to remove the dash. It's attached by melted plastic lugs only accessible when you've removed it.
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Southernboy
Joined: Thu 07 Oct, 2010 12:39
Posts: 6436

  Z3 roadster 3.0i
Location: Johannesburg

Re: dashboard leathe is coming away at the back

Post by Southernboy »

Bertijaffa aka Lee - is a serious "pro" when it comes to the leather dash trim... He's re-covered a couple of Z3's with new leather including his Z3 M... and he knows all the tricks regarding removing and replacing the binnacle.. perhaps send him a PM if you want some tips on restoration.
"Normal is overrated"
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bertiejaffa
Joined: Fri 26 Jul, 2013 09:28
Posts: 1733

  M roadster S50
Location: Manchester

Re: dashboard leathe is coming away at the back

Post by bertiejaffa »

('_')Z3 wrote:http://www.zroadster.net/forum/viewtopi ... t=zedcarer

The leather does tend to dry out over time and peel away as you have described. The link above should tell you everything you need to know, it's a reasonably big job that a lot of people have done more regularly for various reasons. Zedcarer was one of the first to remove the dash to enable the re-sticking of the leather. The steering wheel is described too but as you've said disconnect the battery to avoid the airbag light and the possibility of it discharging in your face as you remove it!!
I seem to remember that there was a subsequent post to this somewhere which described how he then re-stretched the leather to fix it back down again but I can't find it for the life of me :head: Anyone know where it is?

Southernboy wrote:Bertijaffa aka Lee - is a serious "pro" when it comes to the leather dash trim... He's re-covered a couple of Z3's with new leather including his Z3 M... and he knows all the tricks regarding removing and replacing the binnacle.. perhaps send him a PM if you want some tips on restoration.
:lol: :lol: You will always be the master my friend - I learnt all I know (and lots I don't) from you
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Robert T
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Joined: Mon 12 Jun, 2006 10:35
Posts: 10170

  Z3 roadster 1.9
Location: Cheshire

Re: dashboard leathe is coming away at the back

Post by Robert T »

bertiejaffa wrote:I seem to remember that there was a subsequent post to this somewhere which described how he then re-stretched the leather to fix it back down again but I can't find it for the life of me :head: Anyone know where it is?
Here: http://www.zroadster.net/forum/viewtopi ... 6&p=245231

All I did is use advanced search, enter "leather" as the search term and "Zed Carer" as the author - second or third post down lead me to it.

Cheers R.
Arctic Silver '99 Z3 1.9 & Black '59 Frogeye 1275cc
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bertiejaffa
Joined: Fri 26 Jul, 2013 09:28
Posts: 1733

  M roadster S50
Location: Manchester

Re: dashboard leathe is coming away at the back

Post by bertiejaffa »

Robert T wrote:
bertiejaffa wrote:I seem to remember that there was a subsequent post to this somewhere which described how he then re-stretched the leather to fix it back down again but I can't find it for the life of me :head: Anyone know where it is?
Here: http://www.zroadster.net/forum/viewtopi ... 6&p=245231

All I did is use advanced search, enter "leather" as the search term and "Zed Carer" as the author - second or third post down lead me to it.

Cheers R.
Cheers Robert - you're a star. Good tip for the searching, usually if it is something specific I take a step back and use google with specific terms
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handsomejackuk
Joined: Sat 18 Jun, 2016 10:35
Posts: 296

  Z3 roadster 1.9
Location: Blaenau Gwent South Wales...

Re: dashboard leathe is coming away at the back

Post by handsomejackuk »

thanks for the replies on this its all a bit new to me this Z3 and i have a few small things that need doing i am in no rush so may put off some until the winter
NZ00Z3
Joined: Thu 23 Jun, 2016 01:26
Posts: 95

  Z3 roadster 3.0i

Re: dashboard leathe is coming away at the back

Post by NZ00Z3 »

Here is a link to another write up on fixing the leather.

http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/showt ... sh-Repairs
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