Request for help with silly instruments

[Dr Firefly]

Hi,
I know I've been asking a lot of questions about a rather tired E30 320i that I picked up cheap a few months ago, but please just be patient.

Is there anyone who's really good with E30 electronics on the zone? I'm getting better mechanically, but haven't got a hope with the electrics yet. I live in Nottingham, so someone within a couple of hundred miles would be very handy. Basically I think the SI boards in my instrument panel are knackered, but I'm not sure, and I don't want to waste a load of money sorting it when I could then find out it's the tachometer, odometer, temp gauge and fuel gauge that are actually f$£ked. The rev counter works when it's sunny (seriously), the speedo works most of the time, and the other two just do whatever they feel like.

Any recommendations? If someone could sort it (as in properly sort it) I'd offer them free healthcare on the NHS (when I qualify as a doctor) for life, and give them £40 cash.

Cheers, Ian

[rickk]

Just rip it out, rip it apart, clean all the contacts (pull out the gauges from the main board to clean these contacts), clean and tighten the nuts that hold the fuel and temp gauges and closely inspect the mainboard for burnt out tracks.

This solved all the issues in my 320i, except for the econometer (which, as it happens, only worked when it was warm outside too - this turned out to be the gauge itself unfortunately).

Good luck,
Rick

[appletree]

I picked up 2 complete clusters for £10 from my local scrapper i robbed the good SI boards out of them and put one in my clusters worked fine.

although, obviously the one you buy from the scrapper might be damaged aswell.

[EThreezero]

The rev counter works when it's sunny (seriously), the speedo works most of the time, and the other two just do whatever they feel like.


Ha ha fcukin qwality, welcome 2 my world. I'll be seekin therapy if i dont get the four dials on mine to work correctly and all at the same time. I have went through months of disconnectin, dissmantlin, tightnin, cleanin and changin and i still edge ever closer to going insane in the membrane. I am at the moment enjoyin the functionality of the confused rev counter and shy temp needle. The rev counter seems to be ok untill 4500 revs are reached then its fookin weheyyy, totally goes off its rocker. The temp needle darts with ferocious velocity to the far end of the guage and hides for the duration of the ride. No speedo or petrol guage. This is only the most recent variation there have been many Hope u sort it.

[lifegoeson]

When a person replaces their instrument cluster (speedo..) with another. But the mileage reading on the new instrument is much lower.

How does someone explain that when the MOT is done... or when someone compares the previous MOT mileages?

[Dr Firefly]

So no ideas on anyone who could give me a hand? I'd just like someone to say "I know what that is", spend 10 min playing with wires, take my £40, maybe give me a cup of tea, and then send me off on my way with a perfectly working dash cluster. Is it going to happen?

[Gt6s]

When a person replaces their instrument cluster (speedo..) with another. But the mileage reading on the new instrument is much lower.

How does someone explain that when the MOT is done... or when someone compares the previous MOT mileages?

Quite legal to change dash with different mileage item IT IS AN OFFENCE WHEN DONE TO DEFRAUD probably best to notify motor tax and mot of original mileage and mileage of replacement head.
MUST BE DECLARED ON RESALE.
Legaly on replacement, mileage can be zeroed on speedo or changed to the same on previous speedo.

[Dr Firefly]

OK, does anyone know any really good car electricians in Nottingham or Leeds? Dazleeds or Widge, do you know anyone? Just want things sorted quickly and cheaply, maybe with a complimentary new 12 CD autochanger for good measure.

[318i1989]

I've had similar nightmares with my instrument cluster lately. I've had the 318i around 3 months and the rev counter stopped working, then the temperature needle came out whenever it felt like it. and then top top it off my econometer decided it would follow in it's rev counter friend's footsteps and die too. I bought a replacement cluster from a scrapper and got an independent BMW guy to swap them over. Then the rev counter jumped out of its grave and wouldn't stop jumping around, the econometer then danced around with its mate and wouldnt stop jumping and flickering so i took out the SI board from my old cluster and put it in the new one. Hey presto! they all behave perfectly now!
All i've learnt from this is that e30 instrument clusters are as reliable as a support bra without wires so get a replacemnt if yours breaks

[massive]

When a person replaces their instrument cluster (speedo..) with another. But the mileage reading on the new instrument is much lower.

How does someone explain that when the MOT is done... or when someone compares the previous MOT mileages?

It can be adjusted to original mileage easilly with a drill and a bit of patience

[Brianmoooore]

It can be adjusted to original mileage easilly with a drill and a bit of patience

It's a lot easier than that if you know how to do it!