Remove the support for the dashboard

Preliminary work 

• Refer to DEACTIVATING THE 48 V ELECTRICAL SYSTEM .
• Refer to DEACTIVATING VEHICLE-SPECIFIC HIGH-VOLTAGE OR LOW-VOLTAGE VEHICLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM .
• Refer to REMOVING FOOTWELL TRIM PANEL ON THE RIGHT .
• Refer to REMOVING THE TRIM PANEL FOR PEDAL MECHANISM .
• Refer to REMOVING THE CENTER CONSOLE TRIM .
• Refer to REMOVING THE FRONT STORAGE COMPARTMENT .
• Refer to REMOVING THE REAR CENTER CONSOLE TRIM .
• Refer to REMOVING THE CENTER CONSOLE .
• Refer to REMOVING RIGHT GLOVE COMPARTMENT .
• Refer to REMOVING DECORATIVE STRIP ON DASHBOARD AT CENTER .
• Refer to REMOVING THE CENTRAL INFORMATION DISPLAY (CID) .
• Refer to REMOVING THE DECORATIVE STRIP ON THE RIGHT DASHBOARD .
• Refer to REMOVING THE RADIO OPERATING UNIT AND THE AIR CONDITIONING CONTROL PANEL .
• Refer to REMOVING HEAD UNIT .
• Refer to REMOVING THE DECORATIVE STRIP ON THE DASHBOARD ON THE LEFT .
• Refer to REMOVING LEFT FOLD-OUT COMPARTMENT .
• Refer to REMOVING A-PILLAR TRIM PANEL ON THE LEFT AND RIGHT .
• Refer to REMOVING THE SIDE PANEL ON THE RIGHT DASHBOARD .
• Refer to REMOVING THE SIDE PANEL ON THE LEFT DASHBOARD .
• Refer to REMOVING THE LIGHT OPERATING UNIT .
• Refer to REMOVING AIRBAG UNIT OF THE M SPORTS STEERING WHEEL .
• Refer to REMOVING STEERING COLUMN SHROUD LOWER SECTION .
• Refer to REMOVING STEERING COLUMN SHROUD UPPER SECTION .
• Refer to REMOVING THE STEERING COLUMN SWITCH CLUSTER (SZL) .
• Refer to REMOVING THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER (KOMBI) .
• Refer to REMOVING THE FRONT RIGHT DOOR SILL COVER STRIP .
• Refer to REMOVING THE SIDE TRIM PANEL IN THE FOOTWELL AT THE RIGHT-HAND A-PILLAR .
• Refer to REMOVING INSTRUMENT PANEL TRIM .

• Loosen screw (1)  .

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• Push the carpet (1)  in the area of the B-pillar to the side.
• Unlock plug connection (2)  and disconnect.

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• Unlock and disconnect plug connections (1)  .
• Release the wiring harness from the heating and air-conditioning unit.

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• Unlock and disconnect the plug connection (1)  on the airbag control unit.

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• Loosen nuts (1)  .
• Loosen screws (2)  .
• Unlock plug connection (3)  and disconnect.

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• Loosen the nuts (1)  on the steering column (2)  of the footwell.

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• Loosen the nuts (1)  on the steering column (2)  of the footwell.
• Unload the steering column as much as needed to guide out the support for the dashboard.
• Support the steering column. 

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• Slacken nut (1)  .

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• Release the cable ducts (1)  .
• Loosen nuts (2)  and remove left and right retainer.
• Loosen nuts (3)  .

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• Unlock and disconnect plug connections (1)  .
• Loosen nuts (2)  and (3)  .

• Carefully guide out the support for the dashboard with the wiring harness to the rear.

  If necessary, unlock and disconnect additional plug connections.

• Carefully remove the support for the dashboard with the wiring harness from the vehicle interior.

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.