Digital Cluster

[Pondrew]

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

That brings back memories!!

[sars]

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.

I think the G29 display is possibly the worst thing about the car, why would you chose to upgrade the e85/86/89 analogue dials to the all digital format of the G29. I wish we had the ability to alter the display format like Audi have done previously on the TT. It’s only having the HUD that makes the current variant liveable.

[R.E92]

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.

I think the G29 display is possibly the worst thing about the car, why would you chose to upgrade the e85/86/89 analogue dials to the all digital format of the G29. I wish we had the ability to alter the display format like Audi have done previously on the TT. It’s only having the HUD that makes the current variant liveable.

Agreed. I'm by no means a technophobe but I think the digital clusters look crap, even when they come from the factory like that.

The problem with these Chinese eBay mods is that they age like milk. I'm yet to see a singe retrofitted Android head unit in a car that looks good or even works as well as the OE unit it replaced. Same goes for the retrofit LED craze. Having every single bulb on the car replaced with ultra bright Cree LEDs ages a car rather than making it look modern.

[B21]

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.

I think the G29 display is possibly the worst thing about the car, why would you chose to upgrade the e85/86/89 analogue dials to the all digital format of the G29. I wish we had the ability to alter the display format like Audi have done previously on the TT. It’s only having the HUD that makes the current variant liveable.

Agreed. I'm by no means a technophobe but I think the digital clusters look crap, even when they come from the factory like that.

The problem with these Chinese eBay mods is that they age like milk. I'm yet to see a singe retrofitted Android head unit in a car that looks good or even works as well as the OE unit it replaced. Same goes for the retrofit LED craze. Having every single bulb on the car replaced with ultra bright Cree LEDs ages a car rather than making it look modern.

Brutal…really brutal…

[Christopher72]

Agreed. I'm by no means a technophobe but I think the digital clusters look crap, even when they come from the factory like that.

I feel ya - I'm much more attracted to a hybrid dash that has aspects of both... same with hybrid watches... over the apple square screen watches. https://www.amazon.com/Fossil-Collider- ... 083YD6GYY/ I like dials... and I like screens.. both please.

[ProfCJJ]

I wanted to update everyone on this Chinese made digital dash.

I received it last week, I won’t go into huge detail here as I am trying to do some in depth testing and will put up a separate thread with my findings later, but in short:

1. The E9X version works straight out of the box in the E89. In that it really is plug and play - most (if not all) the functions I have tested so far seem to be reflected on the dash - but that’s not an exhaustive test at this stage, I’ll update that later.

2. The plastic shroud you get with the screen fits the E89 dash space PERFECTLY- its like it’s made to measure.

3. However, the screen does not go into the dash w/o needing to alter the inside plastic first. This is no different to the ID4Motion screen from the US - I would argue that this version will need less “alterations” as the US screen is perfectly rectangular whereas this Chinese version has the corners notched out.

4. I’m happy to make the alterations as long as a) they are not visible after the fact and b) I can put the “old” cluster in with no problems. It appears though that this is achievable (going on what ID4Motion say about their screen). I am doing this slowly so that I only remove the bare minimum needed - documenting as I go. (Cold weather is hampering efforts though as I’m working outside and it’s bloody freezing here!!)

5. I’ve managed to exchange quite a few messages with a sales person in China for this device - they are obviously keen to know this will work with E89 and I have already supplied them with (for example) images of E89 vehicles that could be integrated into the library of cars they use. I have also pointed out various spelling mistakes and pointed out the need for a “British English” language option as we don’t like using “tire” and “color” etc

6. I’ve paid regular price for this device and am not getting any kickbacks - but the guy in China is keen to point out that a group buy is more likely to result in changes being made as money talks!

7. I’m also following the route of looking at how “hackable” the device is - so that we could make changes w/o need to resort to our Chinese friends! In short it looks promising! It’s an embedded Linux product using the QT platform to produce the UI. There is a usb port that is used to enact an update on the device and that might be a route into the device. There is also a connector on the device that I am 99% sure is a UART (serial connection) which I am actively probing now, if successful this would provide another route into the system to make changes.

That’s all for now - feel free to ask any questions and I’ll answer them if I know the answer and if I need to test something I will if I can.

In the meantime I am continuing to try and get the screen to fit and attempting to gain access to the system.

[ProfCJJ]

In the meantime here are some random images:

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[Marcoose]

Did you have to butcher your cowling in order to make it fit ?

How’s the glare ?

Does it check tyre air age ?

[Pondrew]

Does it check tyre air age?

Probably!!! But only to the nearest nano-second

[markplant]

Top work and effort again

[Jollyjoiner]

Nice one. Looking forward to seeing it fully fitted and up and running to see what it would be like with real world usage.

[AnubisZed]

Been talking to Milo today, it's coming very soon
And here is the hardware, don't worry about the car image

[Marcoose]

Dave, I really hope there will be a special display for Sport+. Just the essentials in large and bright font. RPM, gear, speed, red zone (alert only), oil temperature (alert only), tyre pressure (alert only).

[mcbutler]

OK so I know it's been brought up before about replacing the current cluster with a digital version and the ID4Motion one has been posted here, along with it's hefty £1000 price tag, well we'll soon have access to a cheaper version that'll do, almost, the same thing.
So although it's not for the E89 cluster I've posted a photo of what one will look like (E89 version still in development at the moment). As you can see it has the ultra-modern BMW digital style to it and not a digital analogue look like the ID4Motion one (the modern style is available at more expense from ID4Motion!).
Price should be around $600 to $700, but is it something you'd like?

Oh and just for the techy's, it's NOT Android based but is using the Linux platform.

Love it, the E89 is looking dated now and this is in line with many modern vehicles.

[AnubisZed]

Right, so I have an update, I've been talking to Milo this week and he's said I'll be getting one of the first E89 specific versions off the production line for testing. I'll then make a video on installation and how I get on with it
So a couple of things to think about first....
This unit is fully Plug-n-Play, ie; there is no cutting of the binicle or any wires to fit this, it'll plug straight into the original cluster harness loom and screw straight in, fully replacing the original cluster.
You would be buying the full version, ie; no expensive add-ons for different specs. I know that you are mainly paying for different visuals on the iD4Motion cluster and some minor extra features. Also bear in mind that the photo I've posted above is the only theme that is available, so you can't change the look of the clocks (although Basic, Sport and Sport+ may look slightly different, I'm not sure)

So I've also been given a price, and that is $880, which is a bit higher then I was expecting, but we'll have to wait and see what it's like