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The split trim bottom (Knee bar) would NOT fit in my 1973. 3/4 inch too wide.

About 3 years ago when I tried to install a perfect 74 Knee Bar in an E9 I remember fighting for hours trying to get it to fit… I might have it backwards and I was trying to put an early one in my 74 but they were definitely different!

I finally compared the one that came out with the 1974 Knee Bar and realized that there was a minor difference of about 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch. Without them being side by side you would never notice the difference.

That difference made fitting the center console impossible without cutting and trimming the perfect knee bar which I refused to do…

As fas as when the round knob and circuit breakers were introduced I have always been of the opinion that they were only on a 74???

But obviously I could be wrong?

Scott you are right that square cut center panel is for a 1974...
 
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Dorchester said:
Markos, the center of the strike behind the knob measures 2 13/16" from the right edge of the door
Hope this helps
Click to expand...

Great, I will measure Saturday. Now I'm starting to ask myself if I should just restore my fuse box panel. Sigh, too many options of things to fix!
 
execmalibu said:
About 3 years ago when I tried to install a perfect 74 Knee Bar in an E9 I remember fighting for hours trying to get it to fit… I might have it backwards and I was trying to put an early one in my 74 but they were definitely different!

I finally compared the one that came out with the 1974 Knee Bar and realized that there was a minor difference of about 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch. Without them being side by side you would never notice the difference.

That difference made fitting the center console impossible without cutting and trimming the perfect knee bar which I refused to do…

As fas as when the round knob and circuit breakers were introduced I have always been of the opinion that they were only on a 74???

But obviously I could be wrong?

Scott you are right that square cut center panel is for a 1974...
Click to expand...

Jeff,

if you are referring to the grab rail - i have 3, one from a 2800cs, one from an early 3.0cs and one from a late 3.0cs. two are cracked and have been recovered, but they are all exactly the same length and have the cutouts exactly in the same place. the question you might ask is IF yours has been recovered. a different thickness of vinyl or an additive piece of vinyl over the existing will change the size.
 
Scott I do not remember exactly where the 1/2 inch difference was.

Scoot,

I do not remember exactly where the difference was. I do remember that it was not exactly the same.

There was a minor difference enough that the center consoles would not fit or it was too close to the steering column just too big or too small ???.

I also think that I realized why they started to use the two piece metal trim.

Think about it… There must be a reason they changed from one piece trim to two piece?
 
The decorative strip as BMW calls it has always been two pieces unless the 74 has a one piece strip due to the adjustable column. Could the opening for the column be wider on a 74? Likewise the center console should be the same as all got the same heater/vent control assembly. As Scott noted early grab rails didn't have the emergency flasher switch opening though.
 
HB Chris said:
The decorative strip as BMW calls it has always been two pieces unless the 74 has a one piece strip due to the adjustable column. Could the opening for the column be wider on a 74? Likewise the center console should be the same as all got the same heater/vent control assembly. As Scott noted early grab rails didn't have the emergency flasher switch opening though.
Click to expand...
Actually Chris, the decorative strip (aluminum) was a single piece on most coupes. i believe late '73 was when it changed. i have a picture of a '72 that doesn't have the hazard switch mounted on the grab rail.

it is possible that the opening around the steering column is bigger to allow it to move more freely. i suspect it was cheaper to make the trim in 2 pieces with less chance of damage. but my steering column will move with the 2800cs grab rail in place ... so i do not think this is the case.

i will also tell you that my one piece trim fits on the 74 grab rail - no issues.
 
Just in case no one else noticed.... this is how a very constructive and informative conversation is handled on the forum. I'm always impressed at how much knowledge is on this board.

Dan
 
I was curious

This thread perked my curiosity... I have 2 72's. Both have split trim pieces on the 'grab bar'. However the early one does not have the emerg. flasher switch on the grab bar, rather it is on the under-dash panel. The later one has the switch on the grab bar.
Interesting! DCG
 
interesting information -
so it looks like the hazard switch was moved some time in mid '72

still unsure of when the metal strip was changed to 2 pieces. my 2800cs is a very late '71 - built in feb. '71. interested to hear from some of the guys with '71 3.0cs and other early '72 3.0cs. i will take a pic of my car and post the 1 piece. my steering wheel is off, so it is easy to show.
 
Just goes to show how even us older guys can still learn a thing or two. Are we sure the one piece trim wasn't a 74 item and not only on early cars?
 
addl info

FYI my early 72 also has the 'non text' graphic arrows for the temp controls. My thoughts are that many of the 'leftover' parts from 2800cs models were used in early 3.0cs' models and sometime mid year they converted to newer designs. My 2 cents... DCG
 
June 1972, 2 piece trim:

IMG_1856.JPG
 
rsporsche said:
interesting information -
so it looks like the hazard switch was moved some time in mid '72

still unsure of when the metal strip was changed to 2 pieces. my 2800cs is a very late '71 - built in feb. '71. interested to hear from some of the guys with '71 3.0cs and other early '72 3.0cs. i will take a pic of my car and post the 1 piece. my steering wheel is off, so it is easy to show.
Click to expand...

my 3.0cs e9 is may 71
the metal is two pieces
the hazzard switch is in underdash panel
rgds
 
so Jeff (execmalibu) ... you have all of the above. what's in your 2800cs, your early + late 3.0cs?

i could be wrong. my coupe had the steering column changed, but still had the original grab rail. i bought the other 2. so i can't imagine that the metal trim was replaced.
 
Dorchester said:
Markos, the center of the strike behind the knob measures 2 13/16" from the right edge of the door
Hope this helps
Click to expand...

Thanks! I measured today, and the numbers tie. You'll be sending me a fuse door shortly. :) I may put my '71 button on the late model door.
 
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