Referral Request: Gauge Cluster Repair Service

[AWE46M3]

FYI/Update - Looks like Circuit Board Medics are no longer offering services for us. I gave them a call when I noticed they pulled the listing from their site. The rep stated they decided against it because "too many were corroded and the motors are hard to source". I'll try the automotive circuit solutions.

Damn - that's unfortunate. I've lagged out on fixing my gauge and should probably do this sooner rather than letter. Please let me know who you end up going with.

[DI46LO]

FYI/Update - Looks like Circuit Board Medics are no longer offering services for us. I gave them a call when I noticed they pulled the listing from their site. The rep stated they decided against it because "too many were corroded and the motors are hard to source". I'll try the automotive circuit solutions.

[AWE46M3]

What cluster issues is everyone experiencing? I noticed my coolant temp gauge hardly sits in the middle anymore. Hovers between first dot and center I changed both sensors twice and my thermostat once. Maybe it's a cluster issue?


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It most definitely is. The stepper motor sticks and the needle doesn’t get to perform its proper sweep. It is also known to not return to zero, making you think your car is overheating when it performs it’s sweep to reach what it thinks is the center line which is in fact the middle dot between center and red 🤣

I’m having the issue you’re having now where my needle is getting stuck half way to middle

You can put the car in test mode and verify the actual temps if you’re concerned.

[Grke46m3]

What cluster issues is everyone experiencing? I noticed my coolant temp gauge hardly sits in the middle anymore. Hovers between first dot and center I changed both sensors twice and my thermostat once. Maybe it's a cluster issue?


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[mikeetastic]

^^ yep they are very easy, i suggest get a cheap non m3 cluster and practice or even those cellphone shops can solder it really quick.

[Riley]

I have replaced cluster stepper motors before on other e46 clusters, it is very easy to do. I bought new motors off of ebay. As long as you are able to solder this is an easy diy.

[maw1124]

Wish I had a business endeavor where I could treat [potential] customers this way 🤣

Not really… but I hear you… the rest of us would be homeless and he may be soon.

I used to have an upholstery guy like that. He did amazing work at super cheap prices but you’d damn near need to come burning incense with a fatted calf to get him to do work. I wonder if he’s still in business. IDK because I just use someone else.

maw

[AWE46M3]

There's a guy that does this in SoCal. He wasn't pleasant to work with and there was a bunch of dust on the inside of my cluster when I got it back. He was the cheapest I could find at the time ($200~ total), so may or may not be worth it for you if you can deal with the personality and know how to disassemble the cluster slightly to clean.

hahaha Scott from GM5. I spoke to him yesterday - I figured he had so much business he could give a shit if I sent him my cluster or not. Wish I had a business endeavor where I could treat protective customers this way 🤣

[AWE46M3]

Hit up this guy, he's cheap and competent. He does everything.

https://www.facebook.com/Fixels/

Palo Alto Speedometer did my cluster, but they don't normally work on BMW clusters.

This guy in San Diego has been doing clusters for 20+ years.
http://www.foreignspeedoinc.com/

Thanks for both of those recommendations. Glad one is relatively close to mitigate damage to and from the vendor. Appreciate your input.

Automotive Circuit Solutions was $200 + shipping 1-way (from me to them).

Another one for Automotive Circuit Solutions - thank you. What did you have them fix for you?

[bran.stum]

You talking about this guy? https://www.bmwgm5.com/default_right.htm

was very unpleasant to work with when I had him fix mine haha

That's the one lol. He copped an attitude right after I sent my cluster out, so I just had to deal with it.

[nahvkolaj]

Found the receipt for the service I mentioned above. Automotive Circuit Solutions was $200 + shipping 1-way (from me to them).

Edit: clarity

[ejendow]

There's a guy that does this in SoCal. He wasn't pleasant to work with and there was a bunch of dust on the inside of my cluster when I got it back. He was the cheapest I could find at the time ($200~ total), so may or may not be worth it for you if you can deal with the personality and know how to disassemble the cluster slightly to clean.

You talking about this guy? https://www.bmwgm5.com/default_right.htm

was very unpleasant to work with when I had him fix mine haha

[bran.stum]

There's a guy that does this in SoCal. He wasn't pleasant to work with and there was a bunch of dust on the inside of my cluster when I got it back. He was the cheapest I could find at the time ($200~ total), so may or may not be worth it for you if you can deal with the personality and know how to disassemble the cluster slightly to clean.

[9kracing]

Hit up this guy, he's cheap and competent. He does everything.

https://www.facebook.com/Fixels/

Palo Alto Speedometer did my cluster, but they don't normally work on BMW clusters.

This guy in San Diego has been doing clusters for 20+ years.

http://www.foreignspeedoinc.com/

[AWE46M3]

Another option is just swapping clusters. It's super easy to pull the EEPROM chip which holds the mileage/vin/programming off and hot-air solder the chip to another cluster. My daughter's e46 cluster stopped working and I was able to swap the chip to another cluster and popped it back into the car and everything worked perfectly as expected. No coding is needed.

Thanks for mentioning that, Liam! I looked into a spare cluster and believe the price to get it repaired could be comparable with no guarantees the used cluster could hold up for another 20+ years. Hoping to refresh the cluster so line new internals to reset the clock on those needles doing their thing.

I used Circuit Board Medics and would recommend them.

Got my initial recommendation from a thread you commented in. You sent you cluster off to them for your coolant needle, right? I did the cluster reset but the needle keeps migrating to the right after a few drive cycles. Time to fix it for good!