2007 SLE DIC Upgrade

qwk93ta · July 24, 2009

GM Parts Direct.

Part: 19159438

Category: All

Description: DIC Switch Package

Min.Qty: 1

Unit Price: $66.50

Quantity: 1

Ext.Price: $66.50

Core Charge: $0.00

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SUB TOTAL: $66.50

SHIPPING: $12.95

TAX: $0.00

TOTAL WITH TAXES: $ 79.45

how did you get it for 66.50? maybe i'm missing something. is this what you ordered

http://www.gmpartsdirect.com/results.cfm?s...number=19159438

I did see the DIC priced at $66.50 and did not buy it then, I bought it last night for $72.90 plus $15.95 shipping!!!!

belchfire · July 24, 2009

I bought mine from GMPartsDirect in two pieces:

slow sierra, I agree with your plan. I figured it'd be on national backorder, but if they cancel that item, I thought I'd go to my local dealership and see what they wanted. If it's out of stock or too expensive there, I can try my hand at cutting it and then order again later if it looks like chit when I'm done.

It's all good; just the switch would be awesome at this point!

spikesputnik · July 24, 2009

I got mine from Parts Zone Online. Took about 2 weeks, but it happened

jblock285 · July 24, 2009

well cutting this thing is a major pain! needless to say, I will be ordering the whole assembly tonight lol. Live and learn I guess. It is nice to have though, 14.1 mpg since I bought the truck

belchfire · August 1, 2009

Official update:

I ordered from GMPartsDirect on 7/23 and the plate was on national backorder (as I figured it would be). I instructed then to cancel that item and ship the rest of the order. The switch alone ($28.04 shipped) went out on the 27th and arrived on my doorstep on the 29th. Not too bad.

I waited until this morning when I knew I had all day and just cut my existing dash. It's gorgeous! Especially when I think about having saved $45 in the process. My TOTAL cost for the DIC upgrade is $28.04 in cash and about 2 or 2 1/2 hours to remove the dash, cut the opening, and reinstall everything.

TIPS FOR THOSE WANTING TO CUT THEIR EXISTING DASH:

Remove the dash piece, then remove all the other parts from it; the headlight switch and the air conditioning vent both.

You'll need a Dremel (with an onion shaped bit; round, coming to a point), a triangular file about 3/8" to a side and a flat file about 3/4" or 1" wide. The wider the better for a straight, smooth cut.

Take your time; you've got all day. If you don't have all day, wait until you do.

Cut from the back with a Dremel and cut an opening smaller than you think it should be. Then finish up with sharp files. I only used the Dremel on the initial cut, then put it up. When you cut plastic with a Dremel, remember that speed only melts the plastic. I used speed setting 2 for the best cut without loading up on melted plastic.

Take your time; you have all day.

Make all cuts with a sharp file from the front to the back. This leaves the fuzzies on the back and easily trimmed with a sharp exact-o knife.

Take your time and be VERY careful with the finish on the face. Keep the files away from it and don't lay it face down to file on it!

Try to cut the opening with a slight bevel that leaves the front smaller than the back. This makes final fitting around the switch much easier.

Cut slowly and test fit OFTEN!

Take your time; you've got all day.

The short sides are easy to keep square, but the long sides are trickier. To make a nice straight edge on them, begin with an opening smaller than you'll need and work to get it square with nice straight sides even though it's too small. Take your time squaring it up at this stage. Then (here's the best trick yet) working with one edge of the opening at a time, use your triangular file to cut small notches all along the edge to the depth that you think you should be cutting. Make the notches a uniform depth and start/ finish in the corners, dividing the edge up into several notches. Then, with your wide flat file, cut until all the notches are gone. This way, your cuts will remain smooth and the edges straight. Be careful in the corners that you're only cutting the edge you're working on and not cutting with the side of the file.

TAKE YOUR TIME; you've got all day.

On FINAL fitting, get the height (top and bottom) right first, and then gradually widen the hole until the switch fits in without rubbing. A slight gap all the way around is better than tight so the buttons don't bind.

All in all, an easy upgrade. Cutting the hole takes some time, but at 2 hours and $45, your time is worth $22.50 an hour, so go for it. If you flub up, there are a ton of members here who still have their old plates; you should be able to find another one cheap.

