Pixel Repair
 

Currently halfway through doing this, have stopped for a coffee & a scotch egg. It's definitely not a job I want to do again.

Will hopefully have a happy job finished update post in an hour or so....

http://www.sundayjumper.com/e53_pixel_1.jpg

It's pretty straight forward and once you've done it you'll figure you can do it again in half the time if you had to.

Happy job finished update:

http://www.sundayjumper.com/e53_pixel_3.jpg

It took two attempts to get the ribbon cable to seat properly. Otherwise not too bad I guess. Took about three hours in total. Drilling the holes to access the screws holding the LCD unit in place was a bit worrying when you're just guessing based on someone else's photo !

I also fitted some "satin chrome" rings while I was in there, although they're just silver paint rather than satin chrome. Not 100% sure I like them, but I don't dislike them enough to take them out again.

Anyway, I'm glad I've fixed the LCD. It's one more thing off the list.

I did this last year. PITA job but very satisfying when the results are so good. Well done !

You've inspired me to do mine this weekend. I've been dreading drilling holes in my cluster but everyone seems to do it without problems.

Any tips or advice?

Yeah,it's pita and it's exciting for 6 month and after they start to go out intermediately....and that is the third thing described as disappointment.
I've done it right with a new ribbon cable and pressed everything in place and now I get them coming out every other restart...not as bad as they were,but yet....sucks.

Drilling the holes was definitely the most worrying part. Two of the holes are right on the edge of the hard clear plastic that spreads the light around the dials and it feels like it'll crack quite easily. Just be careful, and take your time.

The rest wasn't too difficult.

Really satisfying when it's done though, I had to go for a drive just so I could keep flicking through the OBC and re-tuning the radio :)

Great work on the cluster! I've been considering doing this for almost a year now, and it's reassuring to see your successful post. I've read a few different articles regarding pixel fixes - would you mind sharing the set of instructions you followed? I have also added the rings and I came away with the same opinion as you. They look better in the pictures. If my interior trim was all chrome, I'm sure it would look better.

Anyhow, thanks for sharing and for any additional information you can provide will be appreciated!

can we get full instruction on the DIY?
Thanks.

They were a badly-photocopied set of instructions that came with the ribbon cable, there must be something similar published online already. Importantly there was no soldering required, and no need to disturb the needles. Just careful disassembly and some light drilling.

So, I got mine apart except for the black plastic housing on the backside of the gauge. Removed the screws on the face, got the two "clips" loose from below the pixel display, and tried to pop off the black housing but it wouldn't budge. How did you get the actual gauge cluster out of the black housing? Brute force?

Sas - I'm at the same spot. Seems to be 2 small rivets holding the black backing in place just below the connector ports. I'm assuming they need to be drilled out to remove the backing, but not entirely sure.

To remove the back casing there's several things you need to do:

Five plastic "X" shapes on the back you have to twist by about 15 degrees
The three big connectors all have a tiny clip built into them
The eight screws from the front of the display

There were no rivets to drill - at least on my one anyway.

Surely there's a proper write up with photos online somewhere ??

Is this what you are looking for? The instrument cluster removal is covered in the first steps.
http://www.xoutpost.com/articles/x5/...t-cluster.html

First off, thanks for all the replies! I'm very thankful for those that are posting to help with this. I know there have been many tutorials on this process and I've read most of them. have gotten the outer covering off and removed all the torx screws on the front of the display. I'm attempting to remove the black plastic housing from the circuit board to access the ribbon cable.

I am following the instructions posted in this link PIXEL FIX DIY write up, about a 2 hour job and some patience (Long pic warning) and it's showing the housing being removed in pictures 7 and 8 prior to drilling the access point to remove the display.

I've removed all the torx screws I could find on the front and the bottom clips pop off, but the housing still seems attached. I really don't want to break anything, so I'm just wondering what I'm doing wrong.

Did you get the clips on the connectors ? One is just visible here at the top left of the white part, the rest are similar:

http://www.sundayjumper.com/e53_clip.jpg

Wow, no - didn't even see those! I'll be home in a little while to check it out. Thanks for pointing those out!

I didn't see those either. That would explain why the back cover wasn't coming off.

You need about 5 hands to do this job with all the clips to be disengaged simultaneously.

Great call! This did the trick - Amazing! Thanks again for all your help.

Bump because someone was asking about this but also:

Seven months so far and still perfect here.

<shrug>

Lucky you,it's been a year and 1/4 now and pixels are nuts again,not as badly as they were,but sometimes a whole vertical line is gone.

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These 5 "X" connector are very hard to turn. I will be able to turn it via nose pliers but it will spring back as soon as I release the pliers. Also these X connectors are directional/clockwise or does not matter which way it turns.

Thanks in advance for any helping comments.

There are 4 tabs on each corner of the socket. We have 3 sockets and 12 tabs altogether. How can I possibly push 12 tabs all at once? Are any tools for this job? Otherwise, I have to break all the tabs in order to remove the back of cluster. Any suggestions?

The Answer is making two credit card strips use as tool. Insert credit card strips on each side of socket and bending outward, in the mean time, push center of the socket. I start black socket first. It works.

Some tips
 

You can use credit card strips to help remove back of the cluster. Two fingers to pry the side of socket and one finger to push center of the socket.

I am unlucky to have a corner break off due to manufacture initial hard screw down.

When you remove back of the cluster, you do not need to loose two black tabs.

Over all it is unsuccessful for me since I am still having missing pixels. I think the corner break off is the reason. I may have to replace the entire cable or I may just ask for professional help via ebay repair service.

this is why I'm paying the 140 to get mine fixed by one of the pros on ebay with a warranty, I would be that guy to attempt repair myself and screw it up.