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I love my 535is and have been driving her a lot lately. The dash is cracked badly and I would like to upgrade. Help!
Thanks in advance, John

1000 plus shipping for my last crack free dash.

Has slight. Slight. Sliiiight discoloration (lighter black/gray) on the right side top of the instrument cluster bubble/binnacle.

Recently sold the best one I ever had to Florida and have reference.

1k firm due to rarity, money printing (inflation) and time to correctly box and ship it.

Shipping from WA to Florida was $155 clams.

Spence
425 246 8197 cell call text
Spencer

-- Added May 22, 2020 8:43 PM --

Includes install and removal suggestions personally by me. Sorry to double post. Just FYI regarding dash install.

Spen wrote:1000 plus shipping for my last crack free dash.

Has slight. Slight. Sliiiight discoloration (lighter black/gray) on the right side top of the instrument cluster bubble/binnacle.

Recently sold the best one I ever had to Florida and have reference.

1k firm due to rarity, money printing (inflation) and time to correctly box and ship it.

Shipping from WA to Florida was $155 clams.

Spence
425 246 8197 cell call text
Spencer

-- Added May 22, 2020 8:43 PM --

Includes install and removal suggestions personally by me. Sorry to double post. Just FYI regarding dash install.

Wait for the next round of stimulus money to be printed, then you're looking at $1500.00

Has anyone else ever noted that the earlier dashes don't seem to crack but the later ones mostly do? Or is it just my imagination?

My 1985 535i dash is perfect. But I've owned two 535is and they both were pretty badly cracked. My wife's '86 535i had been gone for so long I can't remember if it was ever cracked, or not.

Nope, parted every Year and every year cracks. Have parted 30 e28 and of that 2 had good dashes.


Andy

I gave up on trying to find a nice one and am just going to flock the one I have. The prices are skyrocketing and the one I have now looks terrible (I'd live with a few small cracks, but mine is really bad) so I don't really have anything to lose.

Mine is from 83 or 84 533. I do notice earlier dashes seem to hold up better myself.

Eventually a dash may have no price limit in dollars but I'd guess aboit 1/2 oz of gold will take it or maybe 10 oz silver.

BMWCCA2 wrote:Has anyone else ever noted that the earlier dashes don't seem to crack but the later ones mostly do? Or is it just my imagination?

My 1985 535i dash is perfect. But I've owned two 535is and they both were pretty badly cracked. My wife's '86 535i had been gone for so long I can't remember if it was ever cracked, or not.

I agree with that statement.

In the Mercedes case, this theory works.

In Mercedes, earlier dashboards are more survivable than later ones.
Rumor has it that this is due to stricter environmental regulations in those years. Many materials have become worse in quality.

Recovered dashboards. $900
I am using good cores - make all repairs with industrial epoxy prep&sand. Cover in German vinyl.





Ready for installation

Paul, is the German vinyl covered dash also glued down on the low spots? I assume it has to be.

The best glue I ever found for high heat applications in general is dap weldwood landau top and trim which I believe is the gold standard of upholstery glues. There's some "grip" named glue but I believe dap claims about 250F heat resistant bond. The grip 'K-Grip'? Glue I remember was also high, maybe 220 230f.

Dap does the trick tho!

I wish bmw would reissue these e28 and other 80s dashes in the 90s material like e39 that I believe they reissued for E30s... Not an original look but it doesn't fall apart.

Wonder how flocking works.

I don't see my personal e28 cracked dash getting worse but I'm in Seattle and it isn't that hot here like CA AZ etc.

The E34 was the first dash I remember to be built the way Chrysler had been building them for years with a membrane on top that was seemingly impermeable to out-gassing which makes them last nearly forever. I thought every BMW dash since then solved the problem until two-days ago when I was in an E88 1-series convertible that had spent most of its life in Hawaii and California and there was a bubble in that top surface running across the top of the dash from the instrument cluster all the way to the passenger door. Reminded me of the crappy E36 and early E34 door panels. It made me sad to see that the problem was never actually solved, though perhaps the 1-series was just built of inferior materials much like the entire inside of the wonderful E36/5 318ti in which nearly every surface attempts to recycle itself. Dust to dust.

