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Thread: E46 Cluster Repair

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Oct 2017
    Location
    Ct
    Posts
    5
    My Cars
    1999 E46 328i, 2002 E39

    E46 Cluster Repair

    I have a defective instrument cluster in my 1999 E46. The fuel gauge reads empty and the outside temperature gauges reads -40. I have measured the resistance of both of the fuel level senders by actuating the float arm(the sensor for the non-fuel pump side appeared to be bad and I replaced it). I also replaced the outside temp probe since the connector had some corrosion and I had to replace it. I have solid continuity from the sensors to the back of the instrument cluster so I am confident that the cluster is the issue.

    I am planning on sending this cluster to be repaired. I have located a person who says they can fix the cluster so it is "plug and play" when I get it back. Since I use this car as my daily driver, I need to have an instrument cluster and have located a compatible cluster in a local junkyard. I would like to put this junkyard cluster in the car while the original cluster is off being fixed. I have tried to find out if there is an issue with doing this with regard to the junkyard cluster affecting the code in my car and impacting the repaired cluster when it is returned and installed? From what I have been able to determine, it shouldn't, but want to know for sure. Can anyone shed some light on this?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Vancouver Isl, BC, Canada
    Posts
    4,173
    My Cars
    98 Euro M3, 04 M3, 06 M5
    as long as the junkyard cluster is from an E46 328 or 323 it will work just fine plug and play. The later 325 and 330's had some coding differences and may not work properly without being recoded.

    The only thing that wont be right is the odometer, and you will have a tamper dot.


    When you plug the original back in everything will return to normal.
    Last edited by legoman67; 10-29-2017 at 04:42 PM.
    Current:

    - 09 335i MSport, FBO.
    - 98 Euro M3, Estoril Blue
    - 04 M3, Carbon Black, 6 Speed Coupe
    - 06 M5, Black on Black, Full Leather.
    - 73 3.0CS, Tagia Green, 5 speed M30b35 converted

    Ex's: 1984 325e, 1988 325IX, 1992 525I, 1995 540i/6, 2002 330i, 2005 330xi, 1992 850i, 2003 330i #1, 2003 330i #2, 2002 330ci, 2004 330ci, 2007 328CI, 2007 335i, 2001 M3, 2006 M5 6 speed

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    Peoria, AZ
    Posts
    7,696
    My Cars
    03 zhp, 97 e36m3, 04 zhp
    I'd be surprised if it turns out to be an issue with a cluster - please be sure to post back. I recall my friend's e39 took a couple of days to adjust to new temp sensor and get out of the "-40F" mode after replacement probe was installed.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2017
    Location
    Ct
    Posts
    5
    My Cars
    1999 E46 328i, 2002 E39
    I did the troubleshooting on the Temp sensor over a month ago. The outside temp has stayed at -40 since the swap and continuity checks. Every once and a while (a few days apart) the outside temp starts flashing the "-40" reading for 5 to 10 seconds and then just stays at -40. Everything else other than the cluster has be checked and rechecked. Multiple resets have made no difference. I will post back after swapping the cluster with the results...

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Feb 2018
    Location
    Portsmouth U.K.
    Posts
    3
    My Cars
    Bmw 325 ti

    Faulty E46 cluster

    I fixed my cluster, it was totally dead no gauges worked or the digital display and no leds. I removed the cluster from the car and removed the rear plastic cover. straight away I noticed a large blue capacitor on the pcb, in all my years working in electronics I knew that this was probibly the cause of the fault. I removed the cap and went to a local electronics shop and got a replacement, it's a 4700 micro farad 25 volt electrolytic capacitor. I got it home and soldered it in making sure to keep the polarity the same. I refitted the back onto the cluster and refoffted to the car, turned the ignition and it worked perfectly. So all in all it cost me uk 45 pence ! Awesome.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Mar 2017
    Location
    Norwich, Connecticut.
    Posts
    486
    My Cars
    E46 wag. E36 convertible
    I da know.......was your car ever under water?

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