E36 Instrument cluster surgery - United Bimmer Community

**David Mc** · 12-12-2007, 04:16 AM

The lower half of the LED Odometer/Trip meter on my 1997 E36 328i instrument cluster is temperamental and sometimes doesn't display. It is DEFINATELY not the bulbs on the cluster causing the problem as I have pulled the cluster and checked/replaced them all.

I have removed and seperated the cluster halves successfully before but can't see any obvious means of seperating the black plastic rear housing from the circuit board (which will be necessary for me to check the electronics mounted on the rear of the board for what I suspect may be a cracked or dry joint on the back of the LED odometer display, caused by excessive pressure when resetting the trip meter.

I suspect that the housing may be moulded to the board, necessitating drilling out the plastic sprues and replacing them with insulated connectors after the repair has been made. Just wondering if anyone has ever performed this type of surgery before and if there is a secret simple way of seperating the board from the rear cluster housing.

**Antiburn** · 12-12-2007, 05:07 PM

I have a e36 cluster at work, I believe it works, forget why I changed it. But Ill sell it to you if you need it. I also have a NIB coding plug if necessary.

**gldfshkpr** · 12-12-2007, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Mc

The lower half of the LED Odometer/Trip meter on my 1997 E36 328i instrument cluster is temperamental and sometimes doesn't display. It is DEFINATELY not the bulbs on the cluster causing the problem as I have pulled the cluster and checked/replaced them all.

I have removed and seperated the cluster halves successfully before but can't see any obvious means of seperating the black plastic rear housing from the circuit board (which will be necessary for me to check the electronics mounted on the rear of the board for what I suspect may be a cracked or dry joint on the back of the LED odometer display, caused by excessive pressure when resetting the trip meter.

I suspect that the housing may be moulded to the board, necessitating drilling out the plastic sprues and replacing them with insulated connectors after the repair has been made. Just wondering if anyone has ever performed this type of surgery before and if there is a secret simple way of seperating the board from the rear cluster housing.

Wow, Interesting threory. I have the same issue. I read on a board somewhere it was the bulb that needed replacing. Please be sure and update this when you get it sorted out. For what it's worth, when I tap on the plastic, the light sometimes rights itself.

**215BIMMER535** · 12-12-2007, 09:21 PM

i have the same exact issue! its very intermittent, sometimes itll go a week without a problem, sometimes itll be f-ed up everytime i get in the car for days at a time. if i tap on the dash above the cluster sometimes thatll "fix" it, or if i reset the trip that will almost always "fix" it. its a weird problem and ive also had my cluster out to replace other bulbs and stuff but it doesnt seem easy to get to the odometer display. mine has been behaving itself for a good while now with barely any flickers so it doesnt bother me enough to fix it right now. let us know if theres something relatively simply that can be done to fix it for good and good luck

**David Mc** · 12-22-2007, 09:53 PM

I successfully completed the reapirs to my 328i cluster. Here is the link that explains the procedure. http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=251379

**3050rpm** · 12-23-2007, 10:19 AM

Many thanks for this, I too am among the ranks of the "demi-display," although lately the odometer has been behaving itself more so than not. One question, any special tricks in finessing the instrument cluster out, my car doesn't have an adjustable steering column, and previous attempts to get it out weren't successufl, not without risking breaking something.

**David Mc** · 12-23-2007, 11:39 PM

I have heard that E36's with non-adjustable steering wheels may require the steering wheel to be pulled, which necessitates disconnecting and removing the associated airbag AFTER disconnecting the battery and leaving the hazard flashers turned on for 15minutes to ensure any stored charge is dissipated.

**Antiburn** · 12-24-2007, 09:33 PM

You should be able to squeeze the cluster out w/o remving the wheel. If you get the cluster in the large open top section of the wheel, rotate the wheel to the left while guiding the cluster along with it. It does take some squeezing, just dont go crazy and crack your cluster face plate.

**3050rpm** · 12-25-2007, 10:26 PM

Thanks for that last bit of hope and inspiration, I wasn't exactly relishing getting into some major dismantling (I always misplace some parts...).

**silver328ia** · 10-20-2011, 05:55 AM

Hi all this is my first time on this site and hoping to enjoy it -
Robert

**silver328ia** · 10-20-2011, 06:03 AM

The 5 service indicator lights start going out 1 by 1 over a few hundred kms until none left.
I guess it is the battery(if there is 1 in the cluster) can this be replaced and how

Rgds
Robert

**David Mc** · 10-28-2011, 03:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by silver328ia

The 5 service indicator lights start going out 1 by 1 over a few hundred kms until none left.
I guess it is the battery(if there is 1 in the cluster) can this be replaced and how

Rgds
Robert

Time to change the oil and reset the service indicator. These are just an LCD display, backlit by two tiny bulbs in the rear of the cluster. The situation you are describing is the way the service indicator normally functions.