BMW E46 Cluster repair Durban

Vicious_tuning

New member
@Vicious_tuning how is your progress on this going?
Have you tested that the car can start with the cluster unplugged? If that works, we can maybe work something out to get your cluster repaired.
Hello. So guys. Finally I was able to test this out. After some bad weekend weather and my dad passing on few weeks back. It's been tough but finally found the strength to work on the car. So yes. The car starts with the cluster unplugged. Starts 1 shot after 5 months lol. Engine is running smooth
 

Tinuva

Staff & Webmaster
Staff member
Hello. So guys. Finally I was able to test this out. After some bad weekend weather and my dad passing on few weeks back. It's been tough but finally found the strength to work on the car. So yes. The car starts with the cluster unplugged. Starts 1 shot after 5 months lol. Engine is running smooth
Really sorry to hear about your dad. All the best, its a tough time.

Great news about the car, now you just need a path forward with the cluster replacement :)
 

Vicious_tuning

New member
Really sorry to hear about your dad. All the best, its a tough time.

Great news about the car, now you just need a path forward with the cluster replacement :)
Thank you. Yes. I did contact the guy Masood. He says R1300 to repair. And a Google search recommended SPE Instrument repairs in durban as a top choice. They will charge R1800.
 

rodga

Well-known member
OK so my cluster went all haywired last week.

First the outside temp went crazy.... - 40,-12,50,-30 random beeps etc.

Then it all just died. No lights. Except for the 2/3 lights on the bottom right hand side when you start. But everything else is dead. The needles are also stuck in the position they were in while I was driving.

Im. In CT at the moment so will only be back next week most likely. But the little investigation I did didn't change anything. Pulled fuses as per this video but no change.


It's e46 330d uk import so it has the miles and km on the clocks. But in sure a normal local 330d cluster should work fine?
 

Blue Shirt

Well-known member
OK so my cluster went all haywired last week.

First the outside temp went crazy.... - 40,-12,50,-30 random beeps etc.

Then it all just died. No lights. Except for the 2/3 lights on the bottom right hand side when you start. But everything else is dead. The needles are also stuck in the position they were in while I was driving.

Im. In CT at the moment so will only be back next week most likely. But the little investigation I did didn't change anything. Pulled fuses as per this video but no change.


It's e46 330d uk import so it has the miles and km on the clocks. But in sure a normal local 330d cluster should work fine?

I have a working 325i auto cluster in Stellenbosch, not sure if it can help you.
 

rodga

Well-known member
I have a working 325i auto cluster in Stellenbosch, not sure if it can help you.
Thanks but I'm not sure either lol
I received another offer from another member that's closer to me a few days ago but also a petrol cluster

I think it might work as a temp until I can find a replacement or fix mine

Sent from my SM-S908E using Tapatalk
 

Tinuva

Staff & Webmaster
Staff member
Thanks but I'm not sure either lol
I received another offer from another member that's closer to me a few days ago but also a petrol cluster

I think it might work as a temp until I can find a replacement or fix mine

Sent from my SM-S908E using Tapatalk
Use the backdrop from your existing cluster, on the petrol cluster. So it still looks like diesel at the fuel gauge.
Then, reprogram the cluster, and tell it, its a diesel. I think you can do that using pasoft, but unsure now.

edit:
yip

tDJlezh.jpeg
 

rodga

Well-known member
Use the backdrop from your existing cluster, on the petrol cluster. So it still looks like diesel at the fuel gauge.
Then, reprogram the cluster, and tell it, its a diesel. I think you can do that using pasoft, but unsure now.

edit:
yip

View attachment 23411
Awesome thanks will look into this

Sent from my SM-S908E using Tapatalk
 

Tinuva

Staff & Webmaster
Staff member
Awesome thanks will look into this

Sent from my SM-S908E using Tapatalk
One more thing, keep the old cluster. It's possible if the versions of the cluster is the same, eg. Both bosch, the config chip can be moved over. Thus keeping your mileage and Vin ect


Sent from my Pixel 4 using Tapatalk
 

rodga

Well-known member
One more thing, keep the old cluster. It's possible if the versions of the cluster is the same, eg. Both bosch, the config chip can be moved over. Thus keeping your mileage and Vin ect


Sent from my Pixel 4 using Tapatalk
managed to get a 330i motormeter which my 330d also came with. How difficult is moving the chip over? Or we talking soldering or just unplugging?

