BMW E70 X5 Glovebox and Lower Trim Removal DIY

X5Boise · #1 07-11-2016, 01:50 AM

BMW E70 X5 Glovebox and Lower Trim Removal

I just completed taking out my glovebox and replacing the wood trim (my original bamboo was cracking so I got a new one for $186 shipped). Nonetheless, as the instructions are pretty scattered or incomplete, I thought I'd make up a complete guide comprised of PDFs, pictures and links for a DIY. This done on a 2011 LCI X5 35d but should be applicable to all E70 X5 models.

See my PDF version ("BMW E70 X5 Glovebox and Lower Trim Removal DIY") as it has embedded photos to help with removal. Also see the factory PDFs referenced at each step for removal. Combine both for complete information.

Difficulty: 5/10 (mostly trying get out the lower inner bin and larger inner glovebox apart and the glovebox USB port loose)
Time: 1.5 hrs (for a careful first timer)

Tools needed:

T20 Torx screwdriver
T25 Torx screwdriver
T20 Torx bit / 1/4" socket / 1/4" driver (for accessing 4 hidden screws)
Small, thin flathead screwdriver (to remove electrical harnesses)
#2 Philips screwdriver
Plastic panel removal kit 5 Piece Auto Trim and Molding Tool Set
Pin Punch (1/8" is what you'll need) [a kit from Home Depot was $11]
Rubber mallet
Old t-shirts/rags (to protect nav screen and HVAC controls when removing central air vents and nav screen)

Steps

A. Remove Right Air Vent (see PDF)
1. Remove metal trim from right air vent. Start from the upper edge and gently wedge out trim. See PDF.
2. Remove exposed metal screw from right air vent.
3. Remove right side air vent by gently pulling the air vent outwards and towards the back of the car. Put air vent side.

B. Remove Central Air Vent (see link)
1. Before removing the central air vent, push the open button so the glove box is opened (you'll need it open for access).
2. Remove central air vent by grabbing the metal edge under the metal trim and gently pulling it outwards and back toward the rear of the car. It comes out quite easily. Put an old tshirt or rag under the central vent so it doesn’t scratch your HVAC controls beneath it.
3. There will be 4 electrical harnesess (3 in the center) and 1 on the side. You'll need to put in your small, thin flat head screwdriver in between the wired harness and the end connector, and it will loosen the internal tab and the end connector will come out.
4. Put the central air vent aside.

Link: Removing front centre air vent

C. Remove Navigation Display ("central information display) (see PDF)
1. Using a #2 Philips, unscrew the 2 screws from the lower attachment legs (one on the left side, one on the right)
2. Put a rag beneath the display to protect it.
3. Gently pull the display outward and flip it to expose the back to see the 2 harnesses you'll need to remove one using the thin, flat screwdriver and the other is a round connector with a press in tab, but you'll need to use a thing, flat screwider to help nudge it out. Put the navigation display aside.

D. Glovebox Removal (total pain) (see PDF)
1. On the very left side of the glovebox, there is a rectangular felt cover (about ½”x1”--use a thin screwdriver and wedge it out from the lowermost edge. Remove the hidden T20 screw underneath that cover.
2. On the upper most edge of the glove box, remove two semi-hidden T20 screws. On the very upper right, remove the one T20 screw.
3. If your car doesn't have a changer (like mine), it will be covered with a large back plastic cover. Remove it by lifting the lower edge outward and it will easily come off and it will reveal a silver T25 screw underneath--remove that screw.
4. If your car has a USB plug (see picture for reference), you'll need to remove it. Use the smallest, thinnest screwdriver that you have to wedge it toward the central part of the glovebox (outward), while trying to push down on the silver retaining pin. Yes, it is a pain. And it is quite durable so you can be semi-aggressive in this step.
5. Remove the lower bin (see photo in PDF or JPG--image borrowed from an eBay seller). The glove box itself has a large container composed of 2 parts: a larger surround, and a lower bin. The lower bin is held in by friction tabs along the lip. To remove the lower bin, it needs to be pulled vertically from the larger surround. I found that it was best if I used a 90 degree wedge to pop the left side of the lip of the lower bin upwards (towards the roof of the car), then worked on the right side lip of the lower bin (same action). This is a real pain as well, but once you get this done and removed, it's pretty smooth sailing from here.
6. Remove the larger inner surround. Just pull it up and out (now that you have the small bin removed)
7. You can now remove the four hidden T20 screws (use your T20 bit, 1/4" socket, and 1/4" socket driver)--you can feel them just in the inside edge of the glovebox.
8. Carefully pull out the whole glovebox assembly. You'll need to disconnect a) the upper light module (use thin, small flat screwdriver) and b) the glovebox motor harness (again, use small, thin flat screwdriver)

E. Lower Glovebox Trim Removal (see PDF)
1. Remove tab washer. Use a thin screwdriver to slowly wedge the metal tab washer from the plastic pin. This will release the spring-loaded assist arm.
2. Using pin punch (1/8") and rubber mallet, gently drive the door holding shaft as directed in the PDF. You only need to tap it about 1/2" and you can pull it out. The lower door can now be separated from the main glovebox assembly.

If you ordered a new lower trim door like I did, you'll need to move 2 items from the old lower door: 1) upper trim--just held by 2 screws; unscrew them, and the upper trim comes off--transfer this over; 2) Lower door sleeve bushings--just push in the end snap, and push the bushing out; note the arrows to help orientate the bushings when you push them in your new door.

To reassemble, reverse the steps.

A few reassembly notes:
1. Under E2, you'll need to reverse tap the holding shaft so it stays snug and holds the door in place.
2. Under E1, you can reuse the tab washer, just flatten it so it snaps into the plastic pin.
3. Before you begin to install the new glovebox wood trim, put some Saran plastic wrap on the wood surface (a few layers actually) to to protect during the installation handling.
4. When putting back the central air vent, the wires may get in the way of the 2 vents in the back, so reposition the wires as necessary so the central vent will easily push back into place.

A great resource for repair info on the E70 (where I got my PDFs):

BMW Workshop Manuals