E36 Instrument Gauge Cluster and Code Plug Swap
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- Опубликовано: 6 сен 2024
- I had trouble reading the odometer on my BMW 1997 328i as only half of the numbers were showing. I got another speedometer-gauge cluster from a junk yard and swapped them out. After swapping the cluster and the coding plug, the red "Tamper" light appeared under the word Miles. I went through the Test functions of the instrument cluster and did Test Function 9 which takes the internal EEPROM mileage information and overrides the cluster information to match thus turning off the red Tamper light. Here are the steps:
Gauge
You'll want to do everything for Test 9.
This works on all instrument clusters 1992-1999 E36 - 4 door/coupe/convertible/M3.
Step 1. Press and hold the mileage reset button.
Step 2. Put key into ignition switch and turn to position 1
Your LCD display will show something like this "tESt 01"
Step 3. Once "tESt 01" is shown, let go of reset button and the Instrument Cluster will go through some test cycles. Numbers will be shown and here's what they mean:
1st display: BMW PART NUMBER (6 digits)
2nd display: CODE NUMBER (5 digits) Internal Coding Plug #
3rd display: K NUMBER (4 digits)
4th display: CHASSIS NUMBER (5 digits) this is part of your VIN
5th display: SOFTWARE VERSION (3 digits)
6th display: REVISION INDEX (2 digits) Hardware #
After all 6 displays are finished, an analog gauge test will be performed.
The self-test is canceled by switching the ignition off or to position 2
Instrument cluster tests 1-15
1995 - 1998 (99) 318ti
1996 - 2000? Z3
1997 - 1999 E36 4dr/coupe/convertible/M3
NOTE:
*Test functions 1-4 are unlocked tests and can be called up at any time for display.
*Test functions 5-14 are locked and require unlocking the test mode before they can be displayed.
*Test functions 2-14 can be selected at any time when the cluster is unlocked, even when vehicle is moving.
*Test function 15 is the lock/unlock function.
Step 1: Press and hold the mileage reset button.
Step 2: Put key into ignition switch and turn to position 1. Your LCD display will show something like this "tESt 01"
Step 3: You will need to unlock the test function first so when the LCD. Display shows "tESt 01," press the reset button till you get to "tESt 15." Once you're on test 15 press, and hold the reset button for a few seconds until it displays "off." Now you can cycle through the test features. Here they are as they follow:
Test 1: Instrument self test
Test 2: Engine Data - This display is an "engine factor" value that is stored in the coding plug. The instrument cluster processor uses this factor in addition to the "TD" signal from the DME control module to process and display tachometer RPM based on the engine installed. For EXAMPLE:
*ENGINE FACTOR 2 = 4 CYLINDER
*ENGINE FACTOR 3 = 6 CYLINDER
*ENGINE FACTOR 4 = 8 CYLINDER
Test 3: SI elapsed distance - the total mileage in kilometer since the last reset. Which service is due at the next inspection (OIL SERVICE or INSPECTION)
Test 4: SI elapsed days - no value for US vehicles. Relates to Euro annual inspections.
Test 5: SI evaluation factor - for engine speed and temperature thresholds being passed.
Display:
n = 0 or 1. Engine speed (over-rev)
t = 0 or 1. Engine temp.
NOTE: "n0" means that you hit the maximum threshold for engine speed and "t1" means you overheated the engine. I found out from my instructor that this test 5 is false due to software related problems.
Test 6: Fuel Level and coolant temp. - Display of hexadecimal codes in relation to gauge position.
Fuel gauge --------- Hex value
A (empty)------------- 0d
End of reserve-------- 37
B------------------------ 54
C------------------------ 90
D------------------------ c4
E (full)------------------ f0
Engine temp. ----- Hex Value
A----------------------- ce
B----------------------- 6d
C----------------------- 5c
D (center)------------ 4f-23
E----------------------- 1e
F----------------------- 18
Test 7: Engine speed (Digital Tach)- display of current engine speed
Test 8: Road speed - display of current road speed in km/h
Test 9 Distance reading - this allows the total stored mileage to be updated if one of the storage components has to be replaced. This test step will be used if the manipulation dot is illuminated in the cluster display. This display will show the component with the lower mileage. For example: Display of 012654 l indicates that the mileage in the internal EEPROM is lower than the mileage stored in the coding plug. Display of 000325 E indicates that the mileage in external coding plug is lower than the total mileage stored in the internal EEPROM. Pressing the reset button for 4 seconds will over write the lower mileage with the higher mileage and cancel the manipulation dot. The SI data will also be transferred at the same time.
