Carpet Swap

[eric16v]

hey, has any one out there ever done a carpet swap or replaced their carpet in their e30? what is involved? do you have to remove any of the dash near the heater core area? anything else need to be removed? Also is there a glue that is used to hold it in place?
thanks in advance,
Eric

[ak96ss]

Not terribly difficult - remove all seats, remove the front seat belt lower mounts, remove the center console (complete), remove the sill plates at the doors. Pull up on the accelerator pedal, it clips in through the carpet. Now decide if you want to pull it in one piece or not.

I strongly recommend you do not unless you have a compelling reason - you'll have to remove the heater box, which entails draining the coolant, evacuating the refrigerant from the AC system, removing the dash, etc. It's a painful process that really doesn't get you anything, since the part under the heater box will not be visible when you are done.

If you've decided to cut, just cut the carpet up along the heater box to where it ends at the firewall. Cut as high as you can. Pull the old carpet out, match the part you cut out on the new carpet, reinstallation is the reverse of removal.

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_GVjhH8d20fE/STRl017SWYI/AAAAAAAAFjk/SULNq1LZHPI/s800/p9150156.jpg

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_GVjhH8d20fE/R9Gjx4XDoSI/AAAAAAAADLQ/CQgyAvQ2Tv8/s800/p9150171.jpg

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_GVjhH8d20fE/SDAInbWJoGI/AAAAAAAADZo/10GLzxKKTks/s800/img_1350.jpg

[Ramblin MAn]

Mommy, what is that bad man doing to his car?

[P. Kennedy]

Creative Options in Atlanta sells carpet "molds" that go over the existing carpet. I've not tried it, but I intend to.

[ak96ss]

Best way to learn all about your car - take it apart, wait two years, then put it back together. I am just now finishing this job, tracking down the various and sundry little tidbits that need to go back in/together and will post pics when I am done. In a few weeks. Hopefully!

[carlos318is]

Has anyone ever dyed there carpet:confused:

[eric16v]

Ok im finally going to get around on doing my carpet swap. Im just confused on how you would remove the sill plates. Do you just pull them straight up? I thought I read somewhere that you slide them forward or back.? I would like to get them of with out breaking them if possible.

TIA

[1991 E30 M42]

they pull straight up, they have clips the go into holes in the body, then on the top of the clip they slide into a groove on the underside of the sill plate. Start on the ends but not on the very end, you might break it, and try to pull the clips one at a time.

[emurepleses]

You dont have to wash the excess dye from the carpet? I tried to dye mine today, but read the instructions on the bottle of RIT and followed them, and my carpet is still the old color, except for a few parts....

[jgraves]

I have a 1991 318i I have to do the same thing next month. I had it painted this summer and I've been dreading replacing the carpet, because I've heard of how much work it is.

[AcSchnitzer318is]

You dont have to wash the excess dye from the carpet? I tried to dye mine today, but read the instructions on the bottle of RIT and followed them, and my carpet is still the old color, except for a few parts....

Ahem...

change carpet color (http://www.m42club.com/forums/showthread.php?p=80980#post80980)