jeffbebe 1559 Report post Posted August 1, 2012 Anyone had any experience of replacing the dials and needles in an E39 instrument cluster? I can get the cluster in and out no problem and open it up but I've heard it's notoriously difficult to get the needles off without damaging the whole unit and equally difficult to replace them so they are correctly configured. Saw this bespoke tool on Youtube but they're expensive to buy: Any help would be appreciated? (this is a cosmetic job, nothing's broken so if it's too much of a mission I'll flag it). Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jo Blogs 11 Report post Posted August 1, 2012 (edited) Anyone had any experience of replacing the dials and needles in an E39 instrument cluster? I can get the cluster in and out no problem and open it up but I've heard it's notoriously difficult to get the needles off without damaging the whole unit and equally difficult to replace them so they are correctly configured. Saw this bespoke tool on Youtube but they're expensive to buy: Any help would be appreciated? (this is a cosmetic job, nothing's broken so if it's too much of a mission I'll flag it). I tried to pull needles of an E36 some years ago to fit a white dial kit. Buggered it, Had to get a new cluster and had a sh*t time finding one with similar KM's. Edited August 1, 2012 by Winckel Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tmase 19 Report post Posted August 1, 2012 There are a few DIY guides out there on changing the ribbon cables in the cluster to fix the dead pixel problem that is quite common. The ribbon cable change requires complete disassembly of the cluster including needle removal. http://www.m5board.com/e39m5/Pixel-repair-v05.pdf Not sure if this is of help to you. There are some other guides out there too if you Google it. I have a few dead pixels in my cluster but the though of ruining the gauges trying to replace the ribbon cable put me off doing it myself. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jeffbebe 1559 Report post Posted August 2, 2012 There are a few DIY guides out there on changing the ribbon cables in the cluster to fix the dead pixel problem that is quite common. The ribbon cable change requires complete disassembly of the cluster including needle removal. http://www.m5board.com/e39m5/Pixel-repair-v05.pdf Not sure if this is of help to you. There are some other guides out there too if you Google it. I have a few dead pixels in my cluster but the though of ruining the gauges trying to replace the ribbon cable put me off doing it myself. Thanks. It doesn't look overly difficult but there are a lot (I mean A LOT) of posts from people who've f****d up the gauges when removing the needles so I'm not overly confident I should do it. Anyone know a pro in Auckland that might do this? I imagine it's a 30 min job for someone with the right tools who knows what they're doing. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jeffbebe 1559 Report post Posted August 2, 2012 Robinson instruments. Akl. Good buggers. Ta! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Michael. 2313 Report post Posted August 2, 2012 Yeah its a nasty job, I had to remove my temperature needle when I upgraded the temperature gauge unit. Trick is to put even pressure when you pull the needles off on two sides, I used some thin flat screw drivers for the job while being careful to not mark the dial face. Putting the needle back on accurately was easy enough using some resistors simulating different temperatures etc, but I'd imagine it would be a lot more difficult getting it right with the other gauges back to their true positions. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jeffbebe 1559 Report post Posted August 2, 2012 Putting the needle back on accurately was easy enough using some resistors simulating different temperatures etc, but I'd imagine it would be a lot more difficult getting it right with the other gauges back to their true positions. Using resistors??? If that's the easy one then I'm definitely out of my league. The tool in the Youtube vid I posted looks pretty effective for removing the needles. Safer than screw drivers maybe! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jeffbebe 1559 Report post Posted August 2, 2012 Robinson instruments. Akl. Good buggers. Popped in and saw them. They'll do it super cheaply (and properly) - in return I'll cough up my contact for replacement needles and dials!! Thanks for the recommendation. I'll post a pic when it's done. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jeffbebe 1559 Report post Posted August 8, 2012 Popped in and saw them. They'll do it super cheaply (and properly) - in return I'll cough up my contact for replacement needles and dials!! Thanks for the recommendation. I'll post a pic when it's done. Happy with the replacement, much easier to read I find as well. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NZ BMW 368 Report post Posted August 8, 2012 How much would someone charge fir this? I've got some silver gauge rings like you have that I imported but I don't have the guts to put them in... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jeffbebe 1559 Report post Posted August 8, 2012 How much would someone charge fir this? I've got some silver gauge rings like you have that I imported but I don't have the guts to put them in... The rings are easy to put in yourself as you don't need to touch the needles. I got the cluster out and the perspex cover off in about 20mins but didn't dare touch the needles. Would have been no problem replacing the bezel rings though. http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showt...d.php?t=1838410 Probably cost $50 for a pro to do it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Allanw 1071 Report post Posted August 9, 2012 The rings are easy to put in yourself as you don't need to touch the needles. +1 Agreed! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tristan 338 Report post Posted August 13, 2012 So $50 for labour + the cluster? Seems fair. Might have to do this! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jeffbebe 1559 Report post Posted August 13, 2012 So $50 for labour + the cluster? Seems fair. Might have to do this!Yep, not the whole cluster. Got dials and needles here: http://onlineshop.wunschtacho.de/ but there are cheaper places around. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites