Instrument cluster/gauges freaking out!

[Tyrmeltr]

Hello all,

I've tried searching about this topic but either I get no results or am told search is disabled. So, I apologize in advance if this topic has been covered.

Sometime last week, usually in the morning, my gauges would freak out. What I mean is that they would stop working, then they would reset as if I just started the car, with all the lights coming on briefly, and the gauges going through a full sweep before operating normally.

Today, the gauges were dead for about twenty minutes before they came back to life. Turning the ignition on and off did nothing to wake them up.

The actual ability to operated the vehicle is not affected what so ever. No loss of power, electricity, and everything works except the gauges.

Anyone been through this before? Any suggestions? Your help is greatly appreciated.

[Tyrmeltr]

Ok, after using advanced search, I found out that either I have a issue with fuse 31, or that my cluster is crapping out.

[Mr. White]

there is a huge thread about this in the M3 forum. people have tried just about everything to fix it. the only fix is to replace the entire cluster.

this just started happening to my cluster about a month ago. i bought a used cluster from a bmw salvage yard (002 Salvage in Hayward, http://www.double02salvage.com/ ). I then had the odometer reset to my correct mileage. a place in Palo Alto did it for me ( http://www.paspeedo.com/ ). problem solved.

[Mr. White]

more than likely it's not a fuse. if a fuse is burnt out your cluster would not work at all.

[Tyrmeltr]

more than likely it's not a fuse. if a fuse is burnt out your cluster would not work at all.

I assumed this to be the case, but I though perhaps if the fuse has a dodgy connection that it could be the problem. The fuse were fine as well as the connection, so it's looking like the cluster itself. That's a bummer.

[Mr. White]

total bummer. it'll cost you nearly $300 at the end of the day. i wasn't very happy either...

just for the hell of it, before you start looking for a cluster, you might as well check the connections on the back. there are 3. i doubt thats the problem, but you might as well check first.

[j0nblayz]

have the same problem, i followed all the wiring in the back and checked any known wiring problem areas (trunk), and finally decided that its the actual cluster that has the problem. Still haven't found a replacement yet. Worst part is that when the cluster goes out the cruise control does not work and also my km's is now way off since it doesn't count when its off, i'm probably off by couple thousand km's by now.

[SimonSingh]

This is probably a shot in the dark, but did you have you cell phone by the cluster? I've noticed mine does that when I've got my cell within' 10/15cm of it.

Another way to look at it, if you start the car, and it's not working, don't move the car. If it then comes back on by itself, then it's not wiring, b/c nothings been moved. If it comes back on when your driving, does taken corners fast or stopping rapidly help it come back on? Found I had this problem with my speakers, it turned round when I was driving round corners, and shorting out, muting my system.

Maybe something to try?