Dumb A** Move by me Today!

[95wildtt]

I should get some type of award for being a TOTAL idiot today, well most days, but particularly today.

I decided that I would add some aftermarket Carbon Fiber to my Guage Cluster, and also swap the Al Rings (sport package) with some aftermarket ///M looking rings...

I removed the cluster, very easy to do, and took the electroincs off of the bezel and clear plastic cover. Again, very easy to do only 4 screws and a few tabs.

Then things went VERY wrong. I tried to install the CF and rings per the suppliers DIY instructions, but couldn't begin to get them in the locations that they showed. There was no room to get between the Al rings and the clear plastic piece on the front... I also couldn't get my fingers bent back 180 degrees to position the CF beside the raised guage surround.

So, I deciced to try and remove the clear plastic bezel/piece from the front. VERY, VERY BAD IDEA! The piece is glued on to the black bezel and did finally come off, after I cracked it in two places in front the Speedo. One crack is about 3 inches long, and the other is over 2 inches. It's still in one piece, and I glued it back on the black surround, but it looks like s&^%.

To make it even worse, the new ///M looking rings do not fit in the location where the Al rings are now, and the 3 pieces of CF trim didn't fit well and looked really bad.

Now I have a cracked front shield/clear piece and no upgrades. I called the stealership and they can only provide the complete cluster ($1,800 but Real OEM says $1,100+) and it will also need to be coded. WAY too expensive for replacing just the front clear cover.

I have a search in progress for a non-functional salvage unit (BMW number 62109170267) from 2007-2009 E70, and I hope I can find something.

The electronics and the guages all work fine, I only need the plastic pieces (what you see when you look at the cluster) that mount to the front of the electronics.

Without a doubt, One of the dumbest moves that I have ever made.

Anyone know of a non-functioning Cluster that someone would want to part with? I'm willing to pay a reasonable amount for it...

Thanks in advance...