Test 10: Status bits (input signals) - the status of digital inputs to the cluster are displayed as 0 or 1.
Display: 0 = input low, 1 = input high.
to fix the problem on the odometer the only thing you have to do is resolder the pins of the display. I did mine a few weeks ago and works fine
You should do a youtube video for that. I have the same problem as this guy did where only half the numbers show up.
Here are a couple of links with pictures to show one way it is done:
www.repairdynamics.com/Instrument_cluster_repair.pdf
sites.google.com/site/josephshearersprofessionalsite/in-the-news/bmwe36odometerfix
@@MrHavingfun68 Me too man, I have the same problem, only half numbers!
Could you fix yours?
right on cuz! good job. I need a cluster for my truck and they don't have one here in Fresno junk yards.
Hi. What if i put in an virgin coding plug? Would mileage set to zero?
Is there a way to retreve old mileage back after doing step 9. My mileage was significantly lower than the other one and i was told by someone else that doing the reset it would keep my original mileage but it still shows the higher one but theres no red dot..
Hey, Joshua. So you took the old cluster out, removed the code plug, placed that original code plug into the new cluster that has higher mileage, installed it, and there is no red dot? I have heard that this could happen, but I believe doing step 9 will fix that. If not, I would probably swap all back to the original, maybe do step 9, and start over again. Let me know if it works. 😃👍
If I get a new speedometer, and a new code plug, for a M3 build I'm doing, How do I code it? With a PC?
I haven't seen or heard of being able to use a PC to program a new code plug. I believe you could install the new cluster and the new code plug and follow the procedures to program the new code plug
Hey I have a 1996 328is and all my needles and lcd screen stopped working which were all working perfectly the day before . And the thing is the back lights and and all the indicator lights still work but gas, speedo, engine temp, rpm etc dont move at all. I checked all the fuses they seem ok do you think its just burnt out or I just need to re solder. Any advice would be appreciated thank you!
Have you done any work on it recently like changing bulbs? Sometimes the wire loom that goes to the trunk lid can have broken wires that cause issues. Also, run a Cluster Test: ruclips.net/video/wFANuPz9Lkw/видео.html
Steps:
1. Put the key into the ignition switch but Key off (engine off)
2. Push and hold the Mileage reset button
3. Turn the key to ignition switch position 1 (engine off) when numbers are shown in the LCD display
4. Release the reset button and the instrument cluster will run some test
In a worse case scenario, if you verified the fuses, the cluster board may be going/bad. You would then need another cluster to swap in and do as I did in the video.
i have the same problem on my 325is did u just swap it to another one?
is it possible somehow to overwrite the higher value (used instrument cluster from scrapyard) with the lower value (coding plug)? i want to swap my original one because i do not have revolution gauge in it, but the "new" instrument cluster has +60k km in it...
In my research, it can't be done. You can't go from a lower value cluster to a higher value cluster. Rewriting the value will keep the higher mileage. The cluster you get from a scrapyard must have a lower mileage than your original.
I've just swapped my instrument gauge cluster to an M3 cluster gauge, I am living in Asia which apparently uses KM instead of miles on the odometer.. Is it possible to switch the code plug from my old gauge cluster (km) to the new one (miles)? will the odometer change to KM automatically after the code plug switch or do I have to do some kind of procedure to do so? any advise regarding this issue will be much appreciated..
