Canada to U.S. Importation - Gauge Cluster Programming?

[Duck360198]

Hey everyone!

I have just found a Canadian E46 M3 that I'm interested in possibly bring over this way and have started to do some research. I have zero issues with the paperwork as I'm familiar with the process. My E90 335 daily is a Canadian car. The issue that I'm having is that unlike my E90 cluster, the E46 does not have a digital readout option. I called the local Canadian BMW dealer where the owner services the car and asked about installing a U.S. cluster and properly programming it to reflect the current mileage BEFORE it crosses the border. After about 10 seconds of silence the service advisor said he has never heard of doing something like that and he had to ask his master tech. A couple mins later he came back and said they don't have that capability at their dealer AND the Canadian software/programming will not ALLOW for a U.S. cluster and subsequent programming. News to me.

I have also reached out to my local dealer to see if they have any insight and have not heard anything back yet. My initial feeling is that the Canadian dealer was scared to do the work and/or didn't want to even deal with it. Surely this is nothing new and I know I've heard of others getting clusters properly programmed. But does anyone have any experience in this or know the right questions to ask?

Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[Str8f4c3]

I'm in Canada, and at least coming this direction, It's not a necessary step for importation. If that's the case going into the US, I think your best bet is to get the car over the border, and get a US cluster installed and programmed later.

To my understanding, clusters are mechanically the same regardless of Euro/Canadian/US Spec. So, in theory, you could swap the inserts to MPH from KMH, have the cluster programmed to readout in Miles and imperial units, and you're good to go. If you did want to swap in a full cluster, you'd have to have the vin programmed in, and have the odometer matched to avoid the tamper dot.

[heinzboehmer]

Pretty sure the scale for the speedo is the same between the km/h and mph clusters (i.e. 9 o'clock is 40 mph whether the gauge is printed in km/h or mph). You would just need to swap the gauge face over to a US one.

Odometer, fuel economy, etc. can all be coded to US units using NCS Expert.

Edit: Good resource for opening the cluster and swapping the faces:

https://forums.autolanka.com/topic/17653-diy-bmw-e46-cluster-replacement-coding/

[sg.e46m3]

where is your car located? my car is a usa car in canada. my speedo is mph, i wonder if we could swap?

[repoman89]

The km speedometer is so much cleaner looking! Is the swap required as part of the import process? If not, just divide by 1.5 in your head. You’ll always think you’re going faster than you really are and the math is easier than the real thing

[liam821]

where is your car located? my car is a usa car in canada. my speedo is mph, i wonder if we could swap?

The gauge cluster has to be programmed to the car - you can't just swap them.

[Duck360198]

I'm in Canada, and at least coming this direction, It's not a necessary step for importation. If that's the case going into the US, I think your best bet is to get the car over the border, and get a US cluster installed and programmed later.

To my understanding, clusters are mechanically the same regardless of Euro/Canadian/US Spec. So, in theory, you could swap the inserts to MPH from KMH, have the cluster programmed to readout in Miles and imperial units, and you're good to go. If you did want to swap in a full cluster, you'd have to have the vin programmed in, and have the odometer matched to avoid the tamper dot.

Yeah, I don't think it's an issue for the car to cross the border. When my 335 came over, the broker sent docs to the border station and they apparently didn't even look at the car.

I don't think I want to swap just the inserts. I much prefer to swap the full cluster and it's that VIN programming that is the question mark. The comment the Canadian dealer said about not being able to properly program it is what has me concerned. I think more than anything I just want to know it can be done rather than assume it can be done.

[Duck360198]

Pretty sure the scale for the speedo is the same between the km/h and mph clusters (i.e. 9 o'clock is 40 mph whether the gauge is printed in km/h or mph). You would just need to swap the gauge face over to a US one.

Odometer, fuel economy, etc. can all be coded to US units using NCS Expert.

Edit: Good resource for opening the cluster and swapping the faces:
https://forums.autolanka.com/topic/1...cement-coding/

Thank you for this reference, but I definitely want to go with the new cluster route on this one.

[Str8f4c3]

Yeah, I don't think it's an issue for the car to cross the border. When my 335 came over, the broker sent docs to the border station and they apparently didn't even look at the car.

I don't think I want to swap just the inserts. I much prefer to swap the full cluster and it's that VIN programming that is the question mark. The comment the Canadian dealer said about not being able to properly program it is what has me concerned. I think more than anything I just want to know it can be done rather than assume it can be done.

It 100% can be done, and if there isn't someone here who can do it, check out RPM motorsports, I believe it is a service they offer. They have a shop local to me and were wonderful to deal with, and they also have an operation in California for those south of the border.