'05 to '06+ dash conversion

[tdawg183]

I'm curious as to whether or not it is feasible to convert the pre-06 dashes to the '06+ dash. I'm not talking the shifter area as I know that it is doable. When I was shopping for my car I was torn between it and a like-year m35 which had the '06+ style dashes and needless-to-say like it MUCH better. Has anybody done this?

I can only hope that it's as easy as swapping parts but I know that could never hold to be true.

 

[theMerchant]

if it was possible , turbocad would of done it. lol Im positive John could do it if he really wanted to, besides he is running a car PC now.

I think the biggest headache thing is the whole AC/Radio area.

 

[turbocad6]

to do it would have to be a complete swap, meaning the dash pad, the bezel & all the controls, the newer complete radio assy, the newer navigation unit, a newer video module at least & all associated harnesses & stuff which is also different. only way this would be feasable is if you had a donor fx for each & every part you'll need... it'll be a monumental task... probly better off selling yours & buying an 06 really...

 

[tdawg183]

Dash pad as in entire dash? All I'm interested in is the nav/radio/ac area where the dimensions look identical.

Are we absolutely positive that the cables don't mate up? Just from the brief experience I have with removing the nav assembly it doesn't seem to be a difficult swap... only problem I see is if the 06+ has different buttons than the pre '06... as in bluetooth possibly?

I come from a BMW 5 series and changing the dash on that I would consider a monumental task.

 

[turbocad6]

ok, look at your cassette door, then look at that same area on the 06+... theres why the dash pad needs to be changed. the lower opening is different. I have an 03 & I used an 07 dash, but the pad only, still using the controls for the 03.

I used the 07 dash cause I needed the extra room to move the controls down for the bigger screen, but the bottom is very different.

I really can't say that it won't plug in & work, it's not impossible, I haven't tried, but most likely it will have to at least use all the rest of the matching components for the newer system, & I'd be expecting at least some wiring differences, they are pretty different systems. really theres only one way to find out , I'd go in hoping for the best but also expecting the worse... & expect it to be a pretty big & pretty expensive project.

 

[Rubare]

I was very interested on doing this when I saw John's thread about changing the dash. I asked him and he point me on the same direction.. Get a 06+..

So now I'm just upgrading things on my FX that I know I can swap to my next one..