Instrument Cluster

[GooneriC]

I have a 1986 320i with a faulty cluster , can any prefacelift cluster work as a replacement ? Will 316 clocks work as normal ?

[Grrrmachine]

All clusters are swapable, but:

A) you will need the coding plug from your original cluster, or the rev counter will be wrong
B) you need to make sure the fuel tank was the same size
C) you'll want to swap the Speedo to keep the mileage

[GooneriC]

Thanks!

[Brianmoooore]

What's the problem with your existing cluster? It may be easier to repair that than to swap another one in.

[GooneriC]

SI board is a goner, had it checked and there's a guy here with a working 316 cluster so its easier for me to swap it . My Dash is already out while the car is being rust repaired so its not too big of a problem.

[Brianmoooore]

The SI board should be interchangeable between the two, so it would be best to change that over.
I'd recommend replacing the batteries on it if they are NiCds that aren't obviously fairly new, and checking the voltage on them at least if they are of the Lithium type.
Check the small brass nuts on the back of the case are all tight, and check the soldering of two joints near the temperature gauge. These two joints are for a large 220 ohm resistor, which sits inside a rectangular moulding in the rear case.

[GooneriC]

I doubt they would have been changed before , so i will buy new batteries.