Digital Cluster

[AnubisZed]

.......
Any specific questions then please post below and I'll pass these on.
Here's a few of mine that I'll send him tomorrow,

The M logo, can it be removed?

A - UI and font and themes customer can`t change

Is it changeable from KPH to MPH?

A = Of course

Will it display Cruise Control info?

A - Yes,

Quite a few setting from the BC stalk are displayed and adjusted through the cluster, can these still be done this way?

A - All Cluster controled by OEM buttons

When changing from Normal to Sport, to Sport+ will this be displayed on the screen, as it does now?

A - Yes, Can change to sports mode same as OME sports

Looks good and so easy to change.
Things to change, TIRE, COLOR, STRATUP
The STRATUP instead of STARTUP I think would annoy me.

A - Yes, lol, But change to uk English, USA not like it.
My reply - More people speak UK English in the world than US English we invented the language.
Maybe another option in the language settings, US English or Proper English
A - UK English fine

[AnubisZed]

Other questions worth asking: is it running Automotive Grade Linux, and what hardware/cpu is it running on?

I’ve been reading up on Linux in automotive applications and there are standards to do with “fail safe” etc - I wonder how much these standards have been adhered to??

I’m struggling to comprehend how some Chinese coders / copies of other peoples code will have done a structured assessment of likely failure modes and produced redundant code to ensure continuity….

Given the likely market size , the type of user I’d think there will be close to zippo chance of any relevant post product customisation..

All IMHO…

OK so I've sent him this info and his reply was....

"1gb RAM 16gb ROM"

313468772_709334943461135_5942817836284516632_n.jpg (66.45 KiB) Viewed 693 times

Me - Is the Linux the Automotive grade version?
A - no，cannot automotive grade. upgrade by USB, it come with a USB
Me - So, if its not automotive grade, then what happens if something goes wrong?
A - use USB upgrade. usually no need upgrade. it's very stable
Me - I'm not up on what the difference is between standard Linux and Automotive Linux, but as he has asked the question and looked it up already, if it is supposed to be Automotive grade for a reason then surely it should be for safety reasons.

No response.

Sorry guys, but I'm getting ready to walk away from this. It's starting to look like something that'll do the job, in a fancy way but then that's it.
This last questiong has me worried, if there should be a latent redundency built-in then so be it, but this obviousley doesn't have it.
I'm trying my hardest to get him to send me one as soon as they have one available so I can install it and give it a real-world test to give an honest opinion. I'm being 100% up front with you all, I'm not paying £600 for something that is limited and doesn't do at least everything my current one can do. A 1 minute video doesn't cut it, I need hard evidence of it doing what it's supposed to do, before I can recommend it.

I will keep you all informed just as soon as I have some more info

[B21]

Good research work !

Having 'suffered' from a number of poorly coded Chinese products I share your concerns..several have hard coded US / metric units /language which you are stuck with..

I keep trying to like the ID 4 version..

https://id4motion.shop/collections/digi ... al-cluster

But unless you desperately want a change of dial style its (to me) not compelling especially with the butchery you have to do..

I see from a Youtube that the ID4 version has some lag in certain modes..

You don't see many broken E89 instrument clusters..

Carry on researching..

To be fair, a lot of things that would make these things nicer, like adding support for navigation instructions, media choices etc are all limited by the original and out of date / not supported code in the old OE boxes...

[AnubisZed]

The thing is I've only just retrofitted a cluster with the OE cruise control (ie; the LED's around the speedo) in mine so even if I do end up with one for testing I may not actually keep it in there.

I am concerned about the fact that they've made a cluster to look like a new BMW but not considered that different people may want different styles, and for the sake of a bit of built-in customisation they may loose a lot of sales. ID4Motion give you something to start with and the option for change, all be it at an extra cost.

[ProfCJJ]

Other questions worth asking: is it running Automotive Grade Linux, and what hardware/cpu is it running on?

I’ve been reading up on Linux in automotive applications and there are standards to do with “fail safe” etc - I wonder how much these standards have been adhered to??

