ok here is the problem there is like a dot matrix style display on my dads e39 '97 540i and some of the dots are dimmer and some are brighter, any idea what this could be? here is what i mean. here are some pic, thanks for the help

 

Maybe cuz it's a BMW???? j/k I don't really know what woud cause that... Do the dim parts ever light up??? If they don't then maybe the back light for that "pixel" is going dead... Just a thought but i dunno... Latez

 

ok when i disconnect the battery for a long while and then reconnect, everything is back to normal and then after about an hour it will start to look like that again

 

hmmm.. sounds like something in the electronics, but i'm no BMW wiring expert....

 

bmw will probably charge him like $4000 to fix that. my mom's dash lights in her volvo went partially out and it was BIG BUCKS. I was exaggerating about the $4k, but still, BMW will butt rape you.

 

see those all day man. you need a new cluster. pretty expensive though. i would just live with it. even if you do get a new one it has to be coded so you dont get a manipulation dot.tell your dad to go to a bmw dealer and get his car certified pre owned. it will cost some loot, but it will extend his warranty to 100k. and im pretty sure the cpo warranty will cover a new cluster. good luck


[Modified by hondaeg5, 10:33 PM 12/23/2002]

 

thanks verymuch for the help hondaeg5 i will forward the info to my dad, i read somwhere that the e34 bmw's had the same problem but you could solder in some new transistors or something can the same be said for the e39? again for the help

 

install transistors? not that i have seen. all the clusters have that problem. in my 5 years with bmw all ive ever done was replace the cluster. glad i could be a help. dont get too many bmw questions on this board(lol)!