Euro gloveboxes available again

[Chamberlin]

I've had my dash apart on the roadster for about 3 months now and recently gave up on getting a Euro glove box. I started putting everything back together this past weekend...Then I got my notice today from ECS. Snapped one up immediately. Anybody else get one? Are they finding spare glove boxes in European warehouses? Or are they actually making small batches of these kits from time to time? Looks like the ship date isn't in until December, but after waiting this long, what's a couple more months. I just didn't want to even try to piece back together the OEM glove box after the previous owner tried to 'rig' it, and with all the sag and broken plastic parts...
I did manage to take out the metal knee protection, but that was just an exploratory experiment, so I can do it on my other two cars....which are unfortunately both beige interiors...I don't think there is a beige Euro glove box available.

https://www.ecstuning.com/ES119149/

[Tim95M3]

I'm curious where these come from as well... I got mine a while back. The thing that gets me, mine is black, but as the finish chips off of the inside, beige shows underneath... So was it beige, and painted black? I dunno... I just think it's weird.

[robb1887]

I don't think there is a beige Euro glove box available.

False. I have them. I got them from Germany eBay though.

[Bobkid]

How bad is the install on these? I'd love to get rid of the sag

[workhurts]

False. I have them. I got them from Germany eBay though.

Why do those look like two different glove boxes? The description in the ecs site says they aren't covered and are just plastic. Is that really the case?

[BimmerBreaker]

Why do those look like two different glove boxes? The description in the ecs site says they aren't covered and are just plastic. Is that really the case?

One is the glovebox, one is the driver's side trim under the steering wheel, part # 51458410423

[Chamberlin]

BB is correct on those being two separate parts....but to confirm, yes these Euro lightweight gloveboxes are very simple, compact, all plastic assemblies. Not very pretty, but due to it's location it's quite inconspicuous.

[BimmerBreaker]

I think they are much better looking than the US units. The euro units better match the texture of the parts around them, and the design of the surrounding panels flows naturally into them. It makes the cockpit a true "wrap around" type affair and was the way the car was designed to begin with.

[hwong]

You bring up a good point - will changing the box because it's a new structure eliminate the sag?

[Chamberlin]

You bring up a good point - will changing the box because it's a new structure eliminate the sag?

Absolutely. That's the primary reason to go to the European box. I think there are some slight modifications needed to the metal structure in the dash, and the volume of storage space is less, but it is the best alternative to a poorly designed US market glove box (in my opinion).

[BimmerBreaker]

You can modify the metal structure of the dash but you can also just make some small modifications to the glovebox and I think modifying the glovebox is preferred.

The difference in storage space is pretty negligible too... the extra "size" of the US box is mostly made up in that metal plate...

[KBH22102]

Please post up some closeups of the texture of the plastic when you receive it. The Euro box I have has a different feel than the existing plastic trim in the car.

On an unrelated note, since someone mentioned they might be painted, were beige pieces available? I heard from someone at ZFest that all Euro boxes were black.

[cfmistry]

Please post up some closeups of the texture of the plastic when you receive it. The Euro box I have has a different feel than the existing plastic trim in the car.

That is exactly why I can't bring myself to buy them. They introduce yet another texture/finish to a car that already has several... and a cheap-looking one at that.

On an unrelated note, since someone mentioned they might be painted, were beige pieces available? I heard from someone at ZFest that all Euro boxes were black.

Yes beige ones were available as pictured above. I think they look a little better but of course they are useless for most of us ///M owners.

[BimmerBreaker]

It does not introduce a new texture into the cabin. The texture is the same texture as the "hockey sticks" on the door panels which is the part immediately adjacent to them. On non-Ms it also matches the center console which is the part adjacent to the glovebox on the other side. So the texture "flows" properly from the door panel through the glovebox or steering wheel trim and on non-M's, into the center console.

The US M dashboard goes from smooth black plastic on the door panel, to the vinyl on the dashboard/steering wheel trim, to leather on the center console. That makes less sense to me then continuing the black plastic from the doors to the dash... but everyone certainly has their opinions

This picture, though poor quality, helps demonstrate this

[tad240]

How bad is the install on these? I'd love to get rid of the sag

Really easy. Did this last year. Here is a link.

http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/sh...ovebox-install

[workhurts]

I need a beige one ... gotta get to me alarm module soon so would be a good time to swap. Guess ebay Germany or anywhere in Europe is the place to look?

Anyone got a part number for the beige?

[Chamberlin]

Yea me too! Got the black one coming for the roadster, but got beige in my 3.0 coupe and the M Coupe! Both of those are sagging but saveable. Gonna pull the metal plates out, but I still prefer the Euro solution vs. sag-fix kits...if you don't mind breaking the bank.

[robb1887]

Neverdone just release a precision cut sag fix, FYI.

[kornfeld]

Neverdone just release a precision cut sag fix fit, FYI.

purchased

[TheBMWPartStore]

Just a heads up, these show a pending release in Germany of 12/4/15. BMW currently show zero available.

[lokijibber]

I have both pieces (box and drivers side cover) courtesy of Thayer Motorsport's donation to Make a Wish at ZFEST this year. The design is definitely what BMW intended before trying to meet US safety regulations and having to add that stupid knee bolster.

I believe the mention of "uncovered plastic" simply means it doesn't match the M dash and original box/panel covering. It's the same plastic found in non-M cars.

[dklay]

Thanks for the pics bimmerbreaker. I had never quite gotten the point of the 'euro' glovebox until seeing your photos. I don't think I'll spend the money to do it, but now I get the point!

[Chamberlin]

Just a heads up, these show a pending release in Germany of 12/4/15. BMW currently show zero available.

ECS is quoting a ship date of December 2nd... So I guess that might coincide with the German release date you mentioned. From this, plus your statement about them showing zero available right now, I can only assume they are making good use of the molds and running batches of these once or twice a year. I would also assume they do this with other "NLA" items too, until there simply is no more demand?

[robb1887]

Thanks for the pics bimmerbreaker. I had never quite gotten the point of the 'euro' glovebox until seeing your photos. I don't think I'll spend the money to do it, but now I get the point!

I guess I need to stop dragging my feet and get my newer shots up taken with my DSLR so that it's easily seen and not photos taken from the 90's ha.

Mine are indeed not the vinyl wrapped (like typical lowers) and the color is not 100% match but it close enough for now. I have plans for the interior later and this looks many times better versus the US spec ones due to actually matching the lines of the interior. I'll see about getting the photos I have of mine uploaded this evening.

[BimmerBreaker]

Mine are indeed not the vinyl wrapped (like typical lowers) and the color is not 100% match but it close enough for now. I have plans for the interior later and this looks many times better versus the US spec ones due to actually matching the lines of the interior. I'll see about getting the photos I have of mine uploaded this evening.

I've read a few times that color isn't a 100% match simpy due to it being new parts vs. old/sunfaded parts. I imagine conditioning the old plastics next to them may do a lot to bring them closer together.

But yes - pictures would be great, some pictures that illustrate the transition from door panel to dash would in particular be very nice as IMO that is the best design feature gained from this (in addition to the functionality in the form of legroom). Whenever I look for pictures of the conversion I can't find anything showing what I want to see. I'd really love a shot from lower down in the center of the cabin, looking at the closed door while also showing the dash... I think that will illustrate the "design" part of it very well.