E46 M3 Cluster Not Working

[0-60motorsports]

Yeah, this. Make sure the replacement cluster is the same. If not, you'll have to reprogram it. And using a hot-air station is highly recommended. It's a very small chip.



It's really pretty easy, the hardest part is getting the cluster apart. Obviously, take apart your broken cluster first trying not to break it so you can do it on the new one successfully. I'd also recommend watching a few videos on how to use a hot-air station and trying it on an old broken motherboard (or something) to remove a few chips to get the hang of it.

This is the chip


It's this little chip in the middle here:

That's awesome! Thanks for the info

[liam821]

Problem is, they changed the type of eeprom from e46 early to late clusters, so before swapping check if same time of eeprom (like marking with M35080/080DQW, socket is SOIC-8). If you don't want to buy hot air station (highly recommend!) you can buy "chip quick", look it up on YouTube for diy's to solder out a chip.

Yeah, this. Make sure the replacement cluster is the same. If not, you'll have to reprogram it. And using a hot-air station is highly recommended. It's a very small chip.

That is awesome and a great idea and solution! Would you happen to have a pic of the ROM Chip location on our clusters? I definitely need to try this ASAP LOL

It's really pretty easy, the hardest part is getting the cluster apart. Obviously, take apart your broken cluster first trying not to break it so you can do it on the new one successfully. I'd also recommend watching a few videos on how to use a hot-air station and trying it on an old broken motherboard (or something) to remove a few chips to get the hang of it.

This is the chip


It's this little chip in the middle here:

[L0okitzRaj]

I would also hit up this guy, he's help fix my cluster on multiple occasions.

https://www.bmwgm5.com/

[S54B32]

Even easier, just unsolder the ROM chip from the bad gauge cluster and solder it into the new gauge cluster, bam done. No need to reprogram or anything. I think there are a few different models of cluster though, so you need to make sure you get the same as whatever you have now.

My daughter's gauge cluster died in her e46 and this is exactly what I did, got another cluster for $20 and used my hot-air station to swap the ROM chip over. No tamper light, mileage the same. I do recommend using a hot-air station if you have access to it, the rom chip is very small, perhaps 5mm square in size.

Problem is, they changed the type of eeprom from e46 early to late clusters, so before swapping check if same time of eeprom (like marking with M35080/080DQW, socket is SOIC-8). If you don't want to buy hot air station (highly recommend!) you can buy "chip quick", look it up on YouTube for diy's to solder out a chip.

[Altaran]

Haha, now way... the guy with one of the badest reputations in Germany

I wouldn't have posted them for engine software, cluster repair is easy enough.

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[S54B32]

http://oemotors.de/

There's contact info on the site.

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Haha, no way... the guy with one of the badest reputations in Germany

[0-60motorsports]

http://oemotors.de/

There's contact info on the site.

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Thank you.

[0-60motorsports]

Even easier, just unsolder the ROM chip from the bad gauge cluster and solder it into the new gauge cluster, bam done. No need to reprogram or anything. I think there are a few different models of cluster though, so you need to make sure you get the same as whatever you have now.

My daughter's gauge cluster died in her e46 and this is exactly what I did, got another cluster for $20 and used my hot-air station to swap the ROM chip over. No tamper light, mileage the same. I do recommend using a hot-air station if you have access to it, the rom chip is very small, perhaps 5mm square in size.

That is awesome and a great idea and solution! Would you happen to have a pic of the ROM Chip location on our clusters? I definitely need to try this ASAP LOL

[liam821]

If you are good with soldering, an empty eeprom chip is 10 bucks or so.

If you don't feel confident soldering, there's shops that can do it. Prices may vary a lot with these things. For reference, there's a place here in Germany that virginizes clusters for 100 quit.

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Even easier, just unsolder the ROM chip from the bad gauge cluster and solder it into the new gauge cluster, bam done. No need to reprogram or anything. I think there are a few different models of cluster though, so you need to make sure you get the same as whatever you have now.

My daughter's gauge cluster died in her e46 and this is exactly what I did, got another cluster for $20 and used my hot-air station to swap the ROM chip over. No tamper light, mileage the same. I do recommend using a hot-air station if you have access to it, the rom chip is very small, perhaps 5mm square in size.

[Altaran]

Thats great! Can you provide the contact info? I want to get an updated clusted with the N instead of the 0. Thank you.

http://oemotors.de/

There's contact info on the site.

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[0-60motorsports]

For sure. But to convert a 0 display to N display is not possible, this what I understand. Just swapping different cluster's is easy.

Synch mileage is also easy, just buy a eeprom reader that can blank the mileage/Vin and do it your self.

Don't want to risk doing it myself as I wouldn't know what I am doing and plus I want it done right too.

[S54B32]

Its very possible FYI! I have swapped in a brand new cluster into a car with bad cluster with the 0 Display and the new new one had N display. worked perfectly after doing the swap and aligning mileage.

I was thinking of getting a USED newer one for myself and then having my original mileage synched and thats why someone virginizing the used cluster will be way forward.

For sure. But to convert a 0 display to N display is not possible, this what I understand. Just swapping different cluster's is easy.

Synch mileage is also easy, just buy a eeprom reader that can blank the mileage/Vin and do it your self.

[0-60motorsports]

Not possible. The display is different.

Its very possible FYI! I have swapped in a brand new cluster into a car with bad cluster with the 0 Display and the new new one had N display. worked perfectly after doing the swap and aligning mileage.

I was thinking of getting a USED newer one for myself and then having my original mileage synched and thats why someone virginizing the used cluster will be way forward.

[S54B32]

Thats great! Can you provide the contact info? I want to get an updated clusted with the N instead of the 0. Thank you.

Not possible to change from 0 to N or visa Versa to my knowledge. The display should be different.
If you just want to virginze a cluster that is easy With PA scanner or correct eeprom reader, depending on build date of cluster.

[0-60motorsports]

If you are good with soldering, an empty eeprom chip is 10 bucks or so.

If you don't feel confident soldering, there's shops that can do it. Prices may vary a lot with these things. For reference, there's a place here in Germany that virginizes clusters for 100 quit.

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Thats great! Can you provide the contact info? I want to get an updated clusted with the N instead of the 0. Thank you.