2011 X3 35i Speedometer needle issue

F30RiK · 12-11-2018, 07:05 PM

Hi, my girld friend own a 2011 x3 with 60k miles and today the speedometer started having issues. I coded the digital speedometer to her car when she bought the car 2 years ago.

The actual speed is fine on the digital speedometer but the mechanical one doesn't work properly, when the car is not running the needle is stuck at 20kph and when she's driving it vary between 20 and 60 no matter what speed she's driving.

Someone had this problem before?

Wgosma · 12-12-2018, 09:58 AM

You might run a 'system test' on the instrument cluster as one check. Look here

Good luck/Bill

F30RiK · 12-12-2018, 10:29 AM

Hi, I fixed it!!!!

I used ista to do the system test and the speedometer freezed at ramdom speed and stayed there.

I used newtis to find infos how to remove the cluster (Super easy there's no screws only 2 metal clips that you need to pull).

I dismantled the cluster, there's 4 t10 torx screws and some clips.

I removed one electrical board to gain access to the back of the speedometer mechanism.

4 clips to pull and then you get access to the gearing inside.

I rotated the gears 180degrees and put back the needle at 0kph, closed the plastic cover and made the test again with ISTA.

It's working fine now, I used the car for the whole morning and no issues at all.

Took me 1h, dealer charges 2000$ to change the cluster and code it ?? wtf

F30RiK · 12-12-2018, 10:37 AM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHpx...kJUl_g&index=1

Wgosma · 12-12-2018, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by F30RiK

Hi, I fixed.

Took me 1h, dealer charges 2000$ to change the cluster and code it ?? wtf

Good work!

Unfortunately module/part replacement is typical Dealer service procedure, highly unlikely they would diagnose/troubleshoot and repair at sub-component level.

Riick · 12-12-2018, 11:06 AM

A dealer will not disassemble a cluster and rotate a gear 180 degrees, that is not a repair that is a bandaid for a failing part. The fix is to replace the cluster as a whole and that is the correct procedure that a dealership will follow.

F30RiK · 12-12-2018, 12:04 PM

I know they won't fix it like I did. I just can't believe they are charging 8 hours of labor to replace / code the cluster

I don't really mind if it's a bandaid fix, it's working now, by turning it 180 degrees I should be good for another 60-70k miles

F30ed · 12-14-2018, 01:28 PM

F30RiK, great job sir, very impressive by its simplicity!!
Were gears worn out of some sort? Why you rotated them half turn?

12-11-2018, 07:05 PM	#1
F30RiK Lieutenant 128 Rep 403 Posts Drives: 13' 335 xdrive M-sport 6 Speed Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: QC, LAval iTrader: (1)	2011 X3 35i Speedometer needle issue Hi, my girld friend own a 2011 x3 with 60k miles and today the speedometer started having issues. I coded the digital speedometer to her car when she bought the car 2 years ago. The actual speed is fine on the digital speedometer but the mechanical one doesn't work properly, when the car is not running the needle is stuck at 20kph and when she's driving it vary between 20 and 60 no matter what speed she's driving. Someone had this problem before?
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12-12-2018, 09:58 AM	#2
Wgosma Lieutenant Colonel 806 Rep 1,903 Posts Drives: 2012 F25 X3 28i (N52) Join Date: Sep 2018 Location: Northern Nevada iTrader: (0)	You might run a 'system test' on the instrument cluster as one check. Look here Good luck/Bill
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12-12-2018, 10:29 AM	#3
F30RiK Lieutenant 128 Rep 403 Posts Drives: 13' 335 xdrive M-sport 6 Speed Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: QC, LAval iTrader: (1)	Hi, I fixed it!!!! I used ista to do the system test and the speedometer freezed at ramdom speed and stayed there. I used newtis to find infos how to remove the cluster (Super easy there's no screws only 2 metal clips that you need to pull). I dismantled the cluster, there's 4 t10 torx screws and some clips. I removed one electrical board to gain access to the back of the speedometer mechanism. 4 clips to pull and then you get access to the gearing inside. I rotated the gears 180degrees and put back the needle at 0kph, closed the plastic cover and made the test again with ISTA. It's working fine now, I used the car for the whole morning and no issues at all. Took me 1h, dealer charges 2000$ to change the cluster and code it ?? wtf Last edited by F30RiK; 12-12-2018 at 12:05 PM..
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12-12-2018, 10:37 AM	#4
F30RiK Lieutenant 128 Rep 403 Posts Drives: 13' 335 xdrive M-sport 6 Speed Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: QC, LAval iTrader: (1)	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHpx...kJUl_g&index=1
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12-12-2018, 11:06 AM	#6
Riick Banned 136 Rep 818 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	A dealer will not disassemble a cluster and rotate a gear 180 degrees, that is not a repair that is a bandaid for a failing part. The fix is to replace the cluster as a whole and that is the correct procedure that a dealership will follow.
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12-12-2018, 12:04 PM	#7
F30RiK Lieutenant 128 Rep 403 Posts Drives: 13' 335 xdrive M-sport 6 Speed Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: QC, LAval iTrader: (1)	I know they won't fix it like I did. I just can't believe they are charging 8 hours of labor to replace / code the cluster I don't really mind if it's a bandaid fix, it's working now, by turning it 180 degrees I should be good for another 60-70k miles
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12-14-2018, 01:28 PM	#8
F30ed Second Lieutenant 71 Rep 230 Posts Drives: F30 328i, X3 35M Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Chicago iTrader: (0)	F30RiK, great job sir, very impressive by its simplicity!! Were gears worn out of some sort? Why you rotated them half turn?
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