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View Full Version : Capacitors in a 92 e34 Cluster (blue cluster)



BMWDriver
06-15-2009, 10:43 PM
Well, I've opened the cluster once again, since I'm getting faulty messages telling me the oil is low, and the gas is empty when there's still well over 20 liters (25%), and since I've been meaning to do it for a long time, it's time to replace the capacitors.

They are :
1000µF 16V
220µF 16V
4.7µF 63V
(63V?? An odd number in my book, all puns aside)

Next step: reassemble the cluster again, put it back in the car, drive to go get the capacitors Saturday (the specialty store closes too early for me to get there in time during the week).

BMWDriver
06-23-2009, 09:05 PM
Done deal, replaced with:

1000 µF 100V, a bit of a tight fit
220µF 25V
4.7µF axial 80V ; it works all the same, I just bent the lead downwards to make it stand upright as a radial capacitor.

shogun
06-23-2009, 10:22 PM
and all the faulty messages gone now?

Blitzkrieg Bob
06-23-2009, 11:22 PM
I found all the capacitors in 105 degree and in the needed values at Digikey.

Shipped for under $10

BMWDriver
06-24-2009, 06:13 PM
and all the faulty messages gone now?

So far, yes. I'll see about my fuel gauge, which usually drops to empty at about 1/3 full. Another project to be proud of! :D

tim eh?
07-19-2009, 09:57 AM
So far, yes. I'll see about my fuel gauge...

So did it fix the fuel gauge? I want to fix mine.

shogun
07-19-2009, 10:15 AM
fuel gauge might be a problem inside the tank, check the float and measure the 2 wires of the float
http://bmwe32.masscom.net/maxf_website/gauge.htm
"Check the 2 fine wires are complete and soldered to their mountings. Mine were; if one of your wires is broken, it is not normal wire - it's "resistance wire" what you can get from electronics stores - problem with that is that resistance wire comes in different "strengths" (ohms/meter). Try taking a sample of a broken wire into a really good electronics hobby shop, or try for a replacement sensor. "


http://bmwe32.masscom.net/johan/fuel_sender/fuel_sender.html

tim eh?
07-19-2009, 10:57 AM
fuel gauge might be a problem inside the tank...

In my case I get a good reading on the obc so I assume the fuel level sender is working - it's just the fuel gauge in the cluster that is wonky.

Qube
07-19-2009, 12:05 PM
Darn. You didn't need to buy my reman clusterboard eh? :) Always satisfying to fix things yourself!

tim eh?
07-20-2009, 02:14 PM
Darn. You didn't need to buy my reman clusterboard eh? :) Always satisfying to fix things yourself!

I don't think it's the kind I need - yours might fix my fuel gauge problem but I don't really care about that since the obc works . I am coming up on 29960km and want to swap it for a blue-backed one that I have which is almost mostly working in my car now.

BMWDriver
07-20-2009, 08:30 PM
The gauge stopped going to empty when it's a third full. It's still not quite accurate: it wobbles around giving ± 10L variations in readings. I gather the fuel moves around in there... A big improvement in my view anyway. And the error messages have stopped too.