Thank you very much
I'm really not sure. This may need to be done at the dealer. What did your car say in kms before the swap and what does it say now that you have swapped them? Is it in Miles or KMs? Did the tamper light come on? It's the eeprom (EEPROM stands for Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory) in the cluster that stores the mileage as well as the code plug. When the eeprom and the code plug don't match, then the tamper light comes on. The eeprom rewrites the code plug when you do Test 09 under the description. I'm not saying it will work. If they don't match or the tamper light is on, maybe try Test 9. Do this at your own risk You may also have to deal with the MPGs readout or the oil temp read out when you do this swap. www.318ti.org/forum/showthread.php?t=17274
Dumb question but I have a 93 325is manual with dead pixels. I found a cluster from one thats the same year but the last 3 part numbers don't match does that matter?
What part numbers are your original and the one you found? Thx.
@@23tlujan23 62118357778 original
The one I found 62118375052. Last 4 numbers are different
I believe the original one is OBDI(no code plug) and the one you found is OBDII (has code plug). Hopefully it's from the same engine size. The 4 cyl vs 6 cyl won't swap as RPM gauge will be off. You won't hurt anything by trying it. You may get ABS light and may need to add an adapter cable. Here's a good thread: www.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?2088880-Instument-cluster-compatibility
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Can i change this if i swapped m52b28 from m44b19. Cluster will work?
The concern is that I believe if the M44B19 is a 4 cylinder and the M52b28 is from a 6 cylinder then the RPMs will be off. Also, if the M44B19 is an OBD I then you will have issues as I think the M52B28 is an OBD II. Here's a link to some good info: www.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?1163337-Ultimate-4-Cylinder-to-6-Cylinder-Swap-Thread
It appears to be a good solution; my problem is instrument panel goes blank. I want to switch the coding chip, too. Are all your instruments working now that you have switched it and have had some time on it? Also, did you take off your steering wheel first or wedge it out?
John, all of my instruments are still working and have not had any issues. I have taken it off both ways by removing the wheel and wedging it out. I wedged it out by turning the key to the accessory position and then pulling the panel forward and turning the wheel to the left or right to help pull it out. I placed a towel over the top of the steering wheel so if the panel touched this during the process it wouldn't scratch. Thanks and good luck!
Thanks for your reply.
I had sent a note about this to the folks at Pelican Parts and the owner sent back a note suggesting it was, many times, in the trunk lid.
Any thoughts along those lines?
Best regards,
John Carter
That could be a problem as well. If you search E36 Trunk Wiring you will see many articles and some videos on wires becoming broken in the harness. Mine wasn't going black like yours. Just missing pixels. Pelican has an article on trunk wiring harness issues with pics. forums.pelicanparts.com/101-projects-discussion-forum-bmw-3-series/308129-e36-owners-check-your-trunk-wiring.htmlThanks
would the Code Plug swap work from a cluster in miles to a cluster in km?
Unfortunately it won't. If the code plug is from a cluster with miles and you swap it in a cluster that's in kms, it will still show miles.
Hello. Did you test your cluster in the car before changing the coding plug? I have ordered a lower milage cluster to replace my dead higher milage cluster. But some forums say the milage arent stored in the coding plug?
Yes. That's how I knew the cluster had lower mileage. I got it at a junkyard then connected it in my car to make sure it had a lower mileage. Please review my Description to see how to reset the tamper light. Thanks.
Thank you for the quick answer. The junkyard have already checked the mileage so I will just swap the code plug right away. Should I turn the key to position 1 to read the mileage after that or should i start with running the test cycle where it checks all functions? Some say this test is what sets the mileage to the original. I must say there is a lot of conflicting answers regarding the e36 cluster swap, but hopefully this will work! Thank you for the help!
After swapping the code plug you can check it at position 1. It should show your correct mileage, but with the tamper light on just like in the video. Then do the Test 09 to remove the tamper light.
Looking forward to testing this, thanks. I assume you have a OBD2 car if you are from the US? Any clue if this will work when my car is OBD1? Europe got OBD2 later in the 2000s, so some say this might be a problem in regards to the cluster won't override lower mileage. I have no clue why though. I do have the same coding plug as you in my faulty cluster.
I have a 1997 1.9L (4cyl) z3 and bought a cluster from a 2000 2.3L (6cyl) everything works but the RPM's , Would this method resolve that ? Thanks for all the info!
