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Thread: Grey vs. Black instrument clusters

  1. #1
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    Grey vs. Black instrument clusters

    Does anyone know what the story is with grey vs. black instrument clusters in the e28 based cars? Were the earlier cars grey then they switched to black? If so, does anyone know what year they switched? Which do you like better?20180706_090338.jpg
    20180706_090315.jpg
    Euro '85 635csi E24, '03 E46 325xi wagon 5-speed, '05 325xi sedan 5-speed, '67 VW Bug, '14 F150, '17 Jetta
    http://sites.google.com/site/eurobmw635csi/


  2. #2
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    I've never seen a E12 or E28 based 6 series with a "grey" instrument cluster. That being said, I have seen some develop a grey/tan residue on the interior shell of the cluster over time. Mine has turned a tan shade. Looks like really heavy "pollen" on mine.

    That's all I know.
    '84 Euro 635
    '88 M6 (Gone but not forgotten)

  3. #3
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    +1 on EuroGeorge's comment. I think it has something to do with exposure to UV. I have 2 spare clusters, one is black and the other tannish.

    Sent from my SM-T817V using Tapatalk
    00 740iS
    84 635 (euro)
    88 M6
    84 745i
    88 325iX
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  4. #4
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    I don't think its fade, there is no way it would fade that evenly. You can zoom in on the picture that I posted, the color is consistent, even on places that would never be exposed to sun. Perhaps they only came in grey on euro models.

    @coupenut, what car is the one that is "tannish"? Does the color look like the one I posted?
    Euro '85 635csi E24, '03 E46 325xi wagon 5-speed, '05 325xi sedan 5-speed, '67 VW Bug, '14 F150, '17 Jetta
    http://sites.google.com/site/eurobmw635csi/


  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by dmac156 View Post
    I don't think its fade, there is no way it would fade that evenly. You can zoom in on the picture that I posted, the color is consistent, even on places that would never be exposed to sun. Perhaps they only came in grey on euro models.

    @coupenut, what car is the one that is "tannish"? Does the color look like the one I posted?
    Both clusters are from E24s

    Sent from my SM-T817V using Tapatalk
    00 740iS
    84 635 (euro)
    88 M6
    84 745i
    88 325iX
    92 850i (6 spd)

  6. #6
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    Here is a good picture of a late e24 with the grey cluster, so just to keep this thread on track, I'm trying to understand when the euro cluster switched from this color to black.

    1979-BMW-635-CSi-road-test-01.jpg
    Euro '85 635csi E24, '03 E46 325xi wagon 5-speed, '05 325xi sedan 5-speed, '67 VW Bug, '14 F150, '17 Jetta
    http://sites.google.com/site/eurobmw635csi/


  7. #7
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    1979 635csi
    [QUOTE=dmac156;30059636]I don't think its fade, there is no way it would fade that evenly. You can zoom in on the picture that I posted, the color is consistent, even on places that would never be exposed to sun. Perhaps they only came in grey on euro models.

    My 79 Euro cluster is black

  8. #8
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    [QUOTE=mycsi;30060427]
    Quote Originally Posted by dmac156 View Post
    I don't think its fade, there is no way it would fade that evenly. You can zoom in on the picture that I posted, the color is consistent, even on places that would never be exposed to sun. Perhaps they only came in grey on euro models.

    My 79 Euro cluster is black
    Both of the clusters that I referenced in my earlier post are from US cars. I have no idea why there are different colors, perhaps BMW used different suppliers.

    Sent from my SM-T817V using Tapatalk
    00 740iS
    84 635 (euro)
    88 M6
    84 745i
    88 325iX
    92 850i (6 spd)

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