Taken for a ride?

[old bob]

I took my car into aBMW indy for a diagnostic check. to find out what was wrong with my electronics on the dash. Other than telling me that my watewr level was down he gave me no other info to help.
I rang them and expressed my diappointment and he then told me to contact a certain auto electricial who would be able to sort out my instrument cluster board. cost au$230.00.
Rang Electrician said bring it over and he would for $90.00 check it out and depening on which one was crook it would cost a further au $300.00 to au$700.00.
Anyone offer any solutions?

[Jehu]

I took my car into aBMW indy for a diagnostic check. to find out what was wrong with my electronics on the dash. Other than telling me that my watewr level was down he gave me no other info to help.
I rang them and expressed my diappointment and he then told me to contact a certain auto electricial who would be able to sort out my instrument cluster board. cost au$230.00.
Rang Electrician said bring it over and he would for $90.00 check it out and depening on which one was crook it would cost a further au $300.00 to au$700.00.
Anyone offer any solutions?

This sounds morally objectionable and while i can't diagnose your issue from here in the States i want to support you in finding an answer that won't cost such an obscene amount of money.What are the symptoms of your problem for starters?

[wingman]

Hi Bob!
1. Log on to www.bmwe34.net and look up the great info on the instrument cluster. On there you will read about a number of fixes for this problem. From memory one is from an Aussie stating that he got a reco bottom section (where the read-outs are) for about Au$450.
2. DO NOT go to the auto electrician unless he specialises in euro cars as a standard guy will spend hours guessing and testing stuff (at your expense).
3. I can't understand why yours is on the blink as mine only plays up in the cold and it NEVER gets cold in Brisbane!
4. Let us know how you went.

[genphreak]

Hi Bob!
1. Log on to www.bmwe34.net and look up the great info on the instrument cluster. On there you will read about a number of fixes for this problem. From memory one is from an Aussie stating that he got a reco bottom section (where the read-outs are) for about Au$450.
2. DO NOT go to the auto electrician unless he specialises in euro cars as a standard guy will spend hours guessing and testing stuff (at your expense).
3. I can't understand why yours is on the blink as mine only plays up in the cold and it NEVER gets cold in Brisbane!
4. Let us know how you went.

The whole thing removes if you extend the steering wheel, remove the 2 philips screws holding the cluster in and place a rag over the lens to prevent damage to the plexiglass. It falls forward (easiest to remove the steering wheel if you have your wits about you). Beware the cable connectors that link into the cluster, they are smarter than most people that try to remove them...

Problem is most likely;
- dirty connections and blown bulbs
or bad capacitors (easy to change) and blown bulbs.

The capacitors tend to cause the gauges to misbehave before other too many other things go wonky.

The reason to do this oneself is cost and simplicity- not to mention a guarantee that you will not get your cluster back scratched from some monkey toting a fat receipt book.

If you are not into electronics and are in Sydney, feel free to drop your car round to me at work one night and I'll check the cluster out. Just set a time in with me. I'm happy to fix it up if you go buy the parts from Jaycar and if you like you can pay me in beer and/or petrol.

Nick