Mileage display

[richie535]

Hello

I have a 1989 535ise manual 139,000 and still smooth

My problem is that the mileage display now reads 888888 permanently, and the fuel gauge shows empty and temperature gauge dosen't work.

BMW garage said it is possibly the pcb, a common fault usually repaired under warranty, £400.00 plus labour, not worth it on a sixteen year old car.

Any ideas anyone?

Thanks

Richard

[tazman]

Hi Richard

sounds like your instument cluster capacitors needs replacement. Here is a good article that explains how to do it.
http://www.bmwe34.net/e34main/maintenance/electrical/capacitors.htm

[richie535]

Hi Tazman

Thanks for that link, it was really helpfull.

only one question, which bits do you get from dealers and which from say radio shack?

[tazman]

the capacitors are not expensive at all. a buck or 2 max. will be cheaper in radio shack. All you need is the right capacitence. hope this helps

[richie535]

the capacitors are not expensive at all. a buck or 2 max. will be cheaper in radio shack. All you need is the right capacitence. hope this helps

You can only get bulbs from bm dealer, yes?

Thanks

Richard

[tazman]

There are lot of online stores that sell bulbs. Some of the bulbs might be cheaper at dealers. ie: the 1.2 watt and the 3 watts one. I found that the 1.5 watts are expensive at the dealer in Toronto. In your cluster there are about 13/15 1.2 watt bulbs based on the year of your car, 6 1.5 watt bulb and 3 3 watt bulb. They can cost you from a $2 to $5 each.

[shogun]

Best is you open the cluster first, because there are different caps inside depending on the color of the backplate, grey, white, blue.

I have replaced on the grey one the caps with 2 47mF 40 Volt, and 3 220mF 16 Volt, but instead of 220mF 16 V I have installed 35Volt .
Just pay attention to the diameter of the caps and the height. Otherwise the won't fit.
Max dia. of 10mm is o.k. and height not more than 16mm.
The "legs" should be 5 mm apart, not2,5mm!
Here another instruction
http://www.howtobmw.com/capacitor.htm

If possible buy some with high temp up to 105° Celsius, they last longer, otherwise they dry out again fast.

Some clusters I also have instead of the 47mF also 22mF installed.

[richie535]

thanks for that link, the info is priceless.

[Alexlind123]

i ordered my caps form allelectronics.

[richie535]

Hi

Thanks for the name of the shop, but i think i will try and find a uk supplier, we have a company called maplin's over here, there are not bad, i thought that these caps may only be available in the usa.

Thanks

[richie535]

Hi all

Thanks for all your advice in sorting out my flashing display, i pulled the instrument cluster out today, i then went straight to radio shack and asked for the capacitors, he said, i will have to order them and, they will be instore for collection by saturday.

Got back home and i had to refit the instrument cluster into the car dashboard again, plugged in all four connectors and pushed it all into place, then the odometer had stopped flashing and all my service lights had come back on, the problem must have been a loose connector, very pleased with that result!