Saggy glovebox fix

[m3f_Braymond141]

Guys, the real fix was in the DIY in the domain that expired...I did it and mine is as new.

Too bad nobody saved the file

NO, the fix has nothing to do with adding new hardware.



The problem is the plastic bows out. You need to replace the entire glovebox or use my method to push it back straight.

[m3f_yod88]

my glovebox door doesnt sit flush...but its my fault..i was changing the microfilter and was laying down under the glovebox, when i went to get out from below the box, i reached for the dash board to help get out, slipped, grabbed the open glove box door and snapped the door past its range of motion..ever since then it hasnt sat right

tommorow will be taking the whole glovebox apart to try to fix it.. its been like 6 months since this event, so i figure its about time



are these fixes going to have effect as my problem? or is my sagging glove box different? kinda one of those moments that you think, why didnt i just get out of the car differently

[m3f_epj3]

my glovebox door doesnt sit flush...but its my fault..i was changing the microfilter and was laying down under the glovebox, when i went to get out from below the box, i reached for the dash board to help get out, slipped, grabbed the open glove box door and snapped the door past its range of motion..ever since then it hasnt sat right

tommorow will be taking the whole glovebox apart to try to fix it.. its been like 6 months since this event, so i figure its about time



are these fixes going to have effect as my problem? or is my sagging glove box different? kinda one of those moments that you think, why didnt i just get out of the car differently

I know the feeling, like when I used my (painted) front valence on my E30 to pull myself out from under the car...with brake fluid on my hands

[m3f_p1_m3]

Well I had to do both fixes to get it sitting properly. The screwless one first then the one with both screws. Got some black slimline headed automotive ones at my local repco. Sorted!!

[m3f_Purple99M3]

Man you people need to stop obsessing and drive the damn thing!

thinking the same thing.. maybe ill sell the glove box for 50$ (since its not sagging and put a nice panel in there.. lol..

[m3f_bmw4life13]

How much does a new glove box assembly cost?

[m3f_bmw4life13]

Braymond141, what did you mean by expanding the hole toward the front of the glove box? Sorry, but I'm confused.

[m3f_bigneil]

It is $600 for a new glove box, before discount. And going up over time. With discount, you can get one for about $500, and can hock your old one for $120 on eBay. So it's really only about $400 to upgrade (after shipping).

[m3f_epj3]

thinking the same thing.. maybe ill sell the glove box for 50$ (since its not sagging and put a nice panel in there.. lol..

Carbon fiber glovebox mod1!!!11

[m3f_TheSt|G]

I just want mine fixed because the glovebox sags and the light stays on and glows through the opening at night, lol

My brother's does that. I poke his glovebox every time I'm in his car since it bugs me, he doesn't care about it tho.:nixweiss:

[m3f_Braymond141]

Braymond141, what did you mean by expanding the hole toward the front of the glove box? Sorry, but I'm confused.

You need to look at the pictures on the DIY.

[m3f_ollie, ollie M3]

I got the parts and was just getting ready to do this fix today, but the domain name expired 12/01/06. Did anyone save this .pdf elsewhere?

OK, for what it's worth, here's the Google html version of the .pdf but without the pix. As long as I have the parts, I'm going to do this anyway.



This is the html version of the file http://www.totalbmwmag.com/HandsOn/TechFeb04.pdf.

G o o g l e automatically generates html versions of documents as we crawl the web.

To link to or bookmark this page, use the following url: http://www.google.com/search?q=cache...s&ct=clnk&cd=1



Google is neither affiliated with the authors of this page nor responsible for its content.

These terms only appear in links pointing to this page: totalbmwmag com handson techfeb04 pdf



Saggy glovebox letting your 3-Series interior down? Sort it

out with an hour’s work and the cheapest parts you’ll ever

buy at BMW.



Parts Counter

51 16 8 168 863

Plastic tongue

51 16 8 177 889

Glovebox latch

51 16 1 960 458

Blanking plugs (black)



The good news is it’s simple to fix. Totally

rebuilding the lock with new parts from BMW

will cost just £3.50, so if you’re sick of looking

at a wonky dashboard in your 3-Series, read

on and find out how to smarten things up.



1

Here’s your problem: the glovebox lid doesn’t shut properly and you can see

the latch mechanism through the gap. In really bad cases the light will be on

permanently at night, too. Michael Caine-style driving gloves are optional.

2

You don’t need to remove the entire glovebox assembly to access the lock,

since the mechanism is actually part of the vent panel above the glovebox lid.

Start by removing the two crosshead screws hidden in the top outer corners.

3

The lower edge of the panel is held in by two more screws. They’re hidden

behind these small plastic blanking plugs, which you will need to carefully

prise out. Use a small screwdriver and be careful not to gouge the plastic of the

frame. It’s almost impossible to remove these plugs without damaging them, but

since they’re only 16p from the dealer, treat yourself to a new pair.

4

Once you’ve removed the screws, slide the vent panel out and you can access

the latch assembly.

5

The problem is that the tongue which holds the metal catch closed is made

from plastic and over the years it just wears away, latching the lid progres-

sively less tightly.

6

A new plastic tongue is just a few pence and you can see how it compares to

the old item here. Fitting it is just a question of removing the retaining

bracket and then unscrewing the replacement tongue. Slip the new tongue into its

place and remember to hook the spring around it. Tighten it into place but don’t

overdo it — make sure it can still spring backwards and forwards.

7

Slide the vent panel back into place, tighten the screws and press the blanking

plugs over the lower two screws. Remember to seat the vent panel properly and

tighten the screws firmly. The bottom two screws have a ridge around the head which

the blanking plugs clip to, so make sure you get the screws the right way round.

8

The tongue for the latch on the glovebox lid is made from brittle alloy and you’ll

often find the corners snapped away if someone’s previously over-tightened it.

It’s easy to replace and since it’s only £1 you may as well replace it while you’re doing

the job. You’ll need a miniature crosshead screwdriver to remove the two small

screws holding it to the glovebox lid.

9

Job done. Total cost just £3.50, a glovebox which finally shuts properly and a

dashboard which looks like it belongs in a BMW, not a Fiat. You’ll also find the

glovebox light isn’t permanently on.



TOTAL BMW FEBRUARY 04

[m3f_gregoryp]

I tried the slotted hole fix and it didn't make any difference, but after messing with it I realized that the two tabs on the bottom of the vent assembly were not engaged with the holes in the front edge of the glove box. I snapped those in and it is great now.

Thanks.

[m3f_chicane]

Did anyone save off this PDF by by any chance? Are there other methods for repairing a sagging glovebox?

[m3f_M3CH]

http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/showthread.php?t=134066