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Bloody vent chrome things

Guinness

Finally got the BMW
Nov 29, 2006
4,422
1
Newcastle
Yes title says a lot really, well got chrome air rings, and though hey they will be easy, well there not the side ones Iv got on ish, but the middle ones r now officialy glued on. How the hell u meant 2 put em on tried a search but its not really answering me lol 2 late now anyway but ah well
 

gazjones

Guest
a pain to fit but they go on staggered as such clips dont fit north south as such i had problems when doing mine on my old car
 

Guinness

Finally got the BMW
Nov 29, 2006
4,422
1
Newcastle
glued em lol, just got sick, and the guy at the garage would say "told u so" if I went n asked as he said there a bast*** 2 fit. Me being me nah al manage lol starting 2 learn slowly
 

tommmineh

1.2 POWER
Feb 28, 2005
721
0
Sheffield/Rotherham
EdButler said:
Side vent rings you can just pull out, just pull hard... To re-insert just line up the clips and then push straight back on.

Me and Mike_OBD made a cool discovery getting the middle ones out... We called it "Vent Casting"

Just get 2 strong peices of wire and bend them into a hairpin-ish shape. Use it as a 'hook' to feed the wire round the vent slats. When you get the other end thru, give yourself plenty of wire to pull with good grip. DO THIS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE VENT - Make sure it comes out straight at all costs!

Then pull really really (really!) hard.... The vent will pop out of its socket about 1cm towards you... Now stop pulling! You can then take the ring off and re-plug it in.

You can either do this or un-screw the centre console - easy for those with manual AC, but a bugger for Climate users as 2 torx screws are underneath the climate box which require a wrench-style screwdriver. If you take that lot out along with the cup holder etc, you can push the vents out from the inside...

When your plugging them in - its useful to take apart the glove box as you can just see the side of them. Use a Torx T-20 to undo all the screws.

ILL ALSO RECOMMEND - Masking tape around the vents just incase you slip!

All together now,

'Thanks Ed' :clap:
 

Rosco906

Full Member
Aug 17, 2006
1,445
0
Burntisland, Scotland
i was cleaning the car and i caught it by accident and it felt loose so a just pulled it off and was like ****.

Its to cold the now to piss about with it.

Will wait till tuesday when ive got the garage to myself and get that Fr backbox i got off Russell.
 

EdButler

Full Member
Apr 24, 2005
713
1
Sheffield
Right... Firstly id mask off the vent indents on the dash just uncase you slip!

Take your radio and centre Tray out.

Remove two Torx T-20 screws from the left and right of the fascia and 2 i think from above (use a torch!)

IF you have climate, youll need to remove two from underneath either side of that. Either use a small screwdriver/wrench or take out your ash tray so you can get enough room to put your driver in.

Take the fascia out. Unplug the Rear demster and airbag light.

Now with the whole lot out, theres now space to get your hand into the centre vents. Use your fingers or be careful with a screwdriver to pop the vents out by pushing them toward the rear of the car. When theyre out you can use a screwdriver to gently unlip the surrounds.

When youve done, make sure the vents are straight and the small lip on the chrome surround lines up with the one on the dash and simply push in untill it clicks, guiding it in correctly with your hand behind the dash. If you come accross resistance at this point, the vent is not quite aligned with the rubber pipe so try giveing it a wiggle!

Then re-assemble your dash.

Oh and cheers Tom :D
 

Ol' Timer

Full Member
Jun 20, 2004
873
2
Norfolk
Good instructions from Ed.

When I fitted mine I found one of the trickiest bits was locating the chrome ring correctly on the vent when it was removed. If it isn't in exactly the correct position you think they are clipped in place but as soon as you touch them they spring apart again. When they are located correctly they snap together with an audible click. It's worth inspecting them carefully to work out what goes where (the SEAT diagrams are rather difficult to decipher.)
 

Nath.

The Gentlemans Express
Jan 1, 2006
8,620
16
EASTLEIGH, HAMPSHIRE
I did my brothers on boxing day as I got them for him for xmas

when I did mine it took me about an hour so the second lot on boxing day took about half an hour

side ones are well easy just remove the dash side covers and you're away

middle ones are a bit tricky, thread 2 cable ties through the swivel bit of the vent and pull on them , then fit the chrome ring, then pop the lot back in

just remember to align the things and it isn't to bad

masking tape around the edges in case you slip is a good idea

better safe than sorry


anyone who wants them done I can do them for ya if you bring the car to me in Southampton
 
Jul 17, 2004
1,829
0
West Lothian
Sometimes glueing doesn't work. I tried glueing one in last winter, but the cold weather didn't help and it ended up with a powdery residue around the edge and eventually fell out!
 

bizzaboy

Guest
fitted the Gearstick surround Chrome Kit... Plus the Air Vent kit......... MINUS these 2 centre vents - as talked about quite frequently, not quite so straightforward as they appear to fit :D

Has anyone actually seen one of these 'official' U-30800 Tools the instructions talk about ??

anyway, alot of useful info above, so will have another attempt soon :)
well worth it, has added a touch of 'class' with the chrome, compared to the original bland Black dash.
 
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D-Power

Active Member
Oct 28, 2006
110
0
Newmarket
c'mon its pretty easy guys!
for centre ones: (sides so easy i wont bother)

1. Prise of the outer rings (is used small flathead with cloth to protect plastics)
2. Take a wire (trusty coathanger) bend into a large U shape and hook through the back of the vent. Make sure u hook round the back (horizontal bar) of the vent unit itself and not the vanes which are delicate. (using a torch will help)
3. Push in the side lugs around the vent (there will be a gap once the ring is removed). You'll need to wedge in small flathead screrwdrives or similar, and work around in a circle to keep the lugs from popping back in place.
4. Pull hard, dont ***** foot around, twist and jiggle it about and it will pop out.
5. Put in chrome/ally ring onto main vent unit and shove it back in to the holes.

DONE! :D
 
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rashcupra

MV AGUSTA & 1.8T DUB MK4
Oct 15, 2006
6,517
2
crawley
bloke that owned my car before me obviously had trouble as the day i bought the car i booted it and the cetre chrome grill flew off and hit me :wtf: all the lugs and pipes are fooked where hed tryed to fit them useless pr1ck so ive just wedged them in the dash they aint goin anywhere!