If you hate “pasting” garbage all over your BMW 2002’s cosmetically clean dash, and have decided that you need at least one more gauge, such as oil pressure, ammeter, etc., consider that nice clock housing. The VDO “Set Cockpit” style gauges will fit these holes nicely, if you care to take the time to do the job right.

You will require someone whose arm is small enough to reach behind the panel to the clock mount through a small access hole in the left side of the glove box. Unscrew the clock mounting plastic nuts, which are the same type that holds your instrument cluster and grill on. After you remove the clock, carefully pry off the face plate and remove the clock mechanism from the housing. Holes will have to be cut in the housing for the gauge sensor wires and to bolt the gauge into the housing. You may also have to use some sort of packing to center the gauge in the housing. Once the instrument is mounted, carefully reinstall the face plate. The entire assembly can now be mounted back in the dash.

The job is more tedious than it sounds, but the results are very professional looking. VDO “Set Cockpit” gauges use the same pointers and lettering as standard BMW gauges and look right at home on your instrument panel.

Author: Randy Kelly