Dealer cracked gauge cluster window...

truman_greg · #1 07-18-2007, 02:37 PM

I brought in my X5 to the dealer under warranty to fix what I thought was a bad battery - I had to jump it one day, and figured I should bring it in. I thought it would be a 30 minute job, but it turned into 3 hours. They said the battery was fine, but after much testing, the final stage AC resistor was the culprit, as it was drawing power even when the X5 was turned off. So they replaced the resistor, which was great, until I got in the car and found 3 small cracks in the window of my guage cluster, and after 2 days they are starting to grow.

I showed the service rep the cracks immediately, and he agreed to fix them. He said to bring the X5 back, and he'll have a tech take out the cluster first to check the numbers on the back, then see if they have it in stock, otherwise they'll have to order it and install it later. I asked why he couldn't just check the stock first before I came out, and he said they have to get the specific info off the back of the cluster first.

Does it make sense to replace the whole gauge cluster to fix the cracks on the window? Does to also make sense to have to check the numbers off the cluster first vs just entering in the vin to be able to have the right part so I don't have to go back twice when the part arrives?

Greg

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xnsf · #2 07-18-2007, 02:53 PM

hello Greg,

if you want it replaced, you need to replace the entire cluster. there's a warranty seal that prevents them from taking the cluster apart.

and it doesn't hurt to bring in to check the number (there are about 6 or 7 different kinds clusters just for the X!)...although they can check the part number just by the year and model, you don't even need the vin!

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/select.do

NOVAX5 · #3 07-18-2007, 02:54 PM

as long as they agree to fix it, you should be happy. doesn't matter how they do it but make sure they do it. yes it does make sense to replace the whole new unit if you have crack on the window. the second question depends how dealers want to deal with your claim.

truman_greg · #4 07-18-2007, 02:59 PM

Thanks guys for the quick replies! I should have mentioned that I was a little leary of the whole thing in the first place as I went to the neareast dealer instead of my preferred dealer, as the preferred is 2 hours away. I thought a simple battery repair was something they could handle, which they did except for the gauge cluster crack, which may not have been their fault.

They will replace the whole cluster, it just didn't seem logical, and I'm glad you cleared it up for me. Just making sure...

Greg

Sudesh · #5 07-18-2007, 03:10 PM

Also replacing the cluster now means you will be free from the dreaded "pixel" problem for a long while so its a good thing!!

nietodp · #6 07-19-2007, 02:06 PM

I had a similar experience where the dealer scratched the face of my AC control when replacing my radio. They told me that there were multiple verions of the AC unit control, so the needed to remove it to get the correct part number off the back. It sounds like your have encountered a similar situation.

Why don't you remove the cluster yourself, write down the part number, and call it in to the dealer. There are instructions on this website that explain how to remove the cluster (for the purpose of adding chome rings to the guages). It appears to be fairly straightforward.

Quote:

Originally Posted by truman_greg

Thanks guys for the quick replies! I should have mentioned that I was a little leary of the whole thing in the first place as I went to the neareast dealer instead of my preferred dealer, as the preferred is 2 hours away. I thought a simple battery repair was something they could handle, which they did except for the gauge cluster crack, which may not have been their fault.

They will replace the whole cluster, it just didn't seem logical, and I'm glad you cleared it up for me. Just making sure...

Greg

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