Seems the petrol cluster has an EML light in place of the glowplug light that the diesel comes with?
 

Tinuva

Staff & Webmaster
Staff member
managed to get a 330i motormeter which my 330d also came with. How difficult is moving the chip over? Or we talking soldering or just unplugging?

Seems the petrol cluster has an EML light in place of the glowplug light that the diesel comes with?
I highly recommend you get someone good with electronics. It is soldering, but it's much easier with a heat station and helps to have a digital scope.

Although if you brave I have seen people diy it on YouTube...

Sent from my Pixel 4 using Tapatalk
 

rodga

Well-known member
Use the backdrop from your existing cluster, on the petrol cluster. So it still looks like diesel at the fuel gauge.
Then, reprogram the cluster, and tell it, its a diesel. I think you can do that using pasoft, but unsure now.

edit:
yip

View attachment 23411
So managed to get rid of the abs and dsc warnings on the replacement cluster. Have also coded to diesel as per above - not sure if there is anything else required for the petrol to diesel change. I still have the petrol backdrop and checked if the revs were accurate according to inpa. If I swop the diesel backdrop which goes to 6k vs 7k then it will be slightly out. Any ideas if recalibration is possible?
 

Tinuva

Staff & Webmaster
Staff member
So managed to get rid of the abs and dsc warnings on the replacement cluster. Have also coded to diesel as per above - not sure if there is anything else required for the petrol to diesel change. I still have the petrol backdrop and checked if the revs were accurate according to inpa. If I swop the diesel backdrop which goes to 6k vs 7k then it will be slightly out. Any ideas if recalibration is possible?
I think you can try to do this in INPA.

From https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/...er-to-match-your-car-s-mileage-VIN-and-coding

Read current needle calibration:

Now that you have modified the file to remove the VIN and mileage, save it as IKE_wr_0_miles.bin, or anything else you want to differentiate it from your backup. You will be restoring this file using PA Soft when you finish installing the new chip.

After you have made your backup, use INPA and go to the "Activate" then "Activate Analog" menu under the cluster section. This will let you set an angle or speed manually. Then you record the needle position for a given angle or speed. I set the angle to specific marks on the gauges so I can easily see where to set the needles when recalibrating them later, for example setting the angle of the tach so that it lines up with 2500 RPM. Using the speed value instead of the angle for the speedo will let you decide how much additional mph it reads over what you actually are going (5% correction that is built-in to the cluster).

I am not sure if that is what will work. My understanding of that was, that is to help put the needs back in the correct position after they were removed. In the case of diesel vs petrol, I suspect the needles also need to move at a different distance for the reading. I'd say, definitely start with INPA.
 

rodga

Well-known member
I did come across that thread but will have a deeper look into it.

If it's too much if a mission which it certainly looks like it's going to be, I might just leave it as is and only change out the bottom plastic for the warning symbols and call it a today.

Although I think I should change the background and check the actual rpm differences first to see how far off they actually are
 

e46Tourer

New member
Why do you need a bosch? I know it's the preferred newer one, but both can work

Sent from my Pixel 4 using Tapatalk
Hi, I am in cape town area and my cluster just went out on me yesterday. Can you give me an indication if you will be able to help me sort mine out and what the cost will be more or less? I would really appreciate the help, man.
 

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e46Tourer

New member
Hi, I am in cape town area and my cluster just went out on me yesterday. Can you give me an indication if you will be able to help me sort mine out and what the cost will be more or less? I would really appreciate the help, man.
Not to worry man, I am just going to open it, repair the tracks and replace all the caps.
 

rodga

Well-known member
Not to worry man, I am just going to open it, repair the tracks and replace all the caps.
Let us know how it goes.
I had the same problem with mine but got a replacement one to fit. But would like to fit the original one back to get rid of the tamper dot.
 
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