I’m struggling to comprehend how some Chinese coders / copies of other peoples code will have done a structured assessment of likely failure modes and produced redundant code to ensure continuity….

Given the likely market size , the type of user I’d think there will be close to zippo chance of any relevant post product customisation..

All IMHO…

OK so I've sent him this info and his reply was....

"1gb RAM 16gb ROM"
313468772_709334943461135_5942817836284516632_n.jpg

Me - Is the Linux the Automotive grade version?
A - no，cannot automotive grade. upgrade by USB, it come with a USB
Me - So, if its not automotive grade, then what happens if something goes wrong?
A - use USB upgrade. usually no need upgrade. it's very stable
Me - I'm not up on what the difference is between standard Linux and Automotive Linux, but as he has asked the question and looked it up already, if it is supposed to be Automotive grade for a reason then surely it should be for safety reasons.

No response.

Sorry guys, but I'm getting ready to walk away from this. It's starting to look like something that'll do the job, in a fancy way but then that's it.
This last questiong has me worried, if there should be a latent redundency built-in then so be it, but this obviousley doesn't have it.
I'm trying my hardest to get him to send me one as soon as they have one available so I can install it and give it a real-world test to give an honest opinion. I'm being 100% up front with you all, I'm not paying £600 for something that is limited and doesn't do at least everything my current one can do. A 1 minute video doesn't cut it, I need hard evidence of it doing what it's supposed to do, before I can recommend it.

I will keep you all informed just as soon as I have some more info

Thanks for the due diligence. I am under no illusions that this will be all tightly sewn up and perfect, but sometimes the answers you get to questions put tells you loads …

One thing I don’t like is the use of Serif Fonts (such as Times Roman) and the lack of customisation makes it less appealing …

[B21]

I’m an Arial man myself

[ProfCJJ]

Stumbled across this review today…

https://youtu.be/CNdhQmSG2ZQ

[B21]

Stumbled across this review today…

https://youtu.be/CNdhQmSG2ZQ

[AnubisZed]

Good video and nice review

[Marcoose]

Nice video find.

The track mode seems interesting. Very simple, IMO. But the tach red line at the upper side is still a nuisance.

And I wonder what the display is like in the sun. Hopefully it’s not like the iDrive display.

[ProfCJJ]

I've bitten the bullet - I just ordered one to see if it will work - watch this space.

They don't know if it will work with the E89 but I reckon if it doesn't I can sell it on and at least get my money back.

I suspect it will probably work "electronically" but the issues I expect to be in fitment - we will see ...

[B21]

I've bitten the bullet - I just ordered one to see if it will work - watch this space.

They don't know if it will work with the E89 but I reckon if it doesn't I can sell it on and at least get my money back.

I suspect it will probably work "electronically" but the issues I expect to be in fitment - we will see ...

Look forward to seeing how you get on..good to have pioneers on the Forum

[Pondrew]

good to have pioneers on the Forum

Always been a Panasonic man myself!

I just don't get all this!
If you want a 2022 digital 'computer game' instrument cluster, why not just buy a G29? Or any other G series BM?

For me it's like buying an Austin Seven and then turbocharging it. Sort of misses the point.

[ProfCJJ]

good to have pioneers on the Forum

Always been a Panasonic man myself!

I just don't get all this!
If you want a 2022 digital 'computer game' instrument cluster, why not just buy a G29? Or any other G series BM?

For me it's like buying an Austin Seven and then turbocharging it. Sort of misses the point.

Couple of reasons …. “The challenge” and (more importantly) I don’t have the do$h for a G29, so retrofitting is the way for me.

As I’ve said before though - we all have our own tastes, ideas and ways of doing things, so it would be a boring place if we all thought the same eh?!

[AnubisZed]

For me it's like buying an Austin Seven and then turbocharging it. Sort of misses the point.

Nah, you need some Carlos Fandango wheels on there but then it should really be a Ford Anglia...
https://youtu.be/nqqZ28m8uCo