Install carpet under heater box?

[ak96ss]

Has anyone ever successfully installed carpet under the heater box without cutting it?

I removed the original carpet by cutting it around the heater box, and I am about at the point where I am going to install the new carpet (after almost a year...).

This is brand new OEM carpet, and I am loathe to cut it to get it under there. OTOH, I definitely don't want to drain the coolant or evacuate the AC, both of which are working just fine.

So, has anyone ever installed carpet by loosening the heater box mounts and sliding it under?

[ak96ss]

Well, thanks for all the input, guys!  :rolleyes:

For those who were wondering, it does seem to be possible, but it is a huge PITA. I wouldn't even try it if you don't already have the dash out and can loosen the four bolts holding the heater box in place. It is a TIGHT fit in there!

[Royalratch]

Looks awesome!

Can you do it with just the centre console in removed and the dash in place?

Surely the heater box only needs to lift up a tiny amount to slide the carpet under?

Your carpet is missing the built in rubber square at the driver feet - do they not come with those anymore?

[ak96ss]

Hey, now, here I was having a private conversation with myself, and you have to come in...  

The heater box has to move up at least 1/2" to clear a harness under there, which, with the dash in place, will be tough to do, since the dash ducting is butted right up on top of the heater box, complete with a foam seal. I don't think I would try it, but if you can cajole that harness out, it may work. I didn't want to pull the harness, since I was pretty sure that I wouldn't be able to get it back in with the carpet in place.

I'm impressed that you could see that the rubber square (as well as the dead pedal cover and the one on the transmission tunnel) is missing, since the shot above is from the passenger side, but yes, they are in fact missing. I suspect it is so that the carpet can be sold to countries where they drive from the wrong side of the car as well as the left side of the car.

[Cobra Jet]

If you don't mind me asking, how much was the new carpet from BMW?  

If it is not "BMW carpet" but reproduction carpet, does it have the same type of insulated foam under it as the original?  Were all of the holes already pre-cut in the carpet?

[ak96ss]

It is OEM carpet, ran me around $600 shipped, and yes, it has that foam. That was part of the problem on the install, as the foam would 'grip' the floor and made it difficult to slide under the heater box.

[Royalratch]

I'm impressed that you could see that the rubber square (as well as the dead pedal cover and the one on the transmission tunnel) is missing, since the shot above is from the passenger side, but yes, they are in fact missing. I suspect it is so that the carpet can be sold to countries where they drive from the wrong side of the car as well as the left side of the car.

I lazily assumed I was looking at RHD car, didn't even notice the bloody steering mechanicals on the left side! LOL!

So it doesn't come with the heel pad then - bummer.

Loosening the dash isn't such a big deal but I have to do this soon with my 2 door (fitting a used but mint carpet) and I will do it as you have said - properly.

Good work!

[ak96ss]

Now I have to lay plastic over it. It was such a pain that I don't want it to ever get dirty...  

[Royalratch]

Just get some OEM matts. They're a must anyway.

[ClodKing]

Hey ak96ss,

Was there any holes going the steel part of the floor?? I want to go carpet-less... again...

And how many wires went from front to back along the floor?

Thanks.

[Cobra Jet]

Well, I might be able to add some input here w/ regards to wires & "holes".

When I had the carpet up in my 318ic recently, the floor pan has metal "plugs" in it which are sealed by factory body sealant.  There is one in the center of each of the floor pans (L front, R front, L rear and R rear).  Obviously if these plugs were removed, you would have holes in the floor pans.

As for wiring, all of the wiring runs from front to rear down the L & R interior rocker walls and is held into place via factory reusable plastic "zip ties".  I had my rear seat completely out and the carpet lifted up on each side of the center trans tunnel and I did not see any wiring running down the middle of my vehicle.  The ONLY wires that branch off of the rocker harnesses are those that go to each front seat, but are secured to the floor as well.  All of the wires from the firewall & kick panels run right along the rockers and it's tucked pretty tight against the rocker wall since it's all secured via the factory zip ties.  Even w/ the back seat completely removed, you don't see any wiring harnesses because they are tucked under the rear interior 1/4 panels.

Now, in my 318ic, I also have black plastic covers that mount over the rockers & carpet  (I'm assuming these exist in the coupes & sedans as well) - IF the carpet is removed and these rocker covers are reinstalled, these rocker covers will hide most of the exposed wire loom against the rockers.  So, if retaining your front kick panels, rocker cover panels and the rear interior 1/4 panels, I don't think you're going to see much exposed wire or harnesses at all.  The only wires you may see would be the ones that branch from the rocker to under the front seats (and even then you won't see much of those, because there is only like a 1-2" gap from the face of the rocker wall to the side of each front seat).



I've also seen some folks who do "gut" their interiors get the floor pans coated in the same substance as "Rhino Liner" as used for truck bed liners.  This makes the bare floor surface more uniform while at the same time, it reduces NVH and the floor is also protected against rusting.  I've seen this done on many types of vehicles and it's not expensive to do either.

[ak96ss]

This is about the best I can do for pics - yep, there are plugs in the floor at each seat position footwell. As Cobra Jet stated, the harnesses are pretty well secured. The only wiring running down the center hump in a stock configuration is for the windows and the hand brake indicator.

[BMWManiac]

Did you replace the carpet hold down pieces along the doors?  my passenger side front is broke and I can't seem to find the part on realoem.com

[ak96ss]

Not yet, but the part numbers are 51471906723 and 51471906724, here. I have two new ones, but have successfully removed mine without breaking them.

EDIT: Strike that, you have a 4-door, but same relative place in RealOEM for your car.

EDIT AGAIN: 51471904595, number 9 here.