Donor Binnacle for 3.0 Si E85

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pattyclfly1

Member
I've had problems with my dash lighting up like a Christmas tree sporadically. Fortunately it's not affecting the car's driving and I've been advised that it can be sorted but I need to find a donor binnacle to get it done. I've been looking on ebay but no luck to date and made enquiries of a couple of breakers but no luck so far. Has anyone experienced anything similar and can people recommend everywhere I could look? I've got part number and binnacle reference.
 
Who told you that?

You must get the car plugged into Carly or get some sort of Diagnostics done then work through the error codes.

Mileage?
Service History?
Error codes?
 
Sporadically? So they turn on and off again? What lights turn on?
Highly unlikely the problem is with the binnacle? i.e. the only lights a binnacle will affect on the instrument cluster are the indicators?
 
When was the battery changed? Is it getting a charge and holding it?

These cars act strange when the battery is on the way out so might be worth starting there then getting the error codes read.
 
Hi. it's been worked through on diagnostics and all faults cleared. When it happens, all the lights on the dash come on momentarily and then all lights/dials go off altogether for a moment then all returns to normal. Binnacle was been sent off to ACtronics who advised they can repair if a matching 'donor' dash can be obtained. Mileage of car is only 15000 so I'm very keen to keep the original if possible.
 
skelters said:
When was the battery changed? Is it getting a charge and holding it?

These cars act strange when the battery is on the way out so might be worth starting there then getting the error codes read.
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Hi Skelters. We tried that - put new battery on to no avail.
 
That's certainly a strange one.

Think there might have been something similar years ago on here. Maybe it's the same car!
 
Has the ECU been reprogrammed by any chance?

Has there been any water damage maybe drowning the electrics etc. under the seats?

What are the codes showing after its lit up like a Christmas tree again?

Not convinced it's the binnacle as they don't seem to fail.
 
skelters said:
That's certainly a strange one.

Think there might have been something similar years ago on here. Maybe it's the same car!
Click to expand...
Probably me! The issue surfaced a while ago but as it's a 2nd car and it's performance isn't affected at all, I've been looking for a binnacle 'on and off'. My new year's resolution is to get it sorted once and for all ready for spring/summer.
 
skelters said:
Has the ECU been reprogrammed by any chance?

Has there been any water damage maybe drowning the electrics etc. under the seats?

What are the codes showing after its lit up like a Christmas tree again?

Not convinced it's the binnacle as they don't seem to fail.
Click to expand...
Car was checked for water everywhere inc under seats and nothing. Not sure about ECU or what codes showing after lit up again. Would need to check.
 
Have you checked the voltage going to the battery as the 3 Series had a similar issue.

[youtube]EekmSKkEmIs[/youtube]
 
You'll need this one too....

How to enter hidden menu in BMW Z4 (E85 E86) & X3 (E83) service test mode instrument cluster
[youtube]MZY90qwgIEY[/youtube]
 
Some good links there :thumbsup:
If you go on eBay, Quary Motors is good and isn’t extortionate. Other members have had the same experience :)

https://ebay.co.uk/usr/quarrymotors
 
I know it's not a BMW, but my sons Transit connect was doing a similar thing. The ignition lights would flash around, the speedo and rev counter would work then stop. The headlights used to go dim then bright.
We had it checked and found the battery was over charging, new alternator and still the same thing ??
I then read about this problem and it turned out to be a wire/lead that runs from the alternator to the battery, I checked it and found it had been repaired before (badly) and taped up. When I removed the tape, the wires fell apart. New lead and now run lovely
Worth bearing in mind :)
 
firebobby said:
I know it's not a BMW, but my sons Transit connect was doing a similar thing. The ignition lights would flash around, the speedo and rev counter would work then stop. The headlights used to go dim then bright.
We had it checked and found the battery was over charging, new alternator and still the same thing ??
I then read about this problem and it turned out to be a wire/lead that runs from the alternator to the battery, I checked it and found it had been repaired before (badly) and taped up. When I removed the tape, the wires fell apart. New lead and now run lovely
Worth bearing in mind :)
Click to expand...

There's similar info in the E90 post I put up earlier.
 
Thanks again all. I'm going to contact my BMW guy and see if he can pick the bones out of all this - will update when the car's been looked at. In the meantime, if anyone has anything to add, please feel free!
 
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