Got a Strange Instrument Cluster Problem

BimmerM3inGA · #1 05-24-2017, 09:04 AM

OK, folks. I haven't posted in a while because, amazingly, my 2002 X5 4.6is has been behaving itself for the last several months. Well, all good things must come to an end…

A couple of weeks ago I was running errands when all of a sudden the instrument cluster just went crazy. The needles bounced up and down, lights when on and off, and so on. I did some quick research and learned that pulling fuses 1, 43, and 45 would reset it. So I pulled the fuses and it seemed to work. Note that the battery is fairly new, but this X5 is not my daily driver so it was possible that the battery could be low on juice. So this past weekend, I put it on a battery charger just to make sure the battery is okay. The alternator is also a relatively new OEM Bosch rebuilt unit.

I was about 20 minutes into my commute to work this morning, cruising on the interstate (minding my own business, I might add), when all of a sudden the cluster did the same thing again. The speedometer needle froze, the temp gauge pegged at full hot, and the various warning lights flashed and eventually it settled on what you see in the first attachment.

Since this area is heavily patrolled by the local law and state patrol, and I'm driving a bright red BMW, I didn't want to continue without knowing how fast I'm going. So I pulled into a rest area and shut it down and restarted. What you see in the second attachment is after restarting. So I pulled the fuses again. Again, it fixed the problem. But now I know the fix will only be temporary.

So, what's really going on here? How can I diagnose and permanently fix this problem? I don't even know where to start!

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williamx5 · #2 05-24-2017, 11:54 AM

Good day!

I would say it is defaulting to the original German configuration before coding to US specs... My 2006 did this after the motor rebuild... The battery was down to about 10V and I didn't know it... Obviously, it didn't start when I tried it... After I got the battery back to normal, it started fine, but the cluster was in German and random things didn't work... I coded it, and the DSC module (they are connected somehow), and all is great again... I think I had DRL before this issue, but they are not there now... I wish the high beams were the center lights (all four illuminated), but that might just be how the 2006 works... I like my pre-facelift high beams better...

Oh, you may want to pull the connectors on the back of the cluster and reconnect them... You may have a power connection issue at the cluster itself... Hence the failure while driving... I think the DSC is the first to go when you have a weak battery while driving...

Can you code it or know someone that can?

Good luck!!

Cheers!!

PropellerHead · #3 05-24-2017, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BimmerM3inGA

So, what's really going on here? How can I diagnose and permanently fix this problem? I don't even know where to start!

I remember this as a common question from the early days of the E39. I will have to go look into what it was all about. I think it even happened to me once. But that was WAY over 10 years ago. Hell, it could have been 15 yrs now. But it hasn't happened since.

I'll see what I can find.

Edit: It seems it's self leveling inactive. Some E39's had SLS on the wagon. What makes it give you the news in German, I do not know. My error was in German also, but it wasn't SLS as I do not have it in my E39. I recall it was something ab low battery voltage or new/replaced battery.

I did find this guy who reset the error (in english) on his Range Rover. Since the electronics of the time are very similar, if not the same, maybe it will help. Basically, he put the key in POS1 and turned the wheel lock to lock. Who knows!?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR899nhkRxE

BimmerM3inGA · #4 05-24-2017, 04:49 PM

I don't think it's a coding issue, although I do have the capability to do coding.

I have seen some very strange instrument cluster behavior when the battery is very weak. I also had an '06 and the battery was totally dead when I bought it. Even after charging, I would get strange random messages (in German) and other general weirdness. But in that case, a fresh battery cured it 100%.

That's why I immediately suspected the battery in this case. But I'm getting good voltage and have confirmed that the alternator is charging. I'm not saying that I'm convinced the battery isn't the problem, but it seems unlikely to me...

PropellerHead · #5 05-24-2017, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BimmerM3inGA

I have seen some very strange instrument cluster behavior when the battery is very weak. I also had an '06 and the battery was totally dead when I bought it. Even after charging, I would get strange random messages (in German) and other general weirdness. But in that case, a fresh battery cured it 100%

Quack quack says the duck.

It's an easy enough test to replace the battery. It could also be the alternator- in whole or in part. I've replaced two in two different E53s after instrument cluster oddities.

I am curious to know if the German error is persistent and if you've tried the lock to lock 'fix'. Stuff like that is cool if it works. It does kinda make me feel gullible when it doesn't.

BimmerM3inGA · #6 05-25-2017, 10:28 AM

Yes, it's easy to replace the battery. But since a new one costs over $200 and I'm not convinced that's the problem, I want to make sure I've considered every option before I start throwing parts at it. An alternator is $400, and not so easy to replace.

Can you elaborate on the "lock to lock" fix? I haven't heard of that one.

PropellerHead · #7 05-25-2017, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BimmerM3inGA

Can you elaborate on the "lock to lock" fix? I haven't heard of that one.

From just above.

Quote:

Originally Posted by PropellerHead

I did find this guy who reset the error (in english) on his Range Rover. Since the electronics of the time are very similar, if not the same, maybe it will help. Basically, he put the key in POS1 and turned the wheel lock to lock. Who knows!?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR899nhkRxE

BimmerM3inGA · #8 05-25-2017, 04:33 PM

Sorry, I should clarify: The warnings are back to normal after pulling and replacing the fuses. They were only in German during the time all the other weirdness was going on. And I do get random Air Suspension Inactive warnings from time to time, but cycling the ignition usually clears the error. It might have just been coincidence that it showed up at the same time as the cluster acting up. Or maybe they're related?

But I will try the lock-to-lock the next time I get the air suspension warning to see if that clears it.

Qsilver7 · #9 05-25-2017, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PropellerHead

I remember this as a common question from the early days of the E39. I will have to go look into what it was all about. I think it even happened to me once. But that was WAY over 10 years ago. Hell, it could have been 15 yrs now. But it hasn't happened since.

I'll see what I can find.

Hmm...I wonder if you have a memory fragment from around 10 years or more ago...where an e39 owner had posted a youtube video that showed how his instrument cluster would go all wonky...along with other electronic gremlins...and no one (no even the dealership) could figure it out.

Somehow, it turned out to be a loose (comb) ground in the engine bay. Have you done any work around the vehicle that may have loosened one of these large grounding combs? Even if you haven't you may want to do a visual/physical check.

Here's a link to a (2008) thread on BimFest that was having cluster crazy issues and a grounding comb was the issue, too: Tighten your ground wire today - Bimmerfest - BMW Forums

Here's another link to a 2010 thread moved to the e39 FAQ forum on BimmerForums were the wonky cluster came from one of the main grounding cables (did you mention you had alternator work done?): https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...rical-Gremlins

{#10 is ground cable to the vehicle's battery & #12 is the ground cable to the alternator}

{items #7 & #11 or grounding combs you'll find all around the vehicle in various connections (pols)...you'll find them with up to 5, 7, 9, 11, 15, 17 ground connections (all brown wires connected)}

BimmerM3inGA · #10 05-25-2017, 10:02 PM

I will absolutely check all the grounding combs - great suggestion! Now that you say it, this does have the stench of a bad ground somewhere. And yes, the alternator was replaced (by me) roughly a year ago. The ground has a plastic nut and I'm always a little nervous when I tighten it. Maybe it's working its way loose? I can't think of anything else I've done that could affect the other grounds. But I'll check all the ones I can find/reach.

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