2004 X5 4.4 - problem with main gauge cluster

[Momus]

My 2004 X5 4.4 developed a weird behavior a while ago that has gotten steadily worse.

When I start the vehicle the needles for the gas gauge, tachometer, speedometer, and engine temperature gauge will all twitch a few times and then drop to their resting positions.

Once they do this none of the gauges work anymore, and it will take one or more times restarting the car, usually with a minute or two pause, before the gauges will work again.

The car runs normally while the gauges are dead, and the various trip computer functions like distance to empty, average speed, and average fuel economy all work, so the systems sending the information all seem to continue working as normal, but the gauges simply stop displaying anything.

Has anyone else ever experienced this? Any ideas what to look at, or where to look for more ideas/information?

Any help is hugely appreciated.