Instrument cluster & AC failed

Good evening. Yesterday my wife's '04 325ci A/C and instrument cluster failed. No problems or warning signs the A/C or gauages were failing. Local Euro/BMW garage (not a dealer) wants $1200 to install a new cluster and makes no promises that will correct the A/C. I'm going to buy a cluster off Ebay but want to know what will the disadvantages will be of not having a dealer reset the replacement cluster. Appreciate your help.

Well first of all, the dealer cannot recode a used cluster period. So the mileage will not be correct, and there will be a tamper dot lit up in the mileage display. If at some point this gets recorded, your car will get marked as "true mileage unknown"

Originally Posted by Clift1

Good evening. Yesterday my wife's '04 325ci A/C and instrument cluster failed. No problems or warning signs the A/C or gauages were failing. Local Euro/BMW garage (not a dealer) wants $1200 to install a new cluster and makes no promises that will correct the A/C. I'm going to buy a cluster off Ebay but want to know what will the disadvantages will be of not having a dealer reset the replacement cluster. Appreciate your help.

How did you determine the cluster failed?

Any mechanic who offers no guarantees for the work they are willing to perform should be avoided like a plague!

First, take it to a competent mechanic who can independently test to determine if the failure is actually due to the cluster, or to some other cause, such as not power getting to the cluster. Next, there are places that repair instrument clusters. Do a search, and give them a call to see if they think they can help you. The cluster is very easy to remove. If it's not repairable (mine wasn't), I'd recommend joining the BMW CCA if you're not already a member, and use the 20% discount toward the purchase of a new cluster at the dealer, which is really your only option, as they have to set it. Mine came out to a little over $800 including installation and re-setting, which is still a lot of money, but a lot less than $1200.

Oh, and the instrument cluster and the A/C are somehow tied together, because my A?C stopped working as well when my cluster froze, and it came back with the new cluster. Good luck.

Agreed...I won't be taking the car to the guy who quoted $1200 and "thinks" it might take care of the AC issue.

As for determing the cluster failure--I have yet to remove the cluster. It has zero light displays, gas gauge, odometer, etc. Hard for me to believe there isn't someone out there who can recalibrate used clusters. I have a used one on the way via Ebay. If the A/C works and gauges start working again with the used one, I can live with the tamper dot light until I decide to spend $800+ for a new one. Thanks.

You might be able to find someone who can recalibrate a used cluster, but it's going to be an uphill battle. If the tamper dot doesn't bother you, you may be OK, but you won't be able to sell the car like that. Plus, depending on your state laws, you may have trouble passing inspection. Good luck.

It's not impossible to recode the used clusters, but there are legal issue that most trustworthy shops wouldn't want to deal with. Dealership tools cannot recode used clusters at all. And it can't be coded through the OBDII port with any software. The EEPROM has to be removed from the cluster and reprogrammed in an external programmer.

Or if your new cluster is the same part number as your original, you can try transferring chips.

I wanted to report back on my wife's 325Ci. While I was TDY and before I could check out the instrument panel someone backed into the bumper. My wife took it to our local body shop and they replaced/painted the bumper. When she picked up t he car, the speedo/tach/gas guage/temp guage are now working! I'm guessing they disconnected the battery during the repairs.

Turn signal still do no light on cluster, cruise control works but does not light on cluster, radio controls on steering wheel are inop, and the A/C does not work.

Just back in TX so I will check the batttery today. Instrument panel warning lights for air bag and seat belts now stay lit. Appreciate any advice.

Clift

The problem you now describe with the turn signals, steering wheels controls are due to a K-bus problem. That problem could be any of a dozen different modules on the K-bus including the cluster. Throw the used eBay cluster in and see if those problems remain. If they do then it's not a cluster problem and you have one fewer modules on the suspect list.

Thanks...that's what I did. Everything now works! Appreciate the help.