BMW e36 - relocating HVAC controls

vull · 10-29-2007, 04:49 AM

hi everyone

i'm working on a little project which includes installing LCD under the air-vents.
at the moment it looks like this:

i'm gonna post some pics in case someone is thinking of doing the same thing and needs some help/advise etc... i am myself opened to any ideas, tips etc..

keep in mind that i did everything from scratch and didn't have a clue what i was suppose to do at first. i was just improvising and thought that it will only be temporary install till i figure something better out.
anyway... here are the pics and comments:

first i started with cutting the sunglass holder (i call it stuff-holder):

i cut it bit-by-bit until the white panel fitted in it and then it was quite ok and i didn't start to cut the original one (will do at some point perhaps, with precise measurements then). (PS: is it HVAC controls or just heater controls?)
i cut it in a way that the stuff-holder would support the panel in every possible way (at the back as well):

then i had to fit the front panel into the console and that needed some trimming:

after the control panel fitted ok into the console, i had to figure out how to make the cables work.
then i used some kind of mechanical tape to hold one of the cables:

instructions on how to cut it:

green bits are cut from different sides to assure there's enough support

PS: i'm still working on the other cable and will post some more pics if that's done as well.

feel free to come out with any new ideas.
cheers

whosyadadie01 · 11-21-2007, 03:42 PM

let me no how it goes because i have the same car and if it comes out nice i may try it also

mech_eng · 11-27-2007, 09:40 AM

I got the same car and i will make same modification for car-pc install
I will follow this thread...

vull · 12-18-2007, 03:44 PM

i bought a new-old panel and came up with this.
all the controls work now!

little write-up:
first of all, you need to get your hands on this particular panel (on the left):
(the one on the right is not suitable, as it's too much work)

the white bit you need to work with, holds this cable-bearing (or smth), which allows me to work with it easily(note the golden bullet-shaped stopper):

as you can see, it originally holds like this:

to change that, you need to remove all the somewhat machinery from the panel and then cut or melt the plastic bits from here:

then the white cable-bearing or smth will come off and you can cut it as shown in this picture:

then you will be able to position it to point upwards:

also, don't forget to cut or melt a little slope for the bullet-shaped stopper:

after you're done with cutting and then placing/melting the cable-bearing into desired position, it will hold like this:

and if it's needed, just find 2 extra cables and cut them like this, to later attach them together, to make the cable a bit longer

mine (original, 1-piece) works fine counter-clockwise, but it's rather stiff clockwise.. it's working anyway, so there you go

Enforcer · 12-18-2007, 04:12 PM

nice

LowBlock · 12-20-2007, 10:23 PM

Nicely done, but I have to say for myself, I think I will just move the OBC to the radio opening, and put the screen down below.

vull · 01-31-2008, 02:09 PM

well, the screen is fitted now =)

clicky <-

it won't come off the car without the dashboard for somewhat security reasons. for the same reason, i can't post any installation pics :P i can only tell that i fitted it like this, by cutting the plastic the same way i did to fit the hvac control-panel to the middle. my tip would be, that you don't need to cut any leather to get to the plastic..

i'm also fitting some DLS speakers, so seeing everything put together might take some time :P