DIY: Install the dash top storage bin

[john08135i]

Originally Posted by j8smith

A couple of people have asked for the cutting template that came with the retrofit kit. so here it is.

Can you measure the inside of the cubby for me left to right and top to bottom?
Or pics with a ruler inside it?

[PROJEKM1]

Good Job! Nice and neat!

[135forthewin]

Can u take a picture at night? I had the airbag indentation and got a new compartment, but I don't think there's a light in it...

[wkndracr]

that's great! I may have to do that! Someone asked what to put in there, that would be a great place to keep your EZ-Pass or similar. A buddy used to have a car with a bin like that, and his ez-pass worked great from inside.

[ianc]

Very very nice, and yes, you do have brass ones!

I can think of a million things to put in there; the 135 is not huge in the interior storage space dept.

I would like to do this also, but since my car only has 250 mi. on it, it may take me awhile to gather up the 'nads.

Thanks for the great post and pics!

ianc

[///M1]

Wow, that does take big cojones, cut dashboard, in proximity to airbag and other wiring, wow! Wouldn't there be danger to get rattles (even if it is just stuff like sunglasses bouncing around in there)? Wish we had a sunglass holder above the rearview mirror in the headliner...

[rsjean]

I think I disagree.

While I was signing the paperwork to pick up my 135i I kept watching this couple (appox age mid 50's) pouring over a beautiful X5M sitting on the fllow right next to me. Here is the really cool, blindingly fast piece of $90K M machinery and all the woman could do was keep asking the saleperson to find and show her more cubbies for storage and cups and things and more and more cup things. The husband was right there with her remarking how well thought out the 'cabin' was.

Face it - most people are really hung up on storage thingies.....

Originally Posted by 135iUSN

crazy...nice chunk of value just taken...from the car..

better yet, a set of cup holders would have added more value..

[larryn]

I did this early last year, and it's a very nice addition to the interior. While I was there, I wired a USB cord from underneath the center console, behind the dashboard, to the bin. So, now I can charge my phone, or plug in a portable GPS, if I need it, plus have a great place to store more things, and good place for my sunglasses. I should figure a nice, factory looking, mount for my GPS though.

It's good to note that many of the EU versions of the 1 series have these bins installed from the factory.

There are no rattles from the bin itself, and there is a nubby rubber pad at the bottom of it that prevents anything from sliding around.. So, I've heard not sounds coming from the bin.

[Jumpman]

Ah man, good idea.

[JimD]

I recently bought a vibratory sander/cutter - used to only be sold by Fein - from Harbor Freight. One of the things Fein demonstrated with theirs is it is pretty hard to cut things that move with vibration (like flesh but possibly also wiring) with these tools. Might be a good tool to make the cut-out. I think I paid $35 on sale for mine (Fein is 200+).

Jim

[neilq]

I installed the dash storage box this weekend. Thanks j8smith for the great DIY. The cutting/installation took about 20 minutes. Convincing myself that I had the template and outline positioned correctly took about 45 minutes. It's really easy, I just got nervous about cutting a big hole in such a visible place.

I did not find the additional connector clipped to the steel tube (step 6) on my BMW-NA '09 128i. So, my only option was to tap into the glove box light using the supplied harness. However, my light turns off automatically after ~45 minutes; faster if the glove box light is also on.

[135forthewin]

If anyone of you guys have a "cool" service advisor and have the airbag indentation showing, they'll probably replace the whole dash and you'll get the storage compartment as well.

[bluephobic(1)]

on borderless printing on A4 paper the image scale should be 67% turn auto rotate off and this should be close to perfect

[Webb70]

How much is the complete kit?

[arthbkins]

Speaking of slicing into the dashboard, anyone thought of cutting into the dashboard of the 1 series to fit these e9X cup holders? may not be possible to pull off cleanly. Cup holders in the 1 series are lacking.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...19&hg=51&fg=30

[Sarge135]

I just purchased this kit. I found more instructions...

http://www.xcar.com.cn/bbs/viewthrea...2973198&page=1

[JimD]

For an extra cup holder, you could add the one that comes with the iDrive, assuming you don't have it already. I've done it to my 128i vert and my wife's. It isn't super easy to get the console out but it isn't that bad either. AndyM provided a good DIY.

I just priced the storage console using the part number of the OP (51450428424). Tischer's price is $83.16. You'd need to add shipping to that but doesn't seem that bad for a bimmer, at least. I wish I had the time to do this now. Maybe when the lake house is in better shape.

Jim

[nato-main-man-5am]

Originally Posted by arthbkins

Speaking of slicing into the dashboard, anyone thought of cutting into the dashboard of the 1 series to fit these e9X cup holders? may not be possible to pull off cleanly. Cup holders in the 1 series are lacking.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...19&hg=51&fg=30

Off topic, but did you learn whether this can fit in a 1 series?

[physh]

Hi,
I'm really interested in doing this, however I was told by ECS that the kit doesn't come with a template. I don't want to deal with Tischer.
Can anyone chime in?

Thanks!

[chris82]

I've always wanted a storage compartment on top of the dash like this

[physh]

I'm going to attempt the BMW "Navi portable" shelf mod as seen here: http://www.motor-talk.de/bilder/navi...203023174.html

[BFD]

Damn I agree, I would never have the balls to cut a hole in my dash...