Removing the support for the instrument panel

Precondition 

• The steering wheel is adjusted downwards all the way back.

Preliminary work 

• Refer to ADJUSTING THE STEERING COLUMN POSITION .
• Refer to DEACTIVATING THE 48 V ELECTRICAL SYSTEM .
• Refer to DEACTIVATING VEHICLE-SPECIFIC HIGH-VOLTAGE OR LOW-VOLTAGE VEHICLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM .
• Refer to REMOVING THE REAR CENTER CONSOLE TRIM .
• Refer to REMOVING THE CARPET ON THE CENTER CONSOLE ON THE LEFT AND RIGHT SIDES .
• Refer to PARTIALLY REMOVING THE STORAGE COMPARTMENT OF THE CENTER ARMREST .
• Refer to REMOVING THE CENTER CONSOLE .
• Refer to REMOVING A-PILLAR TRIM PANEL ON THE LEFT AND RIGHT .
• Refer to REMOVING THE KOMBI TRIM .
• Refer to REMOVING THE SIDE PANEL ON THE RIGHT DASHBOARD .
• Refer to REMOVING THE DECORATIVE STRIP ON THE RIGHT DASHBOARD .
• Refer to REMOVING THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER (KOMBI) .
• Refer to REMOVING LEFT FOLD-OUT COMPARTMENT .
• Refer to REMOVING THE TRIM PANEL FOR PEDAL MECHANISM .
• Refer to REMOVING THE SIDE PANEL ON THE LEFT DASHBOARD .
• Refer to REMOVING THE DECORATIVE STRIP ON THE DASHBOARD ON THE LEFT .
• Refer to REMOVING LIGHT OPERATING UNIT .
• Refer to REMOVING THE AUDIO CONTROL UNIT .
• Refer to REMOVING CENTRAL INFORMATION DISPLAY (CID) .
• Refer to REMOVING THE AIRBAG UNIT (SPORTS STEERING WHEEL) .
• Refer to REMOVING THE STEERING WHEEL (SPORTS STEERING WHEEL) .
• Refer to REMOVING STEERING COLUMN SHROUD UPPER SECTION .
• Refer to REMOVING STEERING COLUMN SHROUD LOWER SECTION .
• Refer to REMOVING THE STEERING COLUMN SWITCH CLUSTER (SZL) .
• Refer to REMOVING THE TRIM FOR THE HEAD-UP DISPLAY .
• Refer to REMOVING RIGHT FOOTWELL TRIM .
• 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 GLOVE BOX LIGHT .
• Refer to REMOVING THE DASHBOARD TRIM .
• Refer to REMOVING THE HEAD-UP DISPLAY .
• Refer to REMOVING THE ACOUSTIC COVER .

• Cut out the rubber cover (1) with a suitable tool (knife) along the molding (dotted line).

  Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

• Loosen screw (1).

  Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

• Unlock and disconnect the plug connector (1) in the right footwell.

  Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

• Unlock and disconnect the plug connector (1) of the temperature sensor in the right footwell.

  Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

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

  Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

• Release the ground connection (1).
• Release the plug connector (2) on the Head Unit High (HU-H).
• Release nuts (3) and remove the angle bracket.
• Loosen nuts (4).

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

• Release the screw (1) from the Head Unit High (HU-H).
• Pull out the Head Unit High (HU-H) and put it aside.

  Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

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

  Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

• Loosen nuts (1).

  Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

• Release the nuts (1) and the screws (2).

  Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

• Unlock and disconnect the plug connections (1) in the left footwell.

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Releasing the bottom steering shaft on the steering column 

• Mark the positioning of the bottom steering shaft (1) to the steering column (2) in the gap (3).

  Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

• Loosen the clamping bolt (1).
• Pull the bottom steering shaft (2) down from the steering column.

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

• Feed out the support (1) for the instrument panel, unlocking and disconnecting any plug connections that may still be present.

  Carefully remove the support (1) for the instrument panel out of the vehicle.

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.