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BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum > BMW E90/E92/E93 3-series General Forums > Regional Forums > UK > "fancy" volume & climate dials



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      04-19-2012, 05:15 PM   #1
mobilejo
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"fancy" volume & climate dials

When I say "fancy" I actually mean "LCI"

I noticed that some LCI e9x's have chrome or brushed alu dials for volume and climate, which I liked as the dash in my non-nav 2005 was looking rather dull as standard.

The volume knobs can be purchased from the dealer for £9 each (better than the £15 each one guy on ebay is asking for them after buying them in bulk from BMW!) and are just a pull off/push on fitting.

The climate dials can't be purchased alone, they are part of the unit. You can either just buy a new (£350+!!) or second hand climate unit with new knobs and fit it in place of yours, or you can get a unit with the new dials and swap the dials only.

I got one on ebay I just swapped the dials - simple job of unclipping the fascia of the unit and unclipping the buttons, removing the dials and reverse to refit. Although the one I bought was in fine condition, mine is actually in brand new condition so I wanted to keep it. I tested the one I bought - it worked fine so put it up for sale and got rid of it (with my old black dials on it) for £10 less than I paid for it with the chrome dials.

Here's the pics:

This is a standard one (sure we all know what they look like)



Here's mine now:

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      04-19-2012, 05:19 PM   #2
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very nice touch mate, makes all the difference! shall have to get this done aswell! thanks for the share!
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      04-19-2012, 06:12 PM   #3
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I prefer standard, I guess each to their own
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      04-19-2012, 07:25 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ry320d View Post
very nice touch mate, makes all the difference! shall have to get this done aswell! thanks for the share!
Cheers, it really does. The first time I saw an LCI interior I couldn't stop looking at mine thinking how it looked dull/basic in comparison
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      04-20-2012, 02:50 AM   #5
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Nice, I've already picked the radio dials up to do mine, I've been a bit reluctant to plump cash on a whole new climate unit though!
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      04-20-2012, 03:06 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by skyrunner View Post
Nice, I've already picked the radio dials up to do mine, I've been a bit reluctant to plump cash on a whole new climate unit though!
Buy and sell dude, buy and sell - I'm only £10 down plus a few quid postage by selling the new unit with my old knobs back on it. They're on ebay for £50ish, less if you can find a faulty one with nice dials - then just take the dials off and stick them on your working unit!
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      04-20-2012, 03:10 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mobilejo View Post
Buy and sell dude, buy and sell - I'm only £10 down plus a few quid postage by selling the new unit with my old knobs back on it. They're on ebay for £50ish, less if you can find a faulty one with nice dials - then just take the dials off and stick them on your working unit!
Yeah I planned to buy a new unit and swap, I didn't realise the dials come off so easily...

Off to the 'bay later me thinks!
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      04-20-2012, 03:17 AM   #8
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I know that lemans 330d was selling a newer panel cover. Nearly bought it but I've got to get other things done first. Must admit they do look better. Afaik the chrome rings were not just LCI, more late 06 early 07 onwards on some models.
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      04-20-2012, 03:24 AM   #9
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I didn't realise the older models didn't have the 'nicer' knobs, it looks much nicer IMO, nice job, I would definitely be doing this if mine didn't have them already.
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      04-20-2012, 06:20 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kaiser
I didn't realise the older models didn't have the 'nicer' knobs, it looks much nicer IMO, nice job, I would definitely be doing this if mine didn't have them already.
Some do.
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      04-20-2012, 06:42 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mart1000
Quote:
Originally Posted by kaiser
I didn't realise the older models didn't have the 'nicer' knobs, it looks much nicer IMO, nice job, I would definitely be doing this if mine didn't have them already.
Some do.
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      04-25-2012, 05:00 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mobilejo View Post
Buy and sell dude, buy and sell - I'm only £10 down plus a few quid postage by selling the new unit with my old knobs back on it. They're on ebay for £50ish, less if you can find a faulty one with nice dials - then just take the dials off and stick them on your working unit!
Well I've got a new climate unit on the way with chrome knobs, how hard was it to get just the knobs off (they don't pull like the radio?)? Changing the whole unit will be fairly easy I'd just rather pop them off to save the hassle of removing the whole unit...
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      04-25-2012, 05:12 AM   #13
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I have 2 panels for sale.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/album....ictureid=34622

