LCD Display on E39 Gauge cluster

[SnakeyesTx]

Well.... I bought it.... the car is a freakin' rocket. On the way home I played with all the bells and whistles. ASC button works and while on, I saw the light kick on indicating it was doing its job when I decided to take a corner turn a little ... liberatingly.

The only electrical issues I can see so far is that pixel display and the door lock on the passenger side front door doesn't move when I lock/unlock with the key on the lock in the door. All in all... I'm really happy with it, but I do miss the tightness of the E34's steering. I'm assuming its a little lighter since they figured you'll do most of the steering with the left hand since your right is on the shifter.

Oh.. and the phone in the armrest/console... REALLY annoying hitting buttons with your elbow!

[Qube]

Congrats! Replace that phone console with something more useful like the flip open storage.

[SnakeyesTx]

Well, I got the cluster out... it was incredibly easy. I really like how the molex's have that hinge that helps the plug come out of its socket for you.

Anyway, I got it out and looked at the contacts for the 3 plugs, they look good as new so I figured this isn't the contact in question. So I take the cluster inside and there's this box on the back of the cluster that slides into place. It appears to be a computer of some sort. The BMW part number on the back didn't match anything from realoem.com but I did a search by year and model and found the exact same box has about 8 different numbers, none that matched mine.

I couldn't figure out how to get that box open so until I knew for sure that's where the contacts in question are, I didn't want to risk breaking any tabs. The cluster itself looks like a real pain to get open as well. It has several + shaped pins that you have to twist into matching grooves, plus there's 4 tabs, 2 on top, 2 on the bottom. The tabs aren't the problem those darn pins are. They look like they're casted fixed, and you twist them (stress them) into the slots. Problem is, you almost have to do all 6 or 8 of them all at the same time to get it to give for you while someone else is working the 4 tabs >.< !!! The lcd display is on the bottom of the cluster and that's where I suspected the ribbon that Qube mentioned is.

Anyone have any tips on how to get that cluster apart? Also, am I on the right track for the lcd ribbon? I'm assuming its alot like my pioneer radio with those plastic'd over ribbon wires that wear after about 7-10 years that I'll be looking for with a little dirty black/grey smudgy dust around the contacts.


Edit : Oh yeah.. I can't get the third brake light out either! There's this little trap door in the trunk ceiling, and I can see the plug, but it doesn't seem to want to twist free of the housing in either direction... Just pull down?