Daddy, YOU ROCK!

qwk93ta · August 1, 2009

I got my DIC today from GMpartsdirect.com and installed it in about 10 minutes. I paid $88.09 shipped. Average mileage for the first 1,500 miles.....15.8

belchfire · August 1, 2009

Hee hee hee; gotcha beat. 4500+/- miles and I'm averaging 21.1. Woo HOO!

vdubmurray · August 1, 2009

I got mine from GMPartsDirect on Friday. Mine was 14.9mpg since new....430 miles. Mostly city.

Definitely worth the $79.

I also have a spare non-dic panel now if anyone wants to cut it up.

qwk93ta · August 2, 2009

Hee hee hee; gotcha beat. 4500+/- miles and I'm averaging 21.1. Woo HOO!

How did you manage 21.1? Do you drive all highway? That's better then my 00 WS6 A4.......and I think I am babying my truck to get to 15.8!!! JEZZZZZZ

GPGuy · August 2, 2009

Hee hee hee; gotcha beat. 4500+/- miles and I'm averaging 21.1. Woo HOO!

How did you manage 21.1? Do you drive all highway? That's better then my 00 WS6 A4.......and I think I am babying my truck to get to 15.8!!! JEZZZZZZ

My guess would be a lot of either highway or country roads where the speed limits are constant. On a recent 2 hour drive back from camping mine was averaging 23.5mpg. City driving though I'm more in the 15mpg range it seems since I got the DIC switches installed.

belchfire · August 2, 2009

Hee hee hee; gotcha beat. 4500+/- miles and I'm averaging 21.1. Woo HOO!

How did you manage 21.1? Do you drive all highway? That's better then my 00 WS6 A4.......and I think I am babying my truck to get to 15.8!!! JEZZZZZZ

Since I've had the truck, I've driven to Columbia, SC three times (350 mi round trip). I drive 80 miles a day back and to from work, but I only drive 1-2 days a week and carpool the rest. All the rest has been combination driving with a lean toward city.

My trick is that I drive slow and don't push it at red lights. So what if the other guy beats me to the next red light? I've got him beat at the gas pump! Even on the interstate going to Columbia, when the speed limit is 70, I'm rarely even driving 60. Watch your gas mileage over 55 MPH. It really starts to drain.

ferris209 · August 2, 2009

Question, when did you order? I ordered my DIC WAYYY back on June 3. Still have not seen any sign of it, everytime I write gmpartsdirect they tell me the part is on national backorder.

SlakerHQ · August 2, 2009

Question, when did you order? I ordered my DIC WAYYY back on June 3. Still have not seen any sign of it, everytime I write gmpartsdirect they tell me the part is on national backorder.

I ordered mine (part # 19159438) Tuesday July 28th from gmpartsdirect.com, $88.09 with shipping... I just checked it. It shipped Friday and is set for delivery on Tuesday Aug 4th.

qwk93ta · August 2, 2009

Question, when did you order? I ordered my DIC WAYYY back on June 3. Still have not seen any sign of it, everytime I write gmpartsdirect they tell me the part is on national backorder.

I ordered it Friday July 24th and got it on Saturday August 1st.

qwk93ta · August 2, 2009

Hee hee hee; gotcha beat. 4500+/- miles and I'm averaging 21.1. Woo HOO!

How did you manage 21.1? Do you drive all highway? That's better then my 00 WS6 A4.......and I think I am babying my truck to get to 15.8!!! JEZZZZZZ

Since I've had the truck, I've driven to Columbia, SC three times (350 mi round trip). I drive 80 miles a day back and to from work, but I only drive 1-2 days a week and carpool the rest. All the rest has been combination driving with a lean toward city.

My trick is that I drive slow and don't push it at red lights. So what if the other guy beats me to the next red light? I've got him beat at the gas pump! Even on the interstate going to Columbia, when the speed limit is 70, I'm rarely even driving 60. Watch your gas mileage over 55 MPH. It really starts to drain.

I can't drive 60 on the highway......more like 80, guess I'll never get 20 mpg. Oh well!