ive been wanting to redo my dash trim...is there a way to take it off without destroying my whole dash? i was also wondering about the trim on the door as well..any ideas?

 

Which dash trim in particular are you talking about? As far as I know, all of the trim on both the doors and the dash can be removed and replaced without permanent damage. I replaced the three-piece factory dash trim on my 2006 with the JCW carbon-fiber parts, and they were just held on with friction clips.

 

the silvery part.

 

Yep - those dash panels are just held on with friction clips. I don't remember what order I had to take them off, though - there's a little lip on the edge of the panels that means that you have to remove one of them before you can remove the adjacent panel. I think the middle one has to come out first, though - just hook your fingertips under the lower edge (near the top of the radio) and pull upward/outward gently. If you go slowly, you should have no problems seeing how they're attached and what order you have to remove them.

Also, you have the earlier five-piece dash, whereas my 2006 has the three-piece dash, so it wouldn't hurt to wait for another owner to chime in.

 

do i have to unscrew anything before i start taking them out? or just have little fingers to get in there?

 

I don't recall having to unscrew anything on mine. If you need a little more leverage, though, don't use a screwdriver, since you'll increase your chances of marring something. You could probably use a wooden paint-stirring stick without much risk, but I just used my fingers, and I have pretty big hands.

 

there's a torx bolt or two under the dash ridge. if you open the glove box you can see it. just above the right downtube under the dash. there may be another one on the other side. then you just grab and pull.

door ovals are another whole and hellish ball of wax as they have to be broken off and then reglued or screwed. i want to do them but, don't have the guts to. i'll probaby get to them when i run out of little things to do though.

 

this will give you a good idea how to start pulling the dash trims just look at the section where it shows the bolt:

http://www.mini2.com/forum/draft-f-q...tml#post295933

 

thanks guys!!!