Installed 4.6 Cluster - Few Problems
 

I just bought a 4.6is cluster off ebay, installed it this evening. The install went smooth but some of the lights remain on such as the BRAKE, ABS, DSC icon and also the redline meters all remain on even when I'm driving...do I need to have this reprogrammed or did I miss a step??

Also my original mileage is 89,000..not that I don't mind that this one is showin 55,000:) but still how do I change that as I'm sure it's illegal and BMW service has my correct mileage on record

You need to get the cluster recoded by your dealer.

ah wonderful...how much does that cost...and does it have to be at the dealership, are those independent BMW service shops capable of recoding as well?

Dunno how much it costs, but am pretty sure that only the dealer can do this. I'd guess they'd charge you 1/2 hr to an hour worth of labor.

I don't know if you noticed, but you also have dead pixels.

:iagree: - recoding by the dealer is required for any Instrument Cluster change.

I agree,

Also I like much more how the way the BMW oem rings are aluminium and not chrome....

much nicer....

Looks like your oil temp gauge is working in the first pic. How can that be? I didn't think the sensor signal was available at the cluster in non 4.6/4.8 models. Also, I assume the rev lights won't work correctly either, will they? You also have the dreaded "mileage tamper" dot - wonder if a dealer reprogram will eliminate that too... Looks nice though!

It's weird, after about 1-2 minutes the pixels light up again....you should have seen my old cluster I had dead pixels left and right everywhere

I am just as lost as you! haha

Does the oil pressure gauge move when you start driving?

...but I applaud you for going for it! Let us know how you make out!

That looks great!
Let us know if the oil temp works.
I would love to do the same!

well I don't know how accurate it is but yes the oil pressure gauge does move while I'm driving...my mph gauge is all messed up tho..the needle drops so slow and I'm driving the speedlimit on the freeway and it's showing that I'm going 100mph haha, I'm guessing that'll be sorted out when I get it re-coded?

The oil temp LEDs between 4k to 8k rpm seems to be working. It should start with all lights on when you start from cold engine and start switching off as temp rises.

In the cluster to the immediate left of the trip mileage indicator you will note the presence of a dot below where it says "miles". I believe that is an indication that the cluster mileage doesn't match the vehicle mileage (the dreaded "mileage tamper" warning). Hopefully the dealer will recode the cluster to resolve this. I've heard that some dealers will only recode a brand new cluster and will not do so with a used one.

:goodluck:

That's right! Good observation, Jeff :thumbup:

ooo i see, thanks for the info i was wondering what that dot was for, is there any reason why some dealers will not recode a used cluster? i usually take my car to a independent bmw service shop and they do re-code as well..since their not the dealer hopefully they won't give me a hard time

Personally I think dealers do this in order to force you into buying a new cluster from them (hence, they make a profit on the labor to recode and on the part as well).

If you are using an independent mechanic, hopefully they have the right computer equipment to do the recode. You'll likely have better luck with an independent then an actual BMW dealer.

This independent service shop is very reputable so I'm sure they'll do me a good job, will update once I get it re-coded, thanks for everyone's help!

ok so i got the cluster re-coded today, my original mileage however is not showing up it's still at 55,000...i asked them and they said they couldn't put back the original mileage

what's weird is that i've been unable to set the time and date ever since i installed this cluster unless i'm trying to set it incorrectly..anyone have this problem before??

The original mileage is stored at several places on the X5. BMW dealers will still know the original mileage and should be able to fix it.

So how's everthing else working - oil temp; rpms; is the tamper dot gone? New pics!

oil temp is still working :) rpm meters do not light up :( however the redline meter lights are still on permanently... tamper dot is still there along with the fake mileage...i guess i need to take it into a dealership to have it recoded again..fortunately i was getting other work done too so they didn't charge me for the recode ...but whats driving me crazy is that i cannot set the time or date and the mph gauge is showing my speed + 10-20 mph!!!!! ahhhh its pissing me off

Cool that you got another 40 something thousand miles to make up for next dealer check up, by that time you can get rid of the car with legal mileage.

Please keep us updated as I am very interested in doing the same.

Best of luck...

so any news???

no real updated news, oil temp still works...the lighting redline meters i guess are not compatible for 3.0 or 4.4 models...the speedometer however magically is now showing accurate mph speeds ..... i think the cluster somehow affected the radio/computer because there's no way for me to change the time and date...i could put my old cluster back in to see if the 4.6 cluster really is the problem but then i'd have to pay for another recode when i put the 4.6 cluster back in

thats it for now...i'll update once that gets solved

if memory serves me correct, you should be able to reprogram an old cluster to a HIGHER mileage amount, but not LOWER the mileage. Reprogramming should get rid of the mileage tamper dot.

I actually don't mind the mileage, I don't want to go back to 89,000...is it true once I drive to 89,000 on this cluster that the little tamper dot will go away?

No :tsk:. Only way is to have the cluster recoded to match the miles stored in other locations on the vehicle.

unfortunately not:tsk: because the mileage stored at the other places on the vehicle keep accumulating as you drive

im getting different stories from everyone, ahh! my bmw shop told me the internal mileage has haulted..but what your saying is my internal computer or system mileage is still running active?

Your BMW shop is wrong. If you assume it has halted storing mileage at other places then why store mileage at other places anyway. :tsk:

:iagree:

Any updates????

I am very interested in the same setup...

Wow FeelGood,
I was just checking into changing the gauge dials to grey (4.4-8 style) while I'm in there to do the rings when I found this thread. Looks good but the issues you've run into are exactly what made me think otherwise.
I'm not sure what your initial goal was, but there may be suppliers who can change the background/color scheme of the dials without an entire cluster change-out. I recall an older post from someone who had a shop that would do that very affordably if they had 20-30 initial orders. We'd just have to agree on colors (likely the white-on-grey dials would be a natural choice).

Good luck with the recode. Oh, last note: since you bought it on Ebay, beware that there are mileage reset/change tools there, but apparently you can't use them without taking it to a dealer!! (Kinda silly since they'll obviously have their own!). Just thought I'd mention it, since it might cross the mind to go around the dealer- I don't think there's a way to...
Best,
M