Carpet Removal?

[e30m3power]

Guys,

I know that there is a thread somewhere that gives a step by step on removing the carpet in our cars, but i cannot find it. If i remember correctly it was Mick that wrote it but i can't find the thread even when i search for Mick and Carpet.


Does anyone remember which it was?

TIA,

Joey

[jmarch]

I did an detailed write-up on the SIG. Here it is:

Hi Gary and Gruppe,
>
> Please bear with me as I'm doing this from memory.
> Here goes:
>
> 1. Remove (all) seats
> 2. Remove curved plastic theshold trim (be careful
> not to break plastic clips) -- Don't worry you will
> anyway
> 3. Remove seatbelt attachment points
> 4. Remove both console pieces
> 5. Remove rear (vertical) piece of carpet
> 6. Remove glovebox
> 7. Remove underdash panel
> 8. Lift up both sides of carpet and remove
> ventilation ducts which carry air to back seat area.
> I belive they are held in by 2 10mm plastic nuts on
> each side. Note: you can do this by yourself but if
> is not fun. Better to have someone hold up carpet.
> 9. Remove plastic panels covering DME brain.
> 10. Remove instrument cluster.
> 11. Remove radio.
> 12. Remove heater a/c climate control. Note: Be
> careful when removing cables (plastic housing is at
> least 13 years old and probably brittle). Mark each
> cable for re-install.
> 13. Remove small rubber mount in front of A/C box.
> 14. Remove A pillar trim panels.
> 15. Remove steel support bar which attaches to
> steering column and transmission tunnel.
> 16. Remove all bolts securing dashboard. (You don't
> actually have to remove dash but you need it really
> loose).
> 17. Open hood.
> 18. Loosen and slide expansion tank forward.
> 19. Remove plastic trim from firewall (two pieces).
> 20. Remove firewall (a/c fan) cover. I believe it is
> held on by 4 7mm bolts.
> 21. Get a deep 10mm socket and loosen the a/c box from
> inside the engine section of the firewall. There are
> 4 nuts to loosen.
> 22. Optional: disconnect heater hoses at firewall.
>
> NOW COMES THE REALLY FUN PART!!!!!!!!!!
>
> 23. Lift up (gently as you can) on the a/c box and
> pull out old carpet. Be mindful that it needs to
> slide over three drain tubes (one in front, one on
> each side). Note: this is very hard to do and even
> harder without help.
>
> NOW FOR THE REALLY REALLY FUN PART!!!!!!!
>
> 24. Slide new carpet in. This is a bear and nearly
> impossible to do without a helper unless you totally
> remove the dash and a/c box. It's kind of like a war
> - you need to inch the carpet in. Problem is you
> don't have a lot of leverage to do so. In my case, I
> had a helper hold up the a/c box while I pushed.
>
> IMPORTANT NOTE!!!!!!!!! Try not to damage the a/c box
> when you are trying to force in the new carpet. Guess
> you can surmise that I did just that. If you do crack
> the bottom of the box you will have to also pull the
> heater core at a minimum....
>
> 25 - 100. Put everything back in. Be sure to test
> everything you can as early as you can. This is how I
> found out my SI batteries went dead from being
> disconnected for 2 weeks.
>
> Gary, how big is that stain again?????
> Gruppe, please feel to add anything I missed.
>
> Cheers,
> Joe
>
> 88 BMW M3
> 88 BMW 325IS
> 95 Porsche 993
> 01 KTM 400MXC
> --- Gary Vetick wrote:
> > joe:
> >
> > can you summarize what was required to replace the
> > carpet?
> >
> > were factory carpets available?
> >
> > thanks!
> >
> > gary vetick (pondering replacement due to a puncture
> hole)

[UNHCLL]

If you dont want to have to remove the whole dash/AC/heater/etc.... you can very carefully trim the carpet around the AC/Heater box and remove it that way. If you do it correctly, you wont see the trim mark as it will be hidden behind the center consoles.

Just another option if you're not overly concerned with a minor cut here and there.

[pt///m3]

Ok, I'll ask. About how long did the above method take???

[jmarch]

A LOOOOOONG time. You could conceivable get it done in one day, but it's a lot of work. However, in my mind, it's the only proper way to do the job.

Joe

[pt///m3]

Definitely understand the full / factory way to do it. Why I am thinking of doing it myself (rather than paying someone $2K to do it locally).

Not to be a pain, but did the carpet come up fairly easily and cleanly? I'd imagine there is not any epoxy or standard glue holding it in place. I read another post that mentioned sound dampening material under the carpet that is glued in? Did you pull this up to?

Any pics of the process?

(BTW sorry to steal the thread....)

[Mick]

Re: Carpet Removal?

Originally posted by e30m3power
..when i search for Mick and Carpet.

Haha. Hey! Watch it.

[e30m3power]

Haha, sorry Mick!

Hey I did this before reading JMarch's Post and it was easier than I thought.
It only took me a little over an hour. The hardest part was having to cut around the Heater box.

Thanks for all your help guys,

Joey

P.S. Putting the new one in will definitely be interesting.

[Mick]

Joey,
Why did you replace the carpet?
Are you selling the old one? I need one. Let me know.

[jmarch]

Originally posted by e30m3power
Haha, sorry Mick!

Hey I did this before reading JMarch's Post and it was easier than I thought.
It only took me a little over an hour. The hardest part was having to cut around the Heater box.

Thanks for all your help guys,

Joey

P.S. Putting the new one in will definitely be interesting.

It's only hard if you don't cut the carpet......

[e30m3power]

Ah ok.. Thanks JMarch...

Mick, I had problems with water leaking into the car and hangin out under the carpet. After a while the carpet was a little stinky. .. So i am gonna clean up the floor and throw in a new carpet (hopefully before I put the car back on ther road)... Even if you still wanted it, its all cut up now....

Sorry Mick :(

Joey

[e30m3power]

Finsihed installing the new carpet yesterday and it was easier than i thought also. I removed the skinny piece that goes under the heater core box as it seemed unecessary. It took me about 1.5 hours to install it. AFTER HAVING EVERYTHING ELSE OUT ALREADY. If i had to include the removal of the other carpet i would say 4-5 hour job total.


Joey

[petro]

When I look at the heater box, just above the carpet that runs under it, I can see little clips around the top edge of the bottom section. I will have the heater core out of that space soon (when backordered valve arrives). So you can see where I am going with this thought...

I am wondering if unclipping that lower section of the heater box allows you to move it out of the way?? It has metal clips that run around its top edge... maybe a couple of screws also.

Any ideas? If you could do something like this you would have a nice amount of space to slide the carpet in.

[scottp]

on the install, getting the carpet into the footwells is a challenge with the dash in place - it CAN be done. the easiest way is to rent a carpet installer's knee kick stretching tool. it makes short work of moving the carpet an inch at a time into place.

scott

[Carlo M3]

I`m at the point that I want to remove my carpet too. The car is almost empty. Only the dash is still in the car.

I just read the above guide, but missed one point.

How do I tackle the throttle pedal? It seems to be in the way.