Try to get BMW to replace cluster (archive)

Try to get BMW to give you a new one. I've heard that they are somewhat liberal about this part, which is necessary to comply with fed regs. It's worth asking for, the worst you can get is a "no". How much does the repair shop want for the part?

Bob

previous author
wrote:

I OWN A 1997 BMW 740 IL,
I TOOK MY CAR TO A MECHANIC, HE SAYS I NEED A NEW INSRUMENT CLUSTER, IF I REPLACE THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER IN MY CAR won't that RESET THE COMPUTER(ISPECTION, RADIO, MILEAGE)

THANK YOU
wwavez@aol.com

No. It will not affect your data.

As long as they install a new cluster which is has the milage set to zero then you will retain everything.

Your VIN, milage, SI, information, etc. is also stored in another component in the car. It is updated about every 100 kms, and the data is verified each time the car is started.
This is done by digital messages over the bus.

I am not aware of any info in the cluster about the radio other thatn programming what order you want to display the OBC data (that you might have to reprogram).

When a new cluster is installed (showing "0" milage) the cluster looks at the back up data in the other unit, and pulls that back to update itself.

But I understand that the new cluster has to have the correct VIN number set in its memory by BMW first, otherwise the process does not work and sets an error code in memory.

If the mechanic that said you need a new computer does not know about this ability to retain/reload the information - then I wonder if he knows enough about the operation of the cluster to determine that you need a new one.

Cheers
Jim Cash

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