E85 Instrument Cluster beeping when turned off

[tkvoice]

My 2003 z4 when I turn it off and take the key out of the ignition sometimes beeps continuously. I have to disconnect battery to get it to stop.

I know others experience the same problem and wondering how you fixed it.

I can think of two ways
1) install a hidden switch on the power to the instrument cluster that can be toggled when it does this.
2) Install v7.1+ firmware however I don't know where to find firmware download. Not sure if this will work as I got this info from AI search. Does anyone know?

This is the AI search results:

Official BMW TSB: Instrument Cluster Firmware Fault (E85 Z4)
TSB Number: SIB 62 07 06

Symptom:
- A warning gong/beep sounds continuously
- Happens with engine on or off
- No warning lights or messages
- Beeping may continue even after removing the key

Cause:
- Software fault in the instrument cluster (IKE)

Official BMW Fix:
- Replace the instrument cluster with one running software version 7.1 or higher

 

[tkvoice]

Also I understand that instrument clusters are slightly different between manual and automatic transmission.

Mine is manual 2.5i with 5-speed

 

[bigwinn]

I’d swap the cluster to see if that solves the issue

One screw-

Albeit you will have a tamper dot until you reprogram

Do you know anyone who can lend you one?

 

[tkvoice]

No
But I could buy one from eBay.
Problem buying is that these eBay listings don't tell you if it's for a manual or automatic....and never tell you what firmware version is installed.

Is there any way to know using pictures they post? Maybe someone with an automatic can post a picture showing where the gear indication is on the cluster?

 

[TriggerFish]

It looks like an extra LCD in the middle (from a Google image search)

They will include the SW on the sticker. It's not a given for the firmware, but the higher, the later the version will be. I don't actually know the relationship between BMW SW numbers and firmware, but I guess the firmware could have been updated anyway, so it's more a minimum level?

 

[tkvoice]

Nice thanks

I do see on some eBay listings the sticker on the back does show version

 

[ivanchen1211]

Get a KDCAN cable, a laptop, install inpa software set, use ncsexpert to default coding your kombi (cluster)

There's no kombi firmware from BMW daten files so there's no way you can update it. Try default coding it first.

 

[tkvoice]

Okay I picked up a cable and got INPA up and running.

I couldn't see any modules with key turned to run with engine off. Once I started the car I could see engine, DCS and cluster.

The LCM was unresponsive and a few others too

 

[tkvoice]

Here is what the Cluster error report showed:

 

[tkvoice]

and here is the list of modules that are unresponsive (see PDF)

 

[smorris_12]

For over I think the first error is spot on; the kBus line is shorted to ground which will stop anything talking to you. It's probably a duff module dragging the line down. I think it's less likely that it's damaged wiring fault shorting to the chassis (I think I've seen broken kBus wiring before on here so that a few modules disappear but I don't think I've seen shorted to ground.)

I'm afraid you're rather reduced to disconnecting modules and pulling up carpet to look at looms to find the culprit.

 

[tkvoice]

Does the car need to started to use INPA? As I am going through a lot of gas idling and need to place the car outside. It would be nice to be in the heated garage working on this.

 

[tkvoice]

Looking over the electrical drawings it shows that the modules I have talking together are on their own network (2-wire hi-speed CAN bus) and the modules that are showing "Not Responsive" are on another network (1-wire lo-speed K-BUS). Do I need to do something different within INPA to look at the K-BUS? There is a slider switch on my K+DCAN cable. It has 4 settings does this need to be set correctly to get on the K-BUS ? No instructions came with the cable.

 

[smorris_12]

You only need stage II ignition on to talk to the car.

The cables with the slide switch select between CAN and KBUS though I have no idea which position is which.

To be honest, the system is already telling you there's a problem on the kBus line and, being a star topology network, with the line grounded nothing will be able to talk. I presume that's why it beeps - to tell a BMW tech it can't communicate any other way!

 

[tkvoice]

Solved
I found the problem. My Airbag module under the rear center console was corroded really bad. Unplugged it and all the other k-bus modules started to talk again.

Turns out the instrument cluster is also the gateway to the k-bus, so the switched on the ODB K/D CAN cable don't do anything for my car.

Cleaning the airbag connecter was not enough. I had to remove it from the car, open it up and clean all the components on the board. I used CRC QD electric cleaner and a toothbrush.Put it all back together and all is fine.