Hello. doing thus won't help the tach. The problem may be that the cluster from the 2000 6 cyl has internals like an e46. Also, going from a 4 cyl cluster to a 6 cyl cluster could be problematic in that the cluster is looking for a signal from a 6 cyl and can't read the 4 cyl info from the ecu. In reading forums about 2000+ Z3s, there are cold solder problems on the internals that cause the tach to read intermittently. That is something you could check. I hope this info helps. You may need to find a cluster from 96-98 4 cyl to swap with. Thanks.
So "Test 2" wouldnt fix that ? I was hoping itd find the dme and the 4cyl info
I was thinking more compatibility and functionality. BUT, I would try Test 2 to see what it is reading and change it to 4 cyl. If the tach doesn't respond, it may be compatibility or cold solder issue. Let me know how it goes. Thanks.
Will try it soon when I get home , worse case I just swap out the LCD and chrome rings into mine lol
Mine doesn't have a code plug??
Hi! Is your BMW an E36? I'm not sure about other BMWs code plugs.What year and model is yours? Thanks
@@23tlujan23 yeah E36 328i 1995
@@One46ix It's possible it doesn't if it's an OBDI car. If you have the instrument cluster out, do you have a model number on it? Starts with an 8. should be a tag on it. Also, what are the last 7 digits of your VIN so I can look up to see if it has one. Thanks
@@23tlujan23 yeah I've got it out and there isn't a port for it and I don't believe they are the original clocks perhaps it's because I'm in the UK
@@One46ix I'm sorry this didn't work for you. Hopefully you can figure it out. Lots of good info on bimmerforums.com and bmwfanatics.com and try realoem.com for part numbers. Thanks
How do you do the reset
Hello. I have attached the full instructions under the description of the video. They should be easy to follow. Thanks!
Do you need to use the same part number guage cluster?
If you're doing this it would need to be an OBDII cluster. What swap are you wanting to do? What are the part numbers? I believe this swap can be done with any 95-98 325i 328i cluster.
@@23tlujan23 its an e36 325is, my original part number is 616 058 3105. I bought one online and its part number is 616 058 3223 with less mileage. Will this one I bought online work?
Can you verify they both have a code plugs? I believe the one you bought is for a 318i and it won't work. There's a difference between 4cyl and 6 cyl in the cluster as well.
@@23tlujan23 both do have the code plug on the left. I can get the original part number, just need to spend another $150 at my local scrap yard . Think I'll just get that, it has 269000km. My original has 300000km. So I will not spend any time to swap the code plug.
That makes sense. I wish you luck. Thanks for watching.
Was your old cluster doing what mine is:
ruclips.net/video/AtKRCtC6mr4/видео.html
I am going to try to fix mine as well.
Yes. Basically the solder on the display is not making good contact anymore. There is a way to cut open the back and reflow solder on it. There is a write up on that. The way I did it was just easier.
Here are a couple of links with pictures to show one way it is done:
www.repairdynamics.com/Instrument_cluster_repair.pdf
sites.google.com/site/josephshearersprofessionalsite/in-the-news/bmwe36odometerfix
@@23tlujan23 Thank you soooo much! The first link did not work, but the second one did and it has the pdf in that site.
@@23tlujan23 I just saw this video (although I don't understand German) It seems that here could be another reason besides the cold soldering for this intermittent odometer lighting. I am not sure if they simply replaced that LCD or taken it off and back on again! I appreciate if you can advise on this since I don't want to re-solder the cold joints only find out that there is another issue with this LCD screen.
ruclips.net/video/1If2qTyfVIA/видео.html
That was a weird video. Not sure either how they fixed it. Because you say you tap on it and it comes on sometimes, that's what leads me to believe it's a cold solder issue. You could check the light bulbs first as that is the easiest thing They are the two small light brown light holders on the back of the cluster. If you open up the cluster and hook it back up to the car and press on the front of that display and if it lights up, it is most likely cold solder issue. Or, remove the plate and stick it back on and plug it in to see if it lights up. Here are a couple of other videos showing how to break it down all the way and what the cold solder looks like.
facebook.com/BavtekInc/videos/1068793229893562/
ruclips.net/video/qgpqAkXYhaU/видео.html
Let me know what happens as I'm invested now. :) Thx