E30 Zone

My cluster has given up the ghost and I'm looking at buying one that's been fully refurbished but the issue is that is shows a lot less mileage than my car currently

Now I know I could swap my speedometer into the new one but if there's a way of winding the new one forward I'd prefer to do that as I know with the new cluster everything has been refreshed and is 100 percent working order

Apologies if this seems like a daft question cheers

I had to advance the mileage on a cluster by about 20k miles. I attached the relevant cog to a drill and then spent HOURS winding it. It's laborious but can be done, a little and often is my advice!

Altering the mileage isn't illegal so long as the total mileage is recorded and declared.

Back in the day before programmed instrument clusters if we replaced the Instrument cluster we noted it in the service book and stamped it.

There are plenty of youtube videos that show you how to change the odometer on an E30. Not sure about the legality of if, but it looks pretty easy to do

twright wrote: ↑

Thu Nov 10, 2022 1:00 am

There are plenty of youtube videos that show you how to change the odometer on an E30. Not sure about the legality of if, but it looks pretty easy to do

Why would it be illegal? Changing the mileage of a replacement cluster to match the original is fine.

Cloggy Saint wrote: ↑

Thu Nov 10, 2022 11:26 am

twright wrote: ↑

Thu Nov 10, 2022 1:00 am

There are plenty of youtube videos that show you how to change the odometer on an E30. Not sure about the legality of if, but it looks pretty easy to do

Why would it be illegal? Changing the mileage of a replacement cluster to match the original is fine.

I don't think the changing of the mileage is illegal as such, it's the selling of the car to someone and making out the new mileage is correct. If the old and the new mileage are documented and disclosed then I don't see any issue no matter what it reads.

The car is on 150,501 and the potential clocks I'm looking at are under 60k.
It was my every intention of winding them forward to exactly 150,501. I've no intention of ever selling it as it's a special car which i intend on handing over toy sons when im done later on, that's practically had a full strip down and rebuild over the last number of years with v8 swap etc, but it is a 2 owner 150k example so I like it all to be as spot on as it can be
The folder I have compiled for the car is, extensive to say the least

What is wrong with the old cluster?

You could just change the milage stack and use the old one and either pick the best cogs or get one of the new kits.

Attaching a drill is the only way I know, as trying to dismantle them and flick the numbers has the potential for damage and the numbers will likely never line up properly again.

Trouble is that will be a long time on the drill and it was never designed to go at thet speed. Cogs are a known weak point, you could get a problem with your new cluster before you get to 150k.

One of my E30s will always have its correct mileage as it is original and matching numbers, The other has nothing original and will have a zero mileage with a list of known mileages for all the main components.

Well the cluster was having a fit regarding the rev counter and eco guage (not that the eco guage matters with 8 cylinders lol)
Car had been sat for 6 years so I ordered correct si batteries and had someone change them. It worked OK for a bit then started fitting again and now doesn't work.

The wiring is fine in the car my guess is either the batteries were not fitted right or I have cracked solder joints somewhere.

I'm not an electrician so I won't touch it however, I did find evidence of incorrect screws being used previously you know the 2 in the middle that should be no more than 1cm... It appears longer screws have been used and penetrated the si board so I suspect this could be one of a few issues

E30 clusters offer totally refurbed items for 340 euro which I'll likely get if this cluster falls through