E30 Zone

Hi,
The Odometer drive cog on the step motor shaft has failed, anyone know where I can I source a replacement? Also does it simply push onto the brass spline or will I need to remove the spline from the shaft?

I read somewhere Brianmoooore say he had never heard of this happening in the Uk. Usually occurs due to high temperatures, I think, as I have the heating on full because the car leaks and my heart condition, I have inadvertently created the environment for it to fail?!

Thank you in advance for any help.

Have a look at garagistic in the USA I'm sure they do this type of thing.

As for how it fits, sorry can't help there.

Cheers Steve, they look a bit different, but worth a punt if all else fails.

Replied to your wanted add.

loogie1 wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 25, 2019 12:28 am

Cheers Steve, they look a bit different, but worth a punt if all else fails.

Hi Steve, I just purchased a new set of odometer cogs from Garagistic here in the States. I have 1985 MotoMeter gauges and live in Florida, so they were powder when I bought the car last year. I’ll let you know how they work out for me. The Garagistic gears came highly recommended from other E30 owners locally as this problem is epidemic down here.

Oseanosea wrote: ↑

Sat Feb 09, 2019 7:13 pm

loogie1 wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 25, 2019 12:28 am

Cheers Steve, they look a bit different, but worth a punt if all else fails.

Hi Steve, I just purchased a new set of odometer cogs from Garagistic here in the States. I have 1985 MotoMeter gauges and live in Florida, so they were powder when I bought the car last year. I’ll let you know how they work out for me. The Garagistic gears came highly recommended from other E30 owners locally as this problem is epidemic down here.

it'll be good to see some feedback on these, see how they stack up.

Saturday evening I installed the new odometer gears I ordered from Garagistic a couple weeks back. I definitely recommend their gear set. The installation went very smoothly, with the exception of what’s called the E1 gear. It’s very tight by design, but installs onto the spindle that comes off of the odometer’s drive motor. Pushing it on was difficult in that and there are warnings in the directions (and all of the YouTube videos I watched) saying DON’T push too hard or tap the gear into place, for fear of damaging the odometer drive mechanism. It is recommended to hold the spindle with needle nose pliers while pushing the cog into place “firmly but gently”. It was awkward and scary, but after 20 minutes, some swearing and walking away a couple times, it suddenly popped into place. I took some photos of the old gears. They all crumbled like bleu cheese, save one which flexes like rubber. I meant to take an “after” picture of the odometer with new gears in place, but I forgot. I can you tell it looked like an odometer should look.

I found some useful videos on YouTube for removing the instrument cluster and replacing the odometer gears. Several were good, but those by Dan Cronin and Bimmer Zeit were most helpful. Garagistic provides online instructions to install the gears, but I didn’t find them as helpful as Bimmer Zeit’s. I am providing links to Bimmer Zeit and Dan Cronin’s pertinent videos. The process is the same for VDO and MotoMeter clusters. The gear sizes are different for each manufacturer however.




A photo of my finished instrument cluster is attached as well. I hope this is helpful to others running into this rather common problem. Sean

I bought the drive cog from eBay for £7. removed the brass collar from the spindle as per YouTube videos. Pushed on gingerly, not on as far as I wanted to, but I didn’t want to damage the step motor. It’s working fine.
Thanks for your help.
It’s amazing how those cogs turn to cheese in hot climates.

No need to remove the steering wheel.

loogie1 wrote: ↑

Sat Feb 23, 2019 12:12 am

No need to remove the steering wheel.

Definitely!

I didn’t remove the steering wheel either. Too much work; no need. I’m glad you have your odometer back up & running!

Just a word of caution on removing the steering wheel, and I know this is quite obvious , but DO NOT remove all of the nut before pulling or smacking the wheel off towards yourself.
I have seen pics of people who learnt the hard way.

Mart.

Thanks for your help guys.