Dash crack

[JHZR2]

Hello,

If one has a crackin the dash, what is the best way to prevent it from spreading? I had heard to drill a small hole at the end of it, to help relieve strain.

Any truth to that? Any fillers that actually look good?

Slowly getting a crack in the dash of my BMW - 19 years is a pretty good run to only have one small one. Just want to keep it that way...

Best practice?

 

[patfan]

I know drilling a hole in plexglass will stop the crack from spreading.Did this in a boat 15 years ago hasn't gotton any larger.

 

[XS650]

A small hole at the end of the crack should help, but don't drill it. A drill bit will prolly grab and make new cracks in an old brittle dash. A gently ground hole with a grinding stone in a Dremel should do the trick.

I don;t know what's a good repair goop these days, but you should use something so the crack won't continue to spread and extend.

A dashboard cover over the dash will help preserve what life is left in the dash and hide any repairs.

 

[gfh77665]

Buy a Dashmat! You will love it! just order one on line for about $60 or so, They form fit and decrease glare off the old dash. I have one in every ride I have.

 

[GMBoy]

I used this to repair a seat on a friends car once and it worked great. Even matched the grain perfectly.

http://www.eastwood.com/vinyl-and-dashboard-repair-system.html

 

[mechtech2]

Repairs are about as obvious as the crack.
But a good matching glue would help.
Covers and dash mats are available, and some look great.

 

[XS650]

Originally Posted By: mechtech2
Repairs are about as obvious as the crack.
But a good matching glue would help.
Covers and dash mats are available, and some look great.


I've seen a few that were well done and looked good. None that I have done though.

The cover is a good idea, if you have one crack, then the entire exposed to the sun part of the dash has usually deteriorated and is ready to fail. When I have a car that spends most of it's life parked outside, it gets a pad before the dash cracks.

 

[bigmike]

+1 for the Dashmat. I've got them on both vehicles.

 

[mechtech2]

Another little plus for mats is that they remove the reflection glare of the dash into the windshield.
It makes a nice difference, esp in certain circumstances.

 

[GMBoy]

I think the dash mats look cheesy like an 80's leisure suit. But that's just me. But, it would be preferable to a cracked up dash, I agree there.

 

[cousincletus]

^^^Leisure suits were popular in the 1970's haha.