DIY: Chrome cluster rings installation, Cluster removal W/pics!
 

The process from start to finish took me 30 minutes. VERY easy to do and no surprises at all. There is no excuse for anyone not being able to do this and everything comes apart and falls together so easily it was almost like I was waiting for something to go wrong. It never did, SUPER easy install, only 2 screws to the whole thing.

The rings from Hong Kong are plastic and take about a month to get, find a US seller. I see nothing wrong with the plastic rings, and they might just be a lot less painful to install, see below.


http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d5...r/9f1d707f.jpg

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d5...r/IMG_1833.jpg


Remove the two screws at the top of the cluster.


http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d5...r/IMG_1834.jpg


Use a small pic to release the top of the cluster. The unit will come out effortlessly without issue as it does not fit as tight as say...... an E36 cluster which you have to "dig" out.


http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d5...r/IMG_1835.jpg


Unclip the three clips and remove the cluster.


http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d5...r/IMG_1837.jpg

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d5...r/IMG_1838.jpg


Get your rings and cluster on a nice white workspace so you can see everything.


http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d5...r/IMG_1840.jpg


Pop the two top clips at the same time.


http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d5...r/IMG_1841.jpg


The bottom can be popped one at a time since the top pressure has been released.


http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d5...r/IMG_1842.jpg


Just lift the face off.


http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d5...r/IMG_1843.jpg


The plastic rings flex and allow you to simply push them through without a VERY painful disassembly of the front plastic area. If you order metal, I'd probably just bend them through as well since they have to return to a circle when you push them into the holes, but they won't go as easy as the plastic, which just fall into place. :) (Side Note: the small rings are sometimes hard to get into place and have to be pushed quite hard to set properly.)


http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d5...r/IMG_1847.jpg


A little dab of epoxy around a few points of the back of the ring will ensure they stay put in the summer as the heat causes them to change size.


http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d5...r/IMG_1848.jpg


Isn't that great? Now just set it back together after the epoxy dries in about ten minutes.


http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d5...r/IMG_1849.jpg

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d5...r/IMG_1854.jpg

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d5...r/IMG_1855.jpg


Time to get back in the truck and plug it in!


http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d5...r/IMG_1856.jpg


Put the two screws back in the top of the cluster.


http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d5...r/IMG_1857.jpg


ENJOY!!!!!!!!!!!


http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d5...r/IMG_1860.jpg

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d5...r/IMG_1862.jpg

Nice work....but you still have a lot mod to catch up....:D

Nicely done.Nice clear instructions and pics.Congrats.:)

Thanks :)

Cloudy overcast and iPhones don't make great photo days, but this was happening yesterday regardless. :D The reflection on the inside of the rings is a trip.

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d5...r/IMG_1864.jpg

Awesome post! This should be put in tips and tricks!

Nice write up!

Do they make them in a brushed aluminum finish?

Yes they do ... I have it in mine...

Here's a few pics that aren't iphone pics. I finally had a chance to walk out and snap a shot with my DSLR.


http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d5...r/IMG_9495.jpg

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d5...r/IMG_9505.jpg

I have been trying now for 2 hours, but there is no way in hell that the 2 clips will just ''pop out'' :(
I have tried to do them all 4 at a time but this is stucker than stuck.
What am I doing wrong?

You seem to have the same problem I had. there are different clusters around. I needed 4 hands to open the cluster and not only 2 screwdrivers. But there are posts around about how to open our clusters.

good luck