I recently purchased some chrome vintage gauge rings at IL in Germany. However my attempt to fit them turns out to be a nightmare. You cannot just take away the window in front of the gauges at it is glued firmly in place. I tried to lift it off, but it cracked (you can't see the crack as soon it is back in place however). Next step: I dismantled the whole unit with rev counter, odometer, etc. and managed to get the gauge sourround away from the intruments (good for fitting new dials). However I can just reach to the back of the sourround.

I was told I could squeeze the rings in, but that the chrome could brittle (the outer diameter of the rings is bigger than the one of the holes), or I could cut the binacle window off and glue it back in place after fitting the rings, sounds scary.

Has anybody managed to get these rings in place. My car is a 97 Mk1, apparently on the Mk2 the binacle window is not glued anymore. (8/00)
Try http://www.donutz.co.uk/dp68.html which is review of fitting the standard rings to the MK1 You are very right it is dead easy on the MK2, the binnacle can stay in the car and be done very quickly! (8/00)
I had the same problem with Mk1 Donutz rings, not the vintage ones, the standard ones. Mine were 0.5mm too big on the OD, I had to (very carefully) use a 3mm square file to file down the bottom 1mm of ring to make them fit. The filing takes the chrome off of course, but this is the area that is covered by the binnacle. It took f**king ages!! (8/00)
If you look on www.donutz.co.uk under interior and small gauge rings (I think) you'll find a write up on how I did it. (And a pic of my instrument panel) Basically, you have to work through the large gauge holes, and stick the rings in place onto the small gauge apertures, which, of course, you can't see. You have to be VERY CAREFUL not to get glue everywhere (I used Araldite rapid, and Araldite always goes everywhere, instantly. Shield the clear window especially with paper - glue would look awful there.) It's not an easy job. But it looks brill. when it's done! (8/00)
I changed the dials on my Roadster and you had to take off the clear cover to do that, IIRC it was not _that_ hard to get off, I think it needed a bit of persuading and the little clips that hold it on each needed pushing in, make sure you do all of them all the way round. (8/00)
To fit extra gauge rings you need to remove the clear plastic from the rest of the gauge housing. You have to be really careful taking it off; its not so much glued as "spot welded" at places (melted plastic). A sharp knife would be the order of the day. Unfortunately, the spare cover I have is cracked as well. (8/00)

I tried again on Friday and succeeded.

No cutting was needed! I just squeezed the rings in (the big ones). In fact you first have to glue in the small rings before, squeeze the two big rings in place. Don't put the big rings in place first as it would not be enough clearance for the small rings!! I put some glue on a toothpick and applied it step by step to the sides of the holes. I then lifted the rings from the back and pressed them on. (This might not work that well with the "normal rings", I have the vintage rings). I also shielded the window with some toilet paper to avoid to get glue on the window if one of the rings would drop with glue on it by mistake. It was not difficult but it took some time as I was doing it very carefully. I also polished the rings before with Brasso as one of the rings had a brown ugly mark. Now they look shiny (I have to admit they do look better then the OEM rings in my '91). (8/00)