THis is driving me insane. Aparently some Mini's you take out the two screws on each side under the cover panels and the dash just "slides right out." Well, I am not that fortunate. I have take out those two screws per side, another four embedded in the defrost vent and another two over the speedo and another two in a small vent over top fo the speedo under two coverplates. I cannot seem to figure out what is holding it in??? I have to remove it cause the passenger side airbag deployed. I am taking (hopefully - eventually) one good dash top pad and airbag module from a wrecked MCS hardtop and putting it in the damaged dash/blown pass airbag in the MCSC. THe MCS doner is 2006 and has exact same (in apearance anyway) dash components as the MCSC which is a 2005. Can anyone provide guadance on what I am doing wrong? Thank you in advance.

 

See if this helps: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...p-removal.html

 

Perfect! That looks like that is the missing clue! Funny cause everyone was telling me "four screw, two per side and it slides right off" which did nto seem to work! Now I know why! THanks again.

 

Resurrecting. Something I ran into that will hopefully help others with 2005/6 R53s with redesigned dash boards. You can take all the screws out on the sides, front and top of the dash pad, then drive yourself nuts when it refuses to come out.

BOTTOM LINE READ THE INSTRUMENT PANEL UPPER TIS CAREFULLY. The redesigned instrument panel has cables holding the dashpad down just behind the passenger airbag. The TIS does explain how to remove 2 screws that secure 2 airbag cover restraining straps.



Until you release those cables your dashpad will absolutely not come out. Of course messing with your airbag mechanism is solely your responsibility not anyone else's.