Is BMWNA still replacing instrument clusters? I just purchased a 97 540i with 130k on it and the pixels are half gone. Would I qualify for a replacement since I just bought the car? Just weighing my options before I send it to VDO. Also, is VDO the way to go if BMWNA won't do anything? Thanks.

I took mine apart and cleaned it. It worked great - for about a week. Now I'm back to where I was before. I emailed BMWNA last week. A rep. called me on Friday and said that they usually cover anywhere from 50%-100% of the cost to replace. He said he was turning the case over to someone who specializes with this problem and that they will call me back in a few days with an answer. 1997 540 with 75,000 miles, third owner, purchased one month ago.

I took mine apart and cleaned it. It worked great - for about a week. Now I'm back to where I was before. I emailed BMWNA last week. A rep. called me on Friday and said that they usually cover anywhere from 50%-100% of the cost to replace. He said he was turning the case over to someone who specializes with this problem and that they will call me back in a few days with an answer. 1997 540 with 75,000 miles, third owner, purchased one month ago.

Yeah I'd like to know what happens (since you're from PA too...). My Dad just bought a '97 540 with 83,000 miles. So many dead pixels. Post updates~

I've been on the phone a few times with a rep. from BMWNA a few weeks ago. Said he would get back to me in a few days with an answer. Didn't hear anything for about 2 weeks and thought all hope was lost. He called me back today and said that BMW is going to cover the cost of the cluster 100% and all I have to do is pay for labor which should be about $100 at my dealer. I thought this was a nice offer considering I just purchased the car, it is my first BMW, I am the third owner, it is 8 years old, and it has over 75,000 miles. I think it is definately worth it for anyone having the same problem to email BMWNA.

In case anyone is interested.

http://bimmer.roadfly.org/bmw/forums/e38/forum.php?postid=3427368&page=2

Haven't tried this yet but plan to in the near future....can't even read teh odometer anymore.

I bought my 540/6 two weeks ago and my pixels look like hell:

http://img237.imageshack.us/img237/2158/picture014640x480resized7dv.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

I can barely read the temp readout and the CD track is completely illegible.


I found this letter on the another link and it states that BMWNA will handle these in a "case by case" basis. Which I would interpret to mean there is no standard policy by BMW governing their action in reply to this issue. I guess it will depend on who you contact and how good of a mood you catch them in...

http://www.clineandfox.com/smallbmwletter.pdf