I’ve recently purchased another e36 this time a 92 318i and after having the car dropped off at my house I realized that the instrument cluster is acting a bit funky. My needles don’t work on any of the gauges and the digital odometer does not work. On the bright side all lights remaining inside the cluster work. I say remaining because 3/4 of the bulbs have been taken out Now I’m trying to avoid going to bmw and dropping bank on a new cluster for as long as I can. Anybody have any input on what could be the culprit?
Check fuses
Check ETM to make sure you have the required live
Then accept these clusters fail and get another
If you can't code make sure you get the appropriate 4 cyl / 6 cyl
If you can code you need an ADS interface for this
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Often the cluster has bad solder joints within it. There are you-tube videos on this repair and also on several of the other forums. You have to remove the cluster and cut out a section of the rear plastic housing, solder the repair and then epoxy the plastic panel back in. I did mine and it wasn't a big deal about a hour and a half all in. Be careful when removing the connectors at the rear of the panel thats about the worst part of the job. You should do the bmw cluster check first by pressing the tripometer and putting the key in position 1 first. I also replaced all my bulbs while I was in there.
Hope this hepls,
Don B
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