[beanbaguk]

There's been a few requests for this install on the forums so here it is.

The drivers glovebox comes when you order the storage package as an option however if the original owner doesn't include this, you end up with missing cubby holes to store items.

The drivers glovebox is a neat little storage space that fits your wallet, phone, keys, etc so very useful.

All F30/31 cars can have this retrofitted if you are willing to take a knife to your dash...

This sounds a lot scarier that it really is, but if you take your time and go slowly without hacking huge chunks away, it's a very easy install to complete.

Lets start with part numbers first (for LHD cars):

51459240633 - Glovebox
51459267520 - Glovebox fixing bracket
07149185673 - Screws to hold bracket in place (TORX 20)

And here are the parts in all their glory!



Lets start with how things looked before the install. It's a sad empty space.



Before I started hacking away at the dash, I had to remove a couple of items. The first item to remove was the air vent which is easily done by gently prying away at the left edge (LHD car remember), and then working my way around the vent component until it pops out.



The next item to remove is the light switch. Again, this is very easy when you know how.

There are two clips on the top edge of the switch which, when pushed down firmly, will allow the switch to pop out at the top of the dash. When that is released, the rest comes out easily.

Whatever you do, don't force it! It will ease out.



And this is the inside. You should at this stage, remove the sound deadening material on the back of the part of the dash that you will be removing. This will make cutting it much much easier!

You can see my Bimmertech amp harness in the background.



Before I started cutting, I created a template of the front of the glovebox.



Mental note, do not cut outside of this template. I created a starting square within the the template to cut out first.



The dash is pretty thick. I actually started with a dremel but gave up on that quickly. I think I probably had the wrong cutting discs, but the dremel created a lot of smoke as it was melting the plastic.

I switched to using a sharp knife which worked out much better. My knife also has a serrated edge so that helped further.



After a lot of cutting and slowly taking more and more away, this is the final hole.

Top tip! Don't go for the full hole right away. Take your time and chip away at the dash little by little so you don't take away too much.



The mess....



And here's the glove box fitted. You have to insert it at an angle and then push it down into place.



Remember that sound deadening material I removed initially? I stuck it on top of the glove box to help reduce the sound deadening.

I then attached the bracket which holds the glovebox in place. It also pulls the glovebox up which gives it a much better fit.

Two screws hold the bracket in place. They are screwed in from inside the glovebox itself using a TX 20 socket.



And you're done! Reattach the light switch and air-vent and after a little vacuuming you're done!

Below is the result and a very handy cubby hole to keep my wallet and keys!

[fatalkarma]

[QUOTE=beanbaguk]There's been a few requests for this install on the forums so here it is.

The drivers glovebox comes when you order the storage package as an option however if the original owner doesn't include this, you end up with missing cubby holes to store items.

The drivers glovebox is a neat little storage space that fits your wallet, phone, keys, etc so very useful.

All F30/31 cars can have this retrofitted if you are willing to take a knife to your dash...

This sounds a lot scarier that it really is, but if you take your time and go slowly without hacking huge chunks away, it's a very easy install to complete.

Lets start with part numbers first (for LHD cars):

51459240633 - Glovebox
51459267520 - Glovebox fixing bracket
07149185673 - Screws to hold bracket in place (TORX 20)

And here are the parts in all their glory!




No pics come through

[beanbaguk]

Originally Posted by fatalkarma

No pics come through

Hmmmmm.....tried with Google Photos but that looks like it was a fail. Will try another way...thanks for letting me know.

[beanbaguk]

Images should be fixed now!

[00punisher]

Great job!

[jhuber]

Looks pretty useful but pretty scary slicing into dash like that!

[beanbaguk]

Originally Posted by jhuber

Looks pretty useful but pretty scary slicing into dash like that!

It's not as bad as you might think. The "template" is already imprinted on the dash itself and it's a case of taking your time and not cutting massive chunks at a time.

My tip would be to leave a 6mm border inside the indent of the glovebox area and cut short towards the bottom of the glovebox. Just keep trimming away millimetre by millimetre so you don't end up going too large.

Also use a very sharp knife and for cutting away at the dash. You can also use a file but that will just end up creating a lot of mess and dust.

If you want to use a dremel, you will need to buy plastic cutting discs as my metal cutting discs simply melted the dash I was cutting and generated a ton of smoke!

My next challenge is to cut a hole where the centre speaker goes to install a centre channel for my PP-82DSP amp, and I also plan to upgrade my HU to an NBT EVO.....fingers crossed.

[ethern0t]

Excelent! Will do this retrofit one day on my car.

[wdeerfield]

Great DIY!

Originally Posted by fatalkarma

No pics come through

you know you can just respond to the thread and not quote the OP, right? sooo much scrolling now. can you please edit your post to not quote that?

[fatalkarma]

Originally Posted by wdeerfield

Great DIY!



you know you can just respond to the thread and not quote the OP, right? sooo much scrolling now. can you please edit your post to not quote that?

got you, did it on iphone, the app has some bugs.

[Zermatt]

I dont think this mod works if you have the Drivers Assistance System (active blind spot detection, Collision Warning, Lane Departure Warning). I think these three buttons reside at the top of this optional drivers glove box.

[00punisher]

Originally Posted by Zermatt

I dont think this mod works if you have the Drivers Assistance System (active blind spot detection, Collision Warning, Lane Departure Warning). I think these three buttons reside at the top of this optional drivers glove box.

This is other alternative in that case: http://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1284733

[rG-tom]

sorry for the 5+ year bump but i don't suppose you could make the photos live again could you?

[ChrisyBouy]

Yes please! If somebody has them to share?

[gwiths]

Bump.

Pics please?

[Arthurrs]

Here's a pic from a while back when I added the driver's glovebox to my car:


I first removed the vent, then the light switch assembly, remove the insulation behind the dash where the cutout will be, then created a cardboard template of the hole required to fit the glovebox, marking with a sharpie the horizontal and vertical center-lines of the box. On the dash, lay some masking tape on the dash, marking the center of the area where the cutout should be, then extend the lines to the edges of the area for the glovebox cutout. Then lay the cardboard template on top of this, lining up your centerlines. Then draw the edges of your template onto the masking tape on your dash. Then use a dremel or fein multimaster to make your initial cut 1/4" inside this template cutout, then carefully test fit the box, expanding the cutout hole as needed to fit the box and keep it level. Don't forget that the bezel around the glovebox will hide any minor gaps or the "roughness" of the cut. I can tell you that using a Fein multimaster with a narrow cutting blade is the perfect tool to make this modification, and will make this job quick and effortless. Such a useful tool around the house as well.