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Thread: My E39 Pixel Repair

  1. #76
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    princeton, nj
    Posts
    1,149
    My Cars
    2001 540i 6speed
    i bought my ribbons from ebay german audo tech. a note was included with it stating t-iron was recommended. i did notice that one side wasnt smooth but had a texture that hinted it has a thin layer of glue. i was even thinking of using tape to line it up and after i confirm contacts are good, then just use the side of my regular solder and just briefly touch the ribbons.
    2001 540i 6speed metallic silver

  2. #77
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Location
    PDX
    Posts
    93
    My Cars
    2003 525iT
    Quote Originally Posted by mifesto View Post
    my question pertains to the MID ribbons but i was assuming the ribbons pretty much same method of contact. all DIY's i've read stated t-iron is not needed long as you tape it and align the contacts accurately and get alittle pressure applied with metal clips/silicone padding.

    so my question is, do you feel heating activating the ribbons is 100% necessary??
    I couldn't get enough even pressure for the cables to get good contact w/o gluing it down. It's especially difficult to tape it well on the LCD.

  3. #78
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    SoCal/MA
    Posts
    686
    My Cars
    E39 530i
    i love you.

  4. #79
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Location
    NJ
    Posts
    93
    My Cars
    00' M5
    What is the name of the other seller of cluster ribbon cables on ebay? Post where you got it from if you had success without gluing it down, thanks

  5. #80
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Location
    PDX
    Posts
    93
    My Cars
    2003 525iT
    Make sure to get a cluster cable that is pre-cut as well

  6. #81
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Location
    NJ
    Posts
    93
    My Cars
    00' M5
    ended up ordering from here because I didnt want to glue:

    http://www.akspeedo.com/bmw-lcd-pixel-repair-shop.php

  7. #82
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Location
    PDX
    Posts
    93
    My Cars
    2003 525iT
    Quote Originally Posted by furry View Post
    ended up ordering from here because I didnt want to glue:

    http://www.akspeedo.com/bmw-lcd-pixel-repair-shop.php
    Interesting. Stick it correctly the first time .

  8. #83
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Vancouver, BC
    Posts
    156
    My Cars
    '87 325is, '97 540i
    Hey guys. When i repaired my cluster a few weeks ago, my fuel gauge read past empty after the repair. Has this happened top anyone else? I'm playing with the cluster now and trying to get it back to its right position as it seems like the needle slipped on its shaft, but after messing around for the last hour or so, i can't get it to move. Does the cluster need to be re-programmed maybe?
    BTW... taping the ribbon on the first time didn't work out well for me, as i was still missing one line in the read-out. I tried taping it on a second time and when i tested it, i was still missing some pixels. I then removed the tape and used my soldering iron on low heat to glue the ribbon onto the tracers. It was very easy and a superior connection IMHO. You can really press each line of the ribbon onto the board to make sure you have a good connection. If you have a soldering iron, save the $$, it works just fine.
    *UPDATE*
    My fuel gauge is fixed! Look here: http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum....php?t=1793677
    Last edited by Adventman; 02-22-2012 at 10:07 AM.

  9. #84
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    Southeast VA
    Posts
    403
    My Cars
    1999 540iT
    My LCD read out works fine but about a year ago, the mileage went really dim. Is this the LCD going bad or are there bulbs that need to be replaced?

  10. #85
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Location
    PDX
    Posts
    93
    My Cars
    2003 525iT
    Quote Originally Posted by BoardEm View Post
    My LCD read out works fine but about a year ago, the mileage went really dim. Is this the LCD going bad or are there bulbs that need to be replaced?
    No, the LCD is backlit. Just need to replace the bulbs. They were like $9 each at the dealer :racket:

  11. #86
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    Southeast VA
    Posts
    403
    My Cars
    1999 540iT
    Quote Originally Posted by KHC View Post
    No, the LCD is backlit. Just need to replace the bulbs. They were like $9 each at the dealer :racket:
    What a ripoff! Thanks for the info.

