Pixel service
 

Does anyone know how much BMW will charge to fix the pixels that have gone off and is there other places other than the dealer that does this?

Thanks

Dealer will charge you for a new unit. Unless you cut a deal with BMWNA and go 50/50 on parts and you pay 100% on labor. or... VDORepair.com | Automotive Instrument Cluster Repair

Well i will be needing the Radio unit (non-nav w/dsp) and the Instrument cluster, if i buy the parts from this site (VDOrepair) is it an easy install or is it challenging?

Mario, BMW will not good will the radio (mine is dying as well right now, on cold days the top lines are gone) but they did for cluster inst. I'll check with them first, my wild guess cause cluster is safety issue but not radio.
Yep like someone already said, dealer don't repair unit they just replace them with a new one.
GL.

As stated by HPIA, BMW will not do the radio, but they will the cluster. The percentage you get off the part relies on your communication. I submitted my request for a new instrument cluster last year when the whole Toyota fiasco blew up and at first they were only issuing a 50% off part and I paid the labor + other 50%, but I fought it and fought it and they finally gave in and gave me the replacement cluster for free and I paid 1.5 hours of labor. Clearly it does not take 1.5 hours to remove instrument cluster and code it to your vehicle, but I did not complaint.

I tried fixing the radio myself with the instructions found under the "Tips and Tricks" on this forum and failed, but luckily a forum member came to my rescue and repaired it for me. If you're not familiar with taking things apart and repairing them, then just contact the people on the link I provided and you can ship them your radio and they will repair it for you.

Good luck.

HPIA and Cisc0, thanks guys

Since i am a newB to installing and repairing things, i will probably go see what i can work out with the dealer in terms of the Instrument Cluster, but for the radio i will contact the people at the VOD link and see how they can help me out.

Let me know how it goes, my radio pixels are dying too.

you got it :thumbup:

Hi,

New X5 owner here (2003 4.4i) with the usual problems with the cluster and radio. If I understand your post correctly BMW is willing to replace the cluster if you pay for labor, but won't do anything with the radio. Is that accurate? How do I go about "requesting" a new cluster?

Thanks!

They are NOT willing to replace the cluster. This is not something that the dealer would just do out of the kindness of their heart. But if you take the right steps they will be willing to come to some sort of agreement with you like a 50/50 on parts and 100% on labor or if you're severely persistent and make a good case/cause such as it being a safety concern because you cannot see, or read what the vehicle is trying to communicate to you they may be willing to budge and give you the part at 100% under their "Good Will program". In my case this only worked for the instrument cluster. They did not honor the radio because it is not a safety concern. You must first start by calling/emailing BMWNA and present your claim. The process will take some time, but well worth it because you have nothing to lose.

Good luck.