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3 Piece Dash Chrome Or No Chrome?


Kpeters

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Hey guys I just purchased a 3 piece dash and it came without the chrome pieces.

 

Upon further research I've noticed some of the had it some don't so I guess my question is which had em?!

 

I have a 1970 and I've seen both with and without chrome pieces.

 

And last but not least if I do install the chrome trim on it how the hell will the heater control levers reach that far out?

 

If anyone has any insight I'll appreciate it.

 

Thanks.

I'm no longer affiliated with Maximillian Importing Company in any way, please address any questions directly to them.  -Thanks.

2002 "tii" coupe 1970
E21 320/6 2.7 Stroker 1981
E23 730 1978

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IIRC - the early cars had the chrome horizontal trim...(like Clay Weiland's 67 1600)

 

 

This 68 1600 has satin heater control plates (no chrome running along the lower sections of the dash)

IMG_5839.jpg

 

 

The dash in my May 69 2002 (3-piece) does not have any "chrome" - the heater control levers are satin.

1969BMW2002022.jpg

 

 

The dash in the now-defunct Agave 71 2002 (2 piece) had chrome heater levers (and a square light dash cluster).

IMG_8095.jpg

 

 

 

Jim Gerock

 

Riviera 69 2002 built 5/30/69 "Oscar"

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The early US cars (<mid'68) had the 3 piece dash with the chrome lower sections. Mid 68> it was all padded with no chrome. I believe they kept using the chrome dash in Europe for another year or so. It was the safety concerns over padded dashes in the US that made them change. The lower piece is completely different and you can't "just put on the chrome" you need the complete lower section. If I remember correctly the heater levers were the same they just came through the dash looking different.

1970 1602 (purchased 12/1974)

1974 2002 Turbo

1988 M5

1986 Euro 325iC

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Wow confusing as hell even more because BMW says those chrome pieces were in production cars up to 1972. My 3 piece dash (one I just purchased) looks just like your 2002 one with the satin controls.

I'm no longer affiliated with Maximillian Importing Company in any way, please address any questions directly to them.  -Thanks.

2002 "tii" coupe 1970
E21 320/6 2.7 Stroker 1981
E23 730 1978

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the 3 piece dashes with chrome trim are specific to the trim.  on the two chrome dashes that i have, the bottom piece was actually made by cutting the lower section off, essentially creating an almost flat cover piece.  the chrome trim was a combination of some chrome plated plastic pieces around both heater levers and a chrome ashtray in-line with the trim and a chrome piece across the glove box which was also specific to this dash, as far as i can tell.  these dashes were on very early US market cars only and on Euro market cars until much later.  All ti's had them. 

Former owner of 2570440 & 2760440
Current owner of 6 non-op 02's

& 1 special alfa

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The lower piece is completely different and you can't "just put on the chrome" you need the complete lower section. 

 

Well that's a bummer I was hoping they would fit in the indentation that the dash has or that there was a way o putting them in since I have to reupholster it anyway. 

 

But all of this aside a November 1970 2002' shouldn't have a 3 piece dash with chrome then. 

 

BTW my car is euro.

Edited by Kpeters

I'm no longer affiliated with Maximillian Importing Company in any way, please address any questions directly to them.  -Thanks.

2002 "tii" coupe 1970
E21 320/6 2.7 Stroker 1981
E23 730 1978

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the 3 piece dashes with chrome trim are specific to the trim.  on the two chrome dashes that i have, the bottom piece was actually made by cutting the lower section off, essentially creating an almost flat cover piece.  the chrome trim was a combination of some chrome plated plastic pieces around both heater levers and a chrome ashtray in-line with the trim and a chrome piece across the glove box which was also specific to this dash, as far as i can tell.  these dashes were on very early US market cars only and on Euro market cars until much later.  All ti's had them. 

Here is one (bad) picture of Jon Poole's ti.

DSC_0488.jpg

Jim Gerock

 

Riviera 69 2002 built 5/30/69 "Oscar"

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So if my car is euro and fab. nov 1970 there is a possibility I had that trim? Thing is the previous owner lost the original dashboard and replaced it with a 1 piece that's almost crack free but I wanted to go back to the original.