  12. #87
    Join Date
    Nov 2011
    Location
    Elk Grove
    Posts
    1
    My Cars
    1998 540I
    I have the same problem with my dash, but when I open my door and switch the key to position 2 or leave lights with no key, my dash doesn't beep , nor my single on my dash wont blink but work. Did yours do that? any one have any idea why this is happening
    Last edited by agave; 02-27-2012 at 04:35 PM.

  13. #88
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    The Lou
    Posts
    300
    My Cars
    E39 540/6, E70 X5, F06
    Quote Originally Posted by KHC View Post
    No, the LCD is backlit. Just need to replace the bulbs. They were like $9 each at the dealer :racket:
    Or you can get them online for less than $3.00 each.

    L

  14. #89
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Orange Co., NY
    Posts
    3,516
    My Cars
    64-BUICK; 95-E34; 00-E39
    Quote Originally Posted by Black540Msport View Post
    To everyone interested in having the pixel fix done, I think that I am going to hold off on this for now. As I think I stated, I had Dareck come up from Chicago and while we eventually got his cluster working, it took more time and effort than I had expected and I don't want to have someone ship their cluster half way across the country only have it where I can't get it working 100%. I will be doing my cluster again (long story) once I get my car back from the body shop hopefully next week. And I hope that the cable I have sitting on my desk is going to work.

    I will let all of you know if anything changes with my thoughts on doing this repair for you guys.
    awww shucks.. well maybe you figure it out by the time i can afford anything anyway.. where's the MID repair write-up? lol mine just started being a b!T@h

    • 2000 BMW 540i/6 (Anthrazit Metallic 397)
    • 2001 Buick Park Avenue Ultra (Bronzemist Metallic)
    • 1964 Buick Wildcat (Sunburst Yellow / Arctic White)

    Fan Blades Can Explode.. Read My Thread

  15. #90
    Join Date
    Sep 2004
    Location
    new york
    Posts
    226
    My Cars
    01 540i, 88 carrera 3.2
    F... My life!!!! Just put my solder iron through the ribbon..... Aaaagggghhhhhh!

  16. #91
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Location
    PDX
    Posts
    93
    My Cars
    2003 525iT
    Quote Originally Posted by e34 M killa View Post
    F... My life!!!! Just put my solder iron through the ribbon..... Aaaagggghhhhhh!
    The t tip silicone iron is worth it

  17. #92
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Location
    Keller, TX
    Posts
    68
    My Cars
    2002 525i e39
    dcroghan, where did you get your kit? how much?

    Quote Originally Posted by dcroghan View Post
    I really need to do this and I will probably tackle it over the Christmas holiday.

    do you happen to have a link to the strip that I need to buy? Don't want to get the wrong one.

    Awesome write-up btw!

    Edit- I bought the ribbon!!! I ended up going with the slightly more expensive one from the recommendation in the m5 board write up as it supposedly comes with a 10 page instruction manual and a great video instruction.

    Hope I don't screw the whole thing up!! LOL!

  18. #93
    Join Date
    Sep 2004
    Location
    new york
    Posts
    226
    My Cars
    01 540i, 88 carrera 3.2
    After still the hassle, my ribbon cable repair has been an epic fail. Turns out after looking closely at the led side where ether ribbon goes on, I can see that part of the led leads are broken. Could've come off with the old ribbon...

  19. #94
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Location
    Keller, TX
    Posts
    68
    My Cars
    2002 525i e39
    [QUOTE=Black540Msport;23241931]Step 4: Once you have gotten the 2 halves apart, you'll need to remove 8 Torx screws that hold the cluster to the back housing, they're circled in red. One thing you'll want to watch out for is the little square of plastic that shows what gear you're in, falling out. It's not held in at all. It's in the green square. Remove it and put it somewhere safe for reassembly.

