How to remove dash & door panel for stereo upgrade?

[fueledbymetal]

I did a search on "door removal" and "dash removal" without any luck. I'm looking at CPO X3's this weekend and want the premium audio, but it appears it's somewhat scarce. If I find a car I like without it, I want to know in advance how difficult it will be to upgrade things my self.

FWIW I've pulled plenty of dashes & door panels on older cars (Miata, WRX, Jetta...) but never attempted it on anything as nice as a modern BMW.

[Vodka G]

http://webpages.charter.net/vodkag/temp/X3.pdf

my 'quick' instructions on how to remove front door panel

[Evlengr]

Dash is so easy you will laugh. Total of two screws. I will look up my directions at home.

It's essentially pulling back on the air vents above it, and then removing two screws below.

I'll post some pictures later.

[sfca-325i]

http://webpages.charter.net/vodkag/temp/X3.pdf

my 'quick' instructions on how to remove front door panel

That's a great pictorial DIY. Thanks for going through all that work to create ... and just in time, too. My front/rear passenger door pulls are loose at the top and I need to tighten them. Your DIY helps alleviate my concern on how to remove the trim.

:thumbup:

[Vodka G]

That's a great pictorial DIY. Thanks for going through all that work to create ... and just in time, too. My front/rear passenger door pulls are loose at the top and I need to tighten them. Your DIY helps alleviate my concern on how to remove the trim.

:thumbup:

glad to hear that, upgrading the front speakers on the X3 actualli made me want to drive it more now......

that was one of the things that i didnt like about the car...was the crappy speakers esp in mid and high range...esp when i can hear a huge diff between the sound in the X3 and the sound in my other car (the Z4M with the THX system...and a Audi TT with a Bose system and a set of subs in the back) the X3 was the only car that came with std system .....

i now have most of the sound faded up to the front (75% front) since i did not upgrade the rear door speakers (and i usually dun have passengers in the back anyhow) ....which elimates the 'distortion' from the rear stockies

[Evlengr]

Have you looked into my favorite new toys:

http://www.alpine-usa.com/US-en/products/product.php?model=PXE-H650 ?

This will allow you to keep stock H/U while adding some serious sound quality, functionality, and additional amplifiers.


http://www.alpine-usa.com/US-en/products/product.php?model=iDA-X100

Also this H/U is designed to interface with steering wheel controls:

There are cheaper versions of this H/U as well.