I'm no longer affiliated with Maximillian Importing Company in any way, please address any questions directly to them.  -Thanks.

2002 "tii" coupe 1970
E21 320/6 2.7 Stroker 1981
E23 730 1978

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If it is a European delivered car from early '70 it could easily have had the chrome dash.  I don't think I have seen any US cars that had it after Dec '67.  Every one I have seen here in the US, chrome dash=1967 and given they did not bring the 2002 in until 1968 I don't think I have ever seen a US 2002 with a chrome dash.  A friend here in Seattle has one of the first 2002s brought into the US and used in for the press introductions and it is a non chrome dash.   

1970 1602 (purchased 12/1974)

1974 2002 Turbo

1988 M5

1986 Euro 325iC

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Wow sounds like it's a real pain to modify a dash to fit...

 

My car is from 1970, November... so I guess there is a possibility it didn't have the chrome even though it's euro.

 

I was looking forward to have the silver dollar cluster in km/h and the chrome pieces installed agh. Now im not sure what to do.

I'm no longer affiliated with Maximillian Importing Company in any way, please address any questions directly to them.  -Thanks.

2002 "tii" coupe 1970
E21 320/6 2.7 Stroker 1981
E23 730 1978

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US '66-67 production all had chrome lower three piece dashes. That includes Sept-Dec '67 production '68 model year cars. '68 model year US cars got the hazard switch located to the left side of the instrument cluster. Most '67 cars had the hazard switch in one of the driver side under dash panels or in a switch pod on the under side of the steering column.

The under dash panels for the chrome dashes were different than those of later padded dashes. They were vinyl covered and padded shaped cardboard rather than black colored flat cardboard of the padded dash cars.

The US cars got the padded lower dashes for Jan '68 and later production. US padded lower three piece dashes until the model '71 mid '71 changeover at which they became two piece padded. At this time US hazard switches moved to the red button in the center console to the left of the ash tray. Late '71 to early '72 got seatbelt warning pods atop the two piece dashes. US square light cars all had one piece dashes.

All Euro '02s had chrome lower three piece dashes until the model '71 changeover. Euro hazard switches for chrome lower dashes were placed like those in the US '67 dashes. They were then two piece until model '73 (square light) when the dashes became one piece. No Euro '02s had seatbelt/emissions warning pods atop their dashes...

Shall I get into the differences in the under dash screws too?? =^P

HTH

Edited by tjones02

Tom Jones

BMW mechanic for over 25 years, BMWCCA since 1984
66 BMW16oo stored, 67 1600-2 lifelong project, 2 more 67-8 1600s, 86 528e 5sp 585k, 91 318i
Mom&Dad's, 65 1800TiSA, 70 2800, 72 2002Tii 2760007 orig owners, 15 Z4 N20

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All Euro '02s had chrome lower three piece dashes until the model '71 changeover. Euro hazard switches for chrome lower dashes were placed like those in the US '67 dashes. They were then two piece until model '73 (square light) when the dashes became one piece. No Euro '02s had seatbelt/emissions warning pods atop their dashes...

 

 

This answers my question thanks a lot!

 

Look like I won't be able to put that chrome in this dash since it's a US version bummer. Unless I feel like butchering this one and fabricating something.

 

Anyone has any pictures of the lower section of a very early 3 piece dash? That would give ma a great idea if its something doable.

I'm no longer affiliated with Maximillian Importing Company in any way, please address any questions directly to them.  -Thanks.

2002 "tii" coupe 1970
E21 320/6 2.7 Stroker 1981
E23 730 1978

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  • 11 months later...

Has anyone else got more pictures of the chrome dash?

Mine has one, but the dash is in terrible condition. No cracking, but just chrome in terrible condition and all panels below dash missing.

Mine is RHD and I know Walloth & Nesch supply the chrome / painted plastic pieces for RHD, but I'll have a go at restoring my own ones first.

 

Thanks.

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