    Black540Msport, did you break off that little clear plastic protusion for your drill hole number 1 picture? the one on the top left of the LCD? It looks like you did?
    Attached Images Attached Images
    Last edited by mjbennett9; 03-31-2012 at 12:41 PM.

  20. #95
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Location
    Keller, TX
    Posts
    68
    My Cars
    2002 525i e39
    I ended up drilling right up next to the plastic protrusion and it worked out fine. The ebay version/directions were lacking so thankfully I had your posting to follow. It ended up taking seven hours because of the poor ebay directions, poor connector quality, and poor existing connections (even after cleaning). On top of that, the scotch tape I had was horrible. I would recommend good tape before starting this job, AND extra bulbs. Now I have to take it apart when I can get some bulbs :-)

    I did get it to 100%, but after tightening everything back up, I'm at around 90% pixels back. I'm NOT going back in. The plastic in there is getting real brittle and can't take another reassembly job. :-)

    This is definitely a stressful first time job. I'd buy a new one if I were to do it again. The reward didn't outweigh the stress and loss of a weekend day. I could have replaced 4 brakes and rotors in less time. :-)

  21. #96
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    Grand Rapids, MI
    Posts
    274
    My Cars
    '00 540i, '89 Iroc
    [quote=mjbennett9;24043134]
    Quote Originally Posted by Black540Msport View Post
    Step 4: Once you have gotten the 2 halves apart, you'll need to remove 8 Torx screws that hold the cluster to the back housing, they're circled in red. One thing you'll want to watch out for is the little square of plastic that shows what gear you're in, falling out. It's not held in at all. It's in the green square. Remove it and put it somewhere safe for reassembly.

    Black540Msport, did you break off that little clear plastic protusion for your drill hole number 1 picture? the one on the top left of the LCD? It looks like you did?

    Yes, it is pretty much unnecessary though. My cluster still works fine without it.

  22. #97
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    Southeast VA
    Posts
    403
    My Cars
    1999 540iT
    Well I guess I commented to soon. My readout has worked great the 4 years I've had the car and then two weeks after I post here about it being great, I can't read a damn thing on it. The trip mileage is unreadable and the OBC display is on the fritz. I can still read the outside temperature though.

  23. #98
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    Lady Lake, FL
    Posts
    476
    My Cars
    1993 325i
    With the guidance received from this thread a person with 0 experience in e39, 0 experience in complex circuitry, and no T-bar soldering tip, was able to perform this repair with a HIGH margin of success. I went from having 2 or 3 functional pixels, to full pixel functionality. only thing I would suggest is to heat the LCD with low heat hair dryer so when you peel the ribbon cable off the LCD it will take more of the old cable with it, and run less risk of scratching off the leads on the LCD. They come off super easy
    waka waka

  24. #99
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    Pleasanton, CA
    Posts
    21
    My Cars
    1997 540i

    Rainy Weather Effect

    Thanks for all the great info, I plan to tackle this in a few weeks.
    A quick question to all you folks whose LCD's have also gone blurry. I live in the San Francisco Bay Area and my cluster actually becomes readable in winter on very rainy days. The rest of the time, it's the usual mix of missing pixels. Have any of you seen something similar? Any idea why rainy weather should make this work?

  25. #100
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    Glenville, NY
    Posts
    139
    My Cars
    '02 X5, '03 'Yota 4R
    Quote Originally Posted by dearg80 View Post
    Thanks for all the great info, I plan to tackle this in a few weeks.
    A quick question to all you folks whose LCD's have also gone blurry. I live in the San Francisco Bay Area and my cluster actually becomes readable in winter on very rainy days. The rest of the time, it's the usual mix of missing pixels. Have any of you seen something similar? Any idea why rainy weather should make this work?
    I had the same issue with our E39. All winter, while it was cold, the display was almost perfect. But, once it started to warm up, the pixel loss returned. I don't recall a specific relation to wet weather, but it is possible the higher humidity may have increased the conductivity between the board and the ribbon cable contact points.

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