[3PedalJake]

So how far would I go to eliminate the squeaking dash on my newly restored 325i? Pretty far but apparently not as far as I'm gonna go. I removed the cabin filter housing and strut tower braces to rule them out, then started removing my dash 1 piece at a time. First the trim, then the radio/temp controls, then the cluster, then the blower, then the center console, then f-it, time for the whole dash. I can see why this is one of the most expensive jobs at a shop, it is tedious and there's a crapload of things to unscrew, pry off, wires to disconnect, the steering wheel and stalks have to come off, but finally got all that removed, unbolted the dash and got it out, thinking for sure I can find the squeak, or at least lube and tighten everything as I put it back together. Then I took a look at the vents in the HVAC box... yikes. The rubber part of the flaps looks like it's melted/coated in tar, all soft and gooey. WTF can do this? I can't find any way to fix this and I'm figuring that if the ones I can see are like this the internal flaps are probably just as bad or worse. Soooo looks like I'm replacing the HVAC box. With all the work required to get at it I can't see not replacing the heater core and ac evaporator, and if I'm doing those may as well do the heater hoses too. Well crap, that squeak just turned into a bigger job than the entire rear subframe. Wish me luck brothers, I'm off down the rabbit hole to wonderland.

[StradaRedlands]

Originally Posted by 3PedalJake

So how far would I go to eliminate the squeaking dash on my newly restored 325i? Pretty far but apparently not as far as I'm gonna go. I removed the cabin filter housing and strut tower braces to rule them out, then started removing my dash 1 piece at a time. First the trim, then the radio/temp controls, then the cluster, then the blower, then the center console, then f-it, time for the whole dash. I can see why this is one of the most expensive jobs at a shop, it is tedious and there's a crapload of things to unscrew, pry off, wires to disconnect, the steering wheel and stalks have to come off, but finally got all that removed, unbolted the dash and got it out, thinking for sure I can find the squeak, or at least lube and tighten everything as I put it back together. Then I took a look at the vents in the HVAC box... yikes. The rubber part of the flaps looks like it's melted/coated in tar, all soft and gooey. WTF can do this? I can't find any way to fix this and I'm figuring that if the ones I can see are like this the internal flaps are probably just as bad or worse. Soooo looks like I'm replacing the HVAC box. With all the work required to get at it I can't see not replacing the heater core and ac evaporator, and if I'm doing those may as well do the heater hoses too. Well crap, that squeak just turned into a bigger job than the entire rear subframe. Wish me luck brothers, I'm off down the rabbit hole to wonderland.

You better keep this car a loooong time!!! It will be so nice to have all those jobs done though. Especially the vents/box... I don't even want to know what mine look like! I have a long-term flap error that came with the car. I imagine it's pretty bad in there as well!

[3PedalJake]

Originally Posted by StradaRedlands

You better keep this car a loooong time!!! It will be so nice to have all those jobs done though. Especially the vents/box... I don't even want to know what mine look like! I have a long-term flap error that came with the car. I imagine it's pretty bad in there as well!

Yeah if this wasn't already a forever car (it was) it would be after this. Zeroing in on 0% of this car that I haven't had apart now, we're practically soulmates. I was working on getting the musty smell out of the ac, I think this oughta do it lol.

[bmw335ie90]

Lots of work! I have a creak that is coming from the A pillar every time the chassis flexes. It amplifies off the windshield and is the most annoying thing I've ever experienced. I've removed everything except the dash trying to find it but cannot. Tempted to just shove a bunch of foam in between the dash and windshield, and between the dash and A pillar to dampen the noise.

If you are able to find and fix it you might convince me to pull my dash as well!

[3PedalJake]

Originally Posted by bmw335ie90

Lots of work! I have a creak that is coming from the A pillar every time the chassis flexes. It amplifies off the windshield and is the most annoying thing I've ever experienced. I've removed everything except the dash trying to find it but cannot. Tempted to just shove a bunch of foam in between the dash and windshield, and between the dash and A pillar to dampen the noise.

If you are able to find and fix it you might convince me to pull my dash as well!

I have it apart up to the dash support cage and I can't find any kind of squeaks by pressing on anything, and it's way past driving so just hoping I undo whatever is causing it when I put it back together. After the HVAC is out There won't be anything left on the firewall but the JBE/fusebox, everything should include whatever is the issue

[DBShiznit]

Not a BMW in the video but here is some humor to get you through the ordeal. lol

[ZGator]

I thought I was crazy - woa good idea to replace any a/c stuff in there that's for sure! Jake you must just love being with this car! My wife sometimes teases me about my 2 bmw obsessions. It is addictive when you fix things and even make them better than before - I guess this goes to show that!

[3PedalJake]

Originally Posted by DBShiznit

Not a BMW in the video but here is some humor to get you through the ordeal. lol

LMAO that's me exactly fumbling around trying to make it stop, even had Mrs 3P help.

[3PedalJake]

Originally Posted by ZGator

I thought I was crazy - woa good idea to replace any a/c stuff in there that's for sure! Jake you must just love being with this car! My wife sometimes teases me about my 2 bmw obsessions. It is addictive when you fix things and even make them better than before - I guess this goes to show that!

I think all the regular forum contributors here are a lil touched in the head, but you're right none of us would be doing all the big and little things constantly to our cars if we weren't addicted. Thankfully my Mrs. recognizes there's much less benign things I could be doing with my time so she encourages my bimmer relationships. And my diesel trucks. And motorcycles