European lower dash

[cjb762]

Hi,
I did a search, but couldn't find anything. Does anyone know where I could buy a European lower dash panel in the States? (the one with the thin edges below the dash and surrounding the center radio/climate control console - see pics below)

Also, according to this thread - http://www.babybmw.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=66074 - they should be a direct swap - at least Euro to Euro, but does anyone know if there would be any issues swapping a Euro version into a US car?

Thanks!

Pics:

[iminhell1]

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1230056


I still want but it's just not worth money until I run out of other things to buy.

[cjb762]

iminhell1 - thanks for sharing that. It makes me a little nervous about what the whole lower dash is going to cost though, assuming I can even get it here...

[swagon]

That is a (ugly) dashboard from a pre-LCI 1 Series hatchback and I bet my ass it is not compatible with your US 2013 in any possible way.

Compare your own 2013 135is with photos of a pre-LCI hatch with the same sort of stuff, i.e. iDrive or Radio Professional, etc., and you'll see why it is not possible to retrofit.

If your vehicle has got iDrive, it uses only one CD/DVD slot and a different headunit with capacity buttons. Now look at the pics you've posted.

Even if yours does not have iDrive, it still won't work because despite the units being in the same position (radio up top, AC below) as the plastic surrounding the radio is different. So you'd have to change the radio. Will it work in your LCI US vehicle? Probably not.

And if you have a convertible, where do you put the two buttons for the roof?

Modifying cars is a waste of money, but I can think of way more important things to buy for your 135is.

[cjb762]

swagon - thanks for the info. I guess it really does go to show that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I think the flat wide dash pillars to the sides of the center unit is ugly - the type of unrefined design I’d expect to see in an early Hyundai rather than a BMW. Of course there are people out there that actually think the 1 series is an ugly car, and we all know they couldn’t be more wrong….

My car is pretty simple - a 6MT coupe without iDrive.

I think I see what you are saying with comparing my car to the photos above, but may not be the best photos. The pictures in the link I posted above where the guy switched his old lower dash for a LCI dash look just like mine, and it appeared to be a direct swap for him using his old radio and climate control. Maybe the interior dimensions of the consoles are the same?

I don’t completely disagree that modifying cars is a waste of money - but then so is almost everything else I spend my money on (at least according to my wife.

[Jorgensen54]

Worth it just for the oddments tray!

[Suprgnat]

I like it. It makes the interior look even more driver focused and a bit (more) retro (edit: and a hair more spacious).

Staying tuned in.

[Suprgnat]

Any pics without the hideous I-Drive? (...no offence)

[cjb762]

Suprgnat - I completely concur with your opinion of the iDrive. I went out of my way to find a 135 without one...

A couple of pics without it - not the best...



wheel on wrong side...



Screen folded down...

[Chemtails]

Out of interest, what does the US one look like, what's the difference?

[cjb762]

Originally Posted by Chemtails

Out of interest, what does the US one look like, what's the difference?

Chemtails, Look at the tan portions of the lower dash in the picture below. That's where it's different.

[Duesentrieb]

cjb762 the part you are looking for isn't a 'special' European one. It's the Pre LCI dashboard of the E87. It's not available in the US because you only got the E82 and E88. Both types were produced since 2007 and so they got the LCI dashboard from the beginning.
The Pre-LCI dashboard would fit into your car without any problems (besides your knee-airbags) but I wouldn't recommend it. The Pre-LCI is a very cheap dashboard. Many improvements to the dashboard were made for the LCI. For example: look at the glove box. The old one hadn't much space and also the materials of the dashboard were very cheap. The LCI one looks and feels superior.

Greetings Daniel

[Chemtails]

cjb762 Thank you, between you and Duesentrieb it celared it up, E87 pre-LCI owner