Replaced the dash, door panels and the steering wheel and I took some pics
 

First a quick back story on why I'm replacing my dash, door panels and steering wheel. I bought the car in Miami and didn't notice much when I bought it but the dash was melted and BADLY heat damaged. The rubber material on the panels and dash had baked to the point where it was gooey soft and brittle. I didn't notice it much then either but the color was actually darker then the stock panels from baking in the sun. The doctor before me must have had long fingernails and had marred up the dash and drivers side door panel and it just looked a bit rough. The rest of the interior was flawless except these panels. When I brought it in to have the valve springs replaced I mentioned the dash and the fact that people in hot weather climates had the same issues and he filed a claim, but it was denied.

So or those of you asking yourselves "what clips are they talking about under the dash that need to be replaced to get rid of the rattle" I have a few pics that may help you understand.

There are 4 clips along the top edge of where the dashboard meets the windshield. 2 on the drivers side and 2 on the passenger side that are shaped like the prongs of a fork and a blank in the middle. They snap into the metal lip at those 5 points that run along the windshield. They are in the shape of a ramp which is to help guide the dash into place so that the C shaped clamps screwed into the dash can grab the inside of the clips. If they break I'm sure it would allow the dash to move in that area enough for a nasty rattle.

Sorry for pic quality, but I thought they came out decent on my wife's new Galaxy note :)

Here's some pics to help you understand what I'm talking about...

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a3...220_170244.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a3...220_170334.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a3...220_170347.jpg

C shaped clamp screwed into the dash

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a3...221_211343.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a3...221_211405.jpg

And DONE

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a3...-29-12_577.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a3...-29-06_846.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a3...-29-25_180.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a3...-29-20_203.jpg

Damn you took all that apart yourself? I applaud you, sir.

My friend helped me, we're both car nuts and we love doing this stuff ourselves. He still owed me from putting coil overs on his M3 :thumbup:

Applause comes after getting it back together. Ha! Good luck with it. I haven't had mine apart that far, and it was tough the way it was. The doors aren't bad, but lots and lots of sockets in that dash. Hell, I would replace the main harness at that point (the one that causes everyone grief with the airbag light issue). The dealer charges around 6 or 7 hours to do what you're taking on. Good luck with it bro. Be sure to post pics when you have it back together.

It was back together that night and today I got a chance to enjoy a new interior. I cleaned it today so I'll take a few pics tomorrow for you ;)

Ive done a numerous times on IS, GS, ES even RX.. I dont like it at all

My cars in the shop for the dashboard creaking, i see what they have to deal with...

Thanks for sharing!

Props in getting the job done:thumbup:

Post pics of your new interior

As promised I uploaded a few pics of it complete

props to you for doing that there is no way i could do that and knowing my luck i would forget to hook something up and have to redo it ha

thanks :thumbup:

Just looking at all of that stuff underneath the dash gives me a headache. Nice work!

Damn. Well done!

Any noises from the dash or door panels since you did the work yourself?

Zero noise since we made sure to replace any broken clips before reassembly from the donor parts. I was able to even reuse the a piller clips by reaching in and prying them out. Honestly the car feels like a new car inside. I Installed an AEM ETI intake after all that in the same night and the car feels amazing!

Next up is to replace the plugs and the diff fluid with some royal purple.