m2geek 4 Report post Posted February 2, 2015 Can I buy another dash cluster to swap out my current one which has lots of dead pixels in the OBC display(s)? I'd also like the standard euro economy guage instead of the awful L/km one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jeffbebe 1559 Report post Posted February 2, 2015 Easier to swap the LCD than the cluster. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
westy 614 Report post Posted February 2, 2015 Cluster needs coding to car. All roads lead to it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hybrid 1039 Report post Posted February 2, 2015 You can replace the display easy enough with the correct tools. It is possible to swap clusters however on some models the ks need to be burnt into a new the eprom and it replaced. + as other said, recode to car. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Allanw 1051 Report post Posted February 2, 2015 You need BMW Scanner 1.4 to change the VIN in the cluster. You also need to buy one with milage less than your car has - the car will update to the highest milage at the next update point (every 100 kms or so). The VIN must match, or you'll have a tamper light. The cluster will also need to be coded to your car using NCS expert setup - this makes sure you have the correct speedo settings, and options suited to your car.. Every E39 owner who like to play should have both - I think I already gave you the link to the Xcar-360 site for BMW Scanner, and google "cable shack" for a reliable NCS setup with support if you need it - Jimmy is the dude who runs cable shack - he's on ebay too. Pixel ribbon replacement is easy, but that won't change the economy readout Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
m2geek 4 Report post Posted February 3, 2015 Ah I see - Well if just fixing the LED/Ribbon is the best way to go about it I shall have to do that. I've lost almost all the pixels in the trip counter and temp gauge, and a lot in the main display line. Thanks for all the input guys appreciate it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jeffbebe 1559 Report post Posted February 3, 2015 It's not too complicated to do it yourself but avoid the solder-free ribbons that rely on pressure alone for the connection. Use a T bar solder iron and a proper LCD ribbon. Or, take it to someone that specialises in this stuff. Robinson Instruments in Auckland are excellent and would charge around $200 for the replacement. I also had the LCD replaced in my 850 MID by a guy in Christchurch. Not sure if he does clusters but might be worth asking... PM if you want his contact. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
M3_Power 636 Report post Posted March 14, 2015 (edited) It is possible to swap clusters however on some models the ks need to be burnt into a new the eprom and it replaced. + as other said, recode to car. No you don't .... I can wind the speedos back and change all the info needed with the eproms onboard (even the Motorola chips). You just need the right tools and know how. I've actually been tempted to do a write up on it - not to teach people on how to clock their cars, but more to what to look out for if it has been clocked Edited March 14, 2015 by M3_Power 3 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hybrid 1039 Report post Posted March 15, 2015 No you don't .... I can wind the speedos back and change all the info needed with the eproms onboard (even the Motorola chips). You just need the right tools and know how. I've actually been tempted to do a write up on it - not to teach people on how to clock their cars, but more to what to look out for if it has been clocked You need to update the checksum too tom or else you get a checksum read error in the cluster .. which doesnt bode well if your getting your k's checked when selling the vehicle. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
M3_Power 636 Report post Posted March 15, 2015 (edited) You need to update the checksum too tom or else you get a checksum read error in the cluster .. which doesnt bode well if your getting your k's checked when selling the vehicle. Actually you need to update the checksum on two things not just on the motorola chip (BMW coding side) but also the Bosch side which controls the board (well actually that depends on if it runs a NEC chipset or an Infineon chipset). But that's all a little bit moot as once you wind back the mileage back to zero and put the cluster into "code" mode you can just use the factory tool to recode the cluster and it'll do all that for you. Like I said, it can be done quite easily if you know what you are doing. Edited March 15, 2015 by M3_Power Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
francoisv 466 Report post Posted March 15, 2015 I swapped my 98 cluster (528i), which had dead pixels and a faulty fuel gauge, to a 99 PRL (525i) and it worked fine without any coding etc. Even the distance travelled, latest trip and time etc was the same, even the airbag light still came on - kinda hoped that wouldn't. Figured all that information is stored in the ECU or iBus. I haven't yet noticed anything not working on the cluster.Just my 2cents Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Allanw 1051 Report post Posted March 15, 2015 I swapped my 98 cluster (528i), which had dead pixels and a faulty fuel gauge, to a 99 PRL (525i) and it worked fine without any coding etc. Even the distance travelled, latest trip and time etc was the same, even the airbag light still came on - kinda hoped that wouldn't. Figured all that information is stored in the ECU or iBus. I haven't yet noticed anything not working on the cluster. Just my 2cents There are some things that will be different inside, but may not be a major. Ideally it should be coded to avoid issues in the future. You should have the tamper dot up next to the milage display too, because the VINs in the clusters don't match. What changes, depands on high/low OBC too. I'm assuming your "new" cluster had lower milage than the original. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
francoisv 466 Report post Posted March 15, 2015 No, same milage. Old was at 210xxx, replacement is at 210xxx and the aftermarket head unit which is connected to iBus and OBC shows 210xxx too. Like im not saying that it doesn't need coding, im just that when I did the swap I didn't have to. The cluster from the 525i cam out of a car that was @170xxx I have an M5 cluster that was off a 2000 M5 with 130xxx, ill swap those over and see what shows up... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Allanw 1051 Report post Posted March 16, 2015 The lower milage clusters will update to the milage stored in the LCM. If you fit the M5 one, it will also show 210,000. If you fitted one with 300K on though, your car would update at a 100 km rollover marker, and the whole car will have then done 300K. They update to the highest one. If you ever want to sell the M5 one, I'd suggest not fitting it :-) It'll get 90K added onto it when fitted to your car. Then you'll need Tom to "wind it back" to sell on possibly. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dkonsta1 109 Report post Posted March 17, 2015 Hi guys does anyone have the software and the cable to borrow or even at a small cost? I need to recode my cluster with odo correction and new VIN. Please advise. cheers Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Allanw 1051 Report post Posted March 17, 2015 Hi guys does anyone have the software and the cable to borrow or even at a small cost? I need to recode my cluster with odo correction and new VIN. Please advise. cheers I don't lend it, but can do it if you come up here at a time that suits me. Odo correction isn't really easy, if you want it to go down. Up is easy - it will do it by itself. You can buy BMW scanner 1.4 and NCS etc for not much $$. X-car 360 for BMW Scanner 1.4, and Cable-Shack UK for NCS. They're good to own anyway. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hybrid 1039 Report post Posted March 17, 2015 BMW scanner only does early chipsets and not the more modern ones EG facelift e39/46 architecture. Send Tom a PM as he has the proper tools to do it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Allanw 1051 Report post Posted March 19, 2015 BMW scanner only does early chipsets and not the more modern ones EG facelift e39/46 architecture. Send Tom a PM as he has the proper tools to do it. I meant BMW Scanner to change the VIN in the cluster to match the car. Not for mileage. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