Above is a pic of mine fitted

one brushed aluminium from m sport and one chrome dials both look a big improvement to the palin black

£60 each panel posted
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      04-25-2012, 05:12 AM   #14
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The whole unit has to come out to get the knobs off anyway - its more work swapping the knobs than just swapping the units
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      04-25-2012, 05:20 AM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mobilejo View Post
The whole unit has to come out to get the knobs off anyway - its more work swapping the knobs than just swapping the units
I figured, I'll just swap the whole unit out, should be a nice improvement though!
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      04-25-2012, 05:20 AM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by skyrunner View Post
Well I've got a new climate unit on the way with chrome knobs, how hard was it to get just the knobs off (they don't pull like the radio?)? Changing the whole unit will be fairly easy I'd just rather pop them off to save the hassle of removing the whole unit...
as mobilejo has said the knobs cant be pulled off like the stereo the unit is a 2 min job to pop out.
you are better off opening the unit and replacing the board inside as the climate panel is linked to your pollen filter service so if you put a different panel in it throws your service schedule out and can t be reset either by you or the dealers.

its really a 5 min job in total.
I kept my old panel with the board swapped so i could put back standard if i ever sold my car which i do on a regular basis
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      04-25-2012, 05:31 AM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lemans 330d View Post
as mobilejo has said the knobs cant be pulled off like the stereo the unit is a 2 min job to pop out.
you are better off opening the unit and replacing the board inside as the climate panel is linked to your pollen filter service so if you put a different panel in it throws your service schedule out and can t be reset either by you or the dealers.

its really a 5 min job in total.
I kept my old panel with the board swapped so i could put back standard if i ever sold my car which i do on a regular basis
Cheers for the heads up on that, noted!

Having picked a climate unit up with radio buttons on eBay for £30 delivered I'm quite pleased! It should give a nice refresh
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      04-25-2012, 05:48 AM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mart1000 View Post
I know that lemans 330d was selling a newer panel cover. Nearly bought it but I've got to get other things done first. Must admit they do look better. Afaik the chrome rings were not just LCI, more late 06 early 07 onwards on some models.
Yep, correct. I have a pre LCI and it came with the chrome bling.
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      04-25-2012, 06:21 AM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by skyrunner
Quote:
Originally Posted by lemans 330d View Post
as mobilejo has said the knobs cant be pulled off like the stereo the unit is a 2 min job to pop out.
you are better off opening the unit and replacing the board inside as the climate panel is linked to your pollen filter service so if you put a different panel in it throws your service schedule out and can t be reset either by you or the dealers.

its really a 5 min job in total.
I kept my old panel with the board swapped so i could put back standard if i ever sold my car which i do on a regular basis
Cheers for the heads up on that, noted!

Having picked a climate unit up with radio buttons on eBay for £30 delivered I'm quite pleased! It should give a nice refresh
You outbid me! I was going for that aswell. Oh well
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      04-25-2012, 06:25 AM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jak_ir View Post
You outbid me! I was going for that aswell. Oh well
Hehe sorry! Since I won it though it means all others that will sell on eBay from now on will be cheaper probably, that's my usual luck!
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      04-25-2012, 06:44 AM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by skyrunner
Quote:
Originally Posted by jak_ir View Post
You outbid me! I was going for that aswell. Oh well
Hehe sorry! Since I won it though it means all others that will sell on eBay from now on will be cheaper probably, that's my usual luck!
No worries mate, highest bidder won. I'l just keep an eye out for a similiar one. Good luck with the fit.
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      04-25-2012, 09:44 AM   #22
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:s

my car is pre-lci but has chrome?



edit:

so did the e92 335i i had a few years ago:

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