McDani3coupe
09-11-2007, 12:48 AM
WARNING: This diy is not for you people out there who are not comfortable cutting up your German beauty! Be aware that there is a possibility of ruining your gauge housing by doing this diy. So if a little cosmetic bezel is not worth that for you, then don't do it. If you want that new look bad enough like I did...it's worth it. If you do break your gauge housing, you can always get a new/used cluster on ebay or bavauto! It's also by no means my fault!
Ok so for those of you who want to install an aluminum/ chrome/ hard carbon fiber gauge bezel...here's how I did it. Some people on here have said they were able to do it a different way (described later) Well that way didn't work at all because it was meant for a plastic bezel that can be bent into position. Well the aluminum one's don't bend (well they do, but they will be ruined) That being said I had to come up with a different solution. First you have to take your gauges out. Use this diy to a certain point to figure out how to take them out.http://www.unitedbimmer.com/kb-e36-silvergaugerings.php Mine were a huge pain because I had hardly no slack on the wiring harness so I had very little room to get my hand back there. Now you have to take the gauges apart as described in the above diy. Then when you get the top half with the clear plastic and the stock bezel in one piece you will come to a few problems. 1.) The clear plastic isn't meant to come off 2.) the stock bezel doesn't come off...so I came up with this. I cut the stock bezel at each of these red markings. Be very careful not to over-cut into the clear plastic and scatch it!
205226
Some people have said they could bend theirs through the existing wholes in the housing. Well this type of bezel doesn't bend so That's why I had to cut mine to get it in. Then, once I cut it I was able to wiggle the bezel in there. I just pulled the odometer reset back far enough to get it through the whole in the bezel. The pressure was enough to hold the bezel in place. Some might want to glue it on, or double stick tape. But the pressure worked for me. It didn't fit perfect...if you looked at it from the bottom you could see a space between the stock bezel and the aluminum one, but when you look at it in the way you will see it in your car...you could never tell. When it's all done you have this...
205227
There you have it. A new look for something you see the most in your car. Good luck and have fun modding! - LoGaN
Ok so for those of you who want to install an aluminum/ chrome/ hard carbon fiber gauge bezel...here's how I did it. Some people on here have said they were able to do it a different way (described later) Well that way didn't work at all because it was meant for a plastic bezel that can be bent into position. Well the aluminum one's don't bend (well they do, but they will be ruined) That being said I had to come up with a different solution. First you have to take your gauges out. Use this diy to a certain point to figure out how to take them out.http://www.unitedbimmer.com/kb-e36-silvergaugerings.php Mine were a huge pain because I had hardly no slack on the wiring harness so I had very little room to get my hand back there. Now you have to take the gauges apart as described in the above diy. Then when you get the top half with the clear plastic and the stock bezel in one piece you will come to a few problems. 1.) The clear plastic isn't meant to come off 2.) the stock bezel doesn't come off...so I came up with this. I cut the stock bezel at each of these red markings. Be very careful not to over-cut into the clear plastic and scatch it!
205226
Some people have said they could bend theirs through the existing wholes in the housing. Well this type of bezel doesn't bend so That's why I had to cut mine to get it in. Then, once I cut it I was able to wiggle the bezel in there. I just pulled the odometer reset back far enough to get it through the whole in the bezel. The pressure was enough to hold the bezel in place. Some might want to glue it on, or double stick tape. But the pressure worked for me. It didn't fit perfect...if you looked at it from the bottom you could see a space between the stock bezel and the aluminum one, but when you look at it in the way you will see it in your car...you could never tell. When it's all done you have this...
205227
There you have it. A new look for something you see the most in your car. Good luck and have fun modding! - LoGaN