Cluster Rings Install Advice!
 

For the life of me, I couldn't get the cluster to separate from the back and front pieces.

I've been able to turn the center X screw and push it in with no problems but the 4 screws on the outside are almost bent, ripped, smashed and I just couldn't get them to go in...been doing this for over 3 hours now.

Anybody has any advice on how they did it? after all, I only have 2 hand and i'm supposed to push 5 screws in at the same time.

Any advice would be much appreciated. It's not like I haven't taken a cluster apart before. I did that with my Eclipse way back with no problems but then again, I didn't have to push 5 screws in at the same time.

From a newbie who's trying to keep up with some EASY mods that most of you say and I believe it is easy...just taking this darn cluster apart is killing me.

So please, please, please any of you X5 Wizards out there...help a poor fellow out, will yah...

thanks in advance

anyone in socal wanna show a newbie some new tricks? i'll buy you boba? beer?

anyone?

anyone?

PM JV, he's the LOTR.

Or try Bozo, he did it too! It's a trick. Turn the tabs pass where they are suppose to go and they will spring back a little and be in perfect position. I opened up one end, put something there to hold it so that it does not spring back, then work the other side. Good luck.

You're probably feeling as if you need 7 hands to do the job - 2 hands to hold on to the cluster and 5 hands to turn each of the twist locks.

Here's a trick that I used. Use popsicle sticks to help separate the cover from the housing.

As AutoXer stated, when twisting the + fasteners, they will stay twisted for a while before eventually returning to their original positions. The secret is to work on one side at a time and use the popsicle sticks.

Starting with the top, twist the two top + fasteners and the middle + fastener to the open positions, and quickly pop the two latches on top to separate the cluster from the housing just enough to wedge the two popsicle sticks into the gap. This prevents the cluster from re-latching to the cover and it allows you to focus on the remaining two bottom fasteners.

Flipping the unit over and repeating the steps on the two bottom + fasterners and the middle + fastener should allow the gauge cluster to be completely separated from the housing.

Do not use a screwdriver or a some other type of sharp object to wedge between the cover and the cluster case. It could come into contact with the instrument face and cause a scratch. A popsicle stick is soft enough to not cause scratches.

Hope this helps.

Yes that's the answer, in the uk I grab all my grandchildrens lollypop when they have finished with them and keep them for all sort of jobs.
I separated my instrument panel exactly as you described.
Lez

thanks for all the awesome tips...i will surely try them and will keep you posted. hopefully, I will be able to take some pics and show you guys that I did it too... : )

It is a pain in the butt; just do what Mike says. You do need to grab the sides and pull hard. I had to open mines so many times; like dirt, dust, and finger prints found after I closed them. Bummer is that I got some on unwanted glue and need to open it again. Grrrr.
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awwww bruinman, you're making me hate you...you being able to open it over and over again. i just pray i can open it once to even put the rings on there.

do you think i can come over and you can tell me how to do it with me doing all the hard labor. i just need someone to guide me i guess.

just a thought!

maybe

Bruinman


Good morning, I notice that you have the M sports steering wheel and pedals, the steering wheel that came with my sport package looks the same but I don’t have the nice decal were can I purchase those items.
thank you

It took me some time as well but the trick was to do the middle one first.
This gave the ones at the sides a kind of upward pressure and that made it a lot easier having only 2 hands.
Wish they just had used some screws...

Cut up an old credit card and use the strips as wedges to hold the tabs in place.....that's how I did it

Did you open it up yet?

nope...i'm now contemplating because while reading the DIY from this forum, it states in the beginning of the directions that it will void the warranty if I open up the cluster.

i got this used and i'm the second owner. at least if ever it goes bad and they need to go in there and they will see that i almost broke all the x screws and they ask me did i do that, i will just tell them that i never touched it and that i'm the second owner. maybe the previous owner tried to open it or something...

what do you guys think?

I think that, if it shows signs of being tapered with, it really doesn't matter whether you did it or the previous owner did it. If they want to deny coverage, they will.

darn, then that means i will definitely try and open it again then since it doesn't matter anymore...

M Sport Steering Wheel.
 

This is a Euro Sports Wheel; which I guess you are from Eurpoe. Anyhow, my standard sports wheel was replace with the Euro M Sports wheel. Part # 32-30-3-415-380. This wheel has a softer leather wrap and is much thicker than the regular sports wheel. Also the bottom spoke is much more narrow.

Pretty much what they and the others say. You really need to grab that edge and pry it apart and work you way around. No fun.

Opening instrument cluster
 

The best way to open the instrument cluster is to get a small pair or electrical cable cutters and twist the 5 plastic lugs gently anticlockwise further than you need them to go because they do spring back slightly once you have lined these up with the cut out you can then put a small screwdriver in each of the four tabs around the outside edge to release the front cover dont use too much pressure when twisting but does work well make sure you put the cutters on either side of the bigger part of the lug used this method lots of times.

Hey bruinman, I forgot to ask you at WFIV, but where did you get the cool cluster rings and your M pedals?

I went to E-Bay Germany to purchase my Cluster Rings http://cgi.ebay.de/BMW-E39-E38-X5-M5...QQcmdZViewItem

I think the shipping was quick for standard mail.

The M Racing pedal are for some seller named Good4U on Ebay. ha! well something like that. They are in the USA.

Oh boy..What memories..LOL..Oh, I mean nightmares..

Nah, once you get it open the first time, it becomes reflex..They are pretty tight at first, but there is a point on each of the tabs where the "X" is misaligned, so to speak, and will hold in place to allow you to manipulate the rest of the tabs...And make sure you clean that thing before you put it back in..I wish I had known about microfibers before I did mine..I just dont feel like going back in there at the moment..:rolleyes: