Instument Cluster not operational!

[Halothane]

Hey guys, Happy New Years!

This morning, my E53 started normally, but my instrument cluster didn't.

Nothing in the cluster is operational. No tach,speed,trip,temperature, gas. Lighting is on, but turn signal is either on or off...no normal alternating. Radio works, but time is stuck on when I shut off the car last night. Vehicle drives normally.

Any thoughts? What would have caused this? If I can't see the temperature, is my vehicle still able to regulate it?

What steps would you guys go first to fix it? Disconnect battery/reset, check the 3 instrument fuses??? That's all I have come up with. At work, so not able to try these things yet.

[bmwmmn]

OK, so after 4 days of not driving mine during Christmas/Boxing Day time "something" drained one year old battery, completely that I could not even open driver's door manually with a key, go figure. So for 30min. I was lurking around the car trying to figure out how to get in. After so many tries to unlock it manually it finally kicked in and was able to open my door. Now, of course by putting a key into ignition everything (all controls) were dead it was time to give it a boost. Left it to charge for 15 min., tried twice to start it but without luck. Third time I left a battery to charge around the same time and upon turning a key through positions all controls were lit and was able to start it. Left it running for about 10ish min. and took it for a 1.5h drive for battery to charge. After 45min. of driving around the city I decided to make a quick stop at a grocery store, turned truck off for about 10ish min. and upon start up my instrument cluster was dead; only speed/rev/temps were working with some basic seat belt and some other light while everything else was totally "kaput". So, dropped it off at my mechanic to figure out what is causing drainage and possibly I am gonna need to send cluster for rebuilt.

Sorry, obviously I was unable to provide you with a solution to your problem but at the same time could not just sit down without sharing mine experience.

[Halothane]

Thanks for sharing.

Panel's operational now. Just started working.

Anybody have thoughts on what could have caused it to go out?

[UCrewX5]

Originally Posted by Halothane

Thanks for sharing.

Panel's operational now. Just started working.

Anybody have thoughts on what could have caused it to go out?

sounds like an i-bus glitch. The system simply reset itself after going off-line due to no activity.