Installing M3 instrument cluster on a 1993 325i

[Onslaught35]

A) Is this even possible? The back of the M3 gauge cluster looks like it has the same two plugs (one white, one blue) as a non M E36.

B) If so, what are the odds of a dealership agreeing to correct the mileage display? My car has 123,000 and the cluster I'm thinking about buying has 100,000 - so it's not like I'd be asking them to decrease my mileage, just increase it up to display the proper amount.

My gauges don't work about half the time my car turns on, so putting a new cluster in was recommended to me.

Any input greatly appreciated, my window to buy the cluster is closing quickly

[PhilipWOT]

I dont know for sure, but I bet it would work. And no, the dealership will not adjust mileage. Just tell the next buyer that the guage cluster was changed. Or Dont. :dunno: :eeps:

[Onslaught35]

So I shouldn't be worried that my car is ODB I and the M3 cluster is probably ODB II? I have no idea what that means to be honest, just tossing it out there. :D

So since the dealer won't adjust my mileage, is there any third party way to do it? I wonder how many people in history have actually wanted to INCREASE their mileage display instead of rolling it back...

[russian318is]

hmm lose 23k and want to turn it forward?

maybe im just dodgy :D

[Onslaught35]

hmm lose 23k and want to turn it forward?

maybe im just dodgy :D

Not having the proper mileage displaying would somehow bug me, haha. Hopefully someone knows of a solution...

[Onslaught35]

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention: from the extremely limited amount of information I've found out about this (you'd think more people would have tried putting an M3 gauge in their older E36), apparently the ABS light is going to be permanently illuminated due to differences in the brake system of older models.

HOWEVER, supposedly this part will fix that problem:
61 12 8 374 946

I have no idea what to do with that part, but maybe I'll figure out once I order it and get some hands on time with it (luckily it's only 8 bucks).

So right now the process is looking something like:
-unscrew old cluster, remove plugs from back
-screw/plug new cluster in, utter prayer towards the direction of Germany
-check to make sure everything works: drive next to a friend while on the phone to confirm the speedometer is displaying the correct speed, fill up the tank and check the fuel reading, eyeball tach, etc.

At that point, assuming the needles were displaying everything accurate, only two problems would remain:
-ABS light permanently on (somehow fix by above mentioned part?)
-mileage incorrectly displayed (I hope someone can suggest a fix for this)

:tsk: I guess I'm too anal about stuff like this, but this is starting to stress me out. I'm just tired of my gauges not working and I have access to this M3 cluster...

[johnf]

For later readers of this thread, here (40K PDF) (http://www.unofficialbmw.com/john/misc/adapter_62128374946.pdf) are the adapter cable instructions from 1997 with some notes from 2005.

[All2kool]

Most people buying a used car (should) CarFAX it first. Doing so would show the discrepancy in the mileage I would think. Being honest when you sell it would be the right thing to do as well.

[Onslaught35]

For later readers of this thread, here (40K PDF) (http://www.unofficialbmw.com/john/misc/adapter_62128374946.pdf) are the adapter cable instructions from 1997 with some notes from 2005.

Hey johnf, thanks a lot for this diagram - everything worked just fine. I now am the proud owner of a 98 M3 cluster in my '93 325i without the ABS light constantly on.

Here is an even tougher dilemma, but you seem to know a lot about gauge clusters so maybe you have a magic answer. Any way I can get the proper mileage to display? The dealership said they wouldn't do it even though I was asking them to increase the amount displayed, not decrease it.

[johnf]

I'm glad that worked out.

Unfortunately, your car's original cluster doesn't have a coding plug that you could transfer with the old mileage. (Your new one does!) Although it is technically easy to set the mileage on the E36/2/4 clusters, a U.S. dealer will be reluctant to do that, understandably so, because of the state and federal statues against odometer tampering. If I remember correctly, the federal statue has a minimum $10000 fine and 1 year prison sentence, for which all someone would have to do is prove that the dealer did it.

If a customer insists on it, a dealer can order a replacement cluster from BMWNA with the car's mileage. I have been told that in some places, any odometer change, even to the correct mileage, makes the mileage "unknown" and lowers the car's resale value.