The e34 dash seems to warp a bit. The e39 seems basically indestructible. That goes for like kind 2000 era models e53 E46 E38 etc. E60 seems strong. I do like the 80s dashes. There is money to be made reproducing the e28 dashes maybe. Every car needs one eventually! I've grown to live with mine. I don't give a damn but it isn't blown out like a dry riverbed.

Spen wrote: May 26, 2020 12:41 AM The e34 dash seems to warp a bit.

The only warping in my E34 in 25-years has been the cover over the passenger air-bag, and it's not that much. (The car is a '95 525i.) Now headliners on the E34 are a different story.

You should see how bad the dash was in my last E34 525i touring. Pieces broken off thanks to sunshade, horribly warped and several cracks. My E39s seem to be quite good and very pliable.

On average, an E34 dash is 7-years older than an E39 dash. I've actually never seen a failed E34 dash, but give it time and I"m sure I will. Never expected to see a 1-series dash fail, either, until last week.

I challenge anyone without me internet searching before to show me a sun fried E39 dash. I just don't believe it is possible for those dashes to be damaged unless we're talking blow torch. Soft. Flexible. Pliable. Conditionable. It's the perfect dash, if you like it to last.

Or tint that front windshield 50% or even 90% and to hell w the laws over some hunk of film. Probably helps.

Wow, I had no idea these were skyrocketing. My 99.5% crack free dash sitting in my basement and I had no plans of selling, but... I should, shoudln't I? OP, are you still looking? I'm just west of Philadelphia and would be willing to meet you half way instead of figuring out a way to ship it.


Regarding e39's - My 23 year old, 235k mile dash is perfect...

I did an 87 is restoration and almost made the mistake of sending in a beat up original dash to the california company Just Dashes. They wanted 3800.00 plus tax and told me it would take 5 months. They are one of the only companies that can turn a turd into an original. Was ready to send it in when I was having a conversation with a friend and said he had a guy. That guy had an original in box. 1200.00 out the door. it looks and fits amazing the only thing I worry about is being 26 years old according to the box it might crack later down the line. The look of an unblemished E28 dash is something to behold. get them if you can there are so few out there.

3800 and 5 months?

Sounds like economic recovery has been here all along.

Makes my 1k asking price sound ridiculously low now.

Guess I'll keep it for a rainy day!

I'd just leave the windows down a bit if you park somewhere with ultra hot weather. Maybe a shade thing in the window.

U wonder how a tinted front glass would help (high visibility but for the heat and uv).

My 1985 535i dash is perfect. But I've owned two 535is and they both were pretty badly cracked. My wife's '86 535i had been gone for so long I can't remember if it was ever cracked, or not.Top

alpinass wrote: May 24, 2020 2:26 PM Recovered dashboards. $900
I am using good cores - make all repairs with industrial epoxy prep&sand. Cover in German vinyl.

Hi David,

That is last year's price. I just SOLD a beautiful recovered dashboard in German vinyl with similar texture/design in the vinyl - Good match. Spot on to a door cap too. $1,000 Labor has gone up - plus 2.5 yards of Fatherland vinyl. Your dashboard can't have 20 cracks (Grand Canyon) . I use core dashboards with 6 or less cracks. Spen is correct that bonding epoxy material is amazing. The glue is bonded to the entire dashboard and especially in the grab handle pocket above the glove box. I have a customer with a recovered dash in a '85 535i - has been installed for 5 years without any issues. I have modified the deep pocket reducing it 50%, stitched.  I also have the windshield vents stitched to prevent the vinyl pulling away.
If you bring a good core to me figure $900. 2 week turn-around. Make sure the dash has all the vents because them have to be mounted(tight fit).

YOU will not be disappointed with the quality, texture and fit.

Improve your e28!

Best Regards,
Paul L. (alpinass)