cluster problems...repair or replace?

[angoose]

Hi all,

I'm having all many of problems with my 1988 320i's motometer instrument cluster from

- erratic rev needle while idling
- coolant temp needle straight to red
- no reading from the mpg gauge

the list goes on..

Can anyone recommend anywhere in the uk to get it looked at and repair. Or know anywhere or anyone selling a working dash?

Many thanks

[Aly-g]

I don't know where you are in the UK but a quick GOOGLE for e30 cluster repair brought up this:http://www.clusterrepairsuk.co.uk/repai ... ir-service maybe worth a try

[DHFiS]

How condident are you with a soldering iron?

[angoose]

thanks Aly-g, i had found them just wondered if anyone had used them or a company similar to recommend

DHFiS - the soldering iton has already been out! i replaced the batteries on the si board and swapped out an odometer. do you have any other ideas of things to try?

[Cloggy Saint]

Dry or cracked solder or damaged tracks? Have you completely disassembled it and given it a thorough check? I wouldn't pay a company to do what you can probably do yourself. This is definitely a case for Brian Mooore, hopefully he'll be along. Keep your £ in your pocket for now!

[Aly-g]

I had owned my cabby for just over a year my rev counter packed up, when I took the s1 board out I saw that the batteries had been replaced and when I looked through all the reciepts for the car I found the s1 board had been repaired about 18 months previous to my buying the car ! I soldered new batteries in the board with no success , so I bit the bullet and bought a second hand cluster from eBay , it cost £ 120 .00 !! But it all worked perfect , all I can say is you pay your money and take your choice, good luck with the fix ,if you get any more e30 niggles that you need advise on just ask co's In the two and a half years I've owned mine I think I had most of them ! ! Have look at the e30 Wiki it is so helpful as well

[angoose]

I decided to go the same route and gone for a second hand cluster from a really helpful chap on here. I'll let you know how it goes! this has been the one niggle that has been a stumbling block. everything else seems fine. just needs new bushes, fluids and a seal and she should be fighting fit again. its my first e30 and i just cant wait to drive it!

[Aly-g]

Good luck with the new cluster , hope it all goes well, the only thing I had to do with mine was to swap over the speedo, the mileage on the new one was twice that of my old one ! It was a easy enough job to do, has the cam belt been changed ( in the past 4 years ? ) if not you really could do with that job being done rather than blow your engine ,

Allan

[angoose]

thanks allan i hope it works. fingers are crossed.

ill look into the cambelt. ive got all the paperwork so will be sure to check that out.