I just got the cluster,.... curious if it'll work or if anybody has done the swap before. do the rpm lights work? thanks

i guess it has been asked before......

i hv heard that the rpms and speed won't be reading correctly and those shifting lights won't work....and some other problems....

from what ive read around, its not compatible with 6cyl e39's or e39's with the "low" cluster... (i still dont know what designates one low or high).

what i did read was that if it was going to be compatible with an e39 it would be with an 8cyl 6spd one like my 03 540. i would just like to know for sure from someone whos done swap already

from what ive read around, its not compatible with 6cyl e39's or e39's with the "low" cluster... (i still dont know what designates one low or high).

what i did read was that if it was going to be compatible with an e39 it would be with an 8cyl 6spd one like my 03 540. i would just like to know for sure from someone whos done swap already

Let me preface my post by saying I never installed an M5 speedo, but read all about them & play one on TV.

The speedo's odometer reading can update mileage registers in your keys, immobilizer and light modules & this change can not be undone with BMW shop equipment. This will black-ball your car for future trade-in and likely void any warranty as you will get a tamper light. Resale value is severely impacted by tamper. Somebody elses VIN number & car specs are burned into it's memory.

BMW Dealers & reputable premium car dealers with diagnostic tools will easily detect tamper and avoid your car like the plague. A dealer will not undo the mess.

Not a wise move, IMO.

The whizbang added features on the M5 cluster are 100% non-functional when retrofitting to 540i/6. In addition, be advised that a dealer can not reprogram a used speedo to improve compatibility or offer added functionality. These are write-once gizmos to minimize tamper opportunities. This is precisely why BMW is sole-source for speedos. Speedo shops can repair your speedo, but they can not properly recycle/reprogram salvage units for resale.

With the M speedo, all you really get is a tamper condition, gray dials and recalibrated tach with redline "headroom" that your motor can not explore without breakage.

You can get one installed without the tamper light going off if you buy a new one from the dealer. Not sure about the other functions.

from what ive read around, its not compatible with 6cyl e39's or e39's with the "low" cluster... (i still dont know what designates one low or high).

what i did read was that if it was going to be compatible with an e39 it would be with an 8cyl 6spd one like my 03 540. i would just like to know for sure from someone whos done swap already

You can read certain E53 sites to learn about high and low designs. Cars with low cluster are generally strippo cars that use different busswork for data communications. To your inquiry, a low E39 cluster is a speedo with only 2 square plugs on the back. Some early domestic 6 cyl cars are low.

Most or all 6 cyl cars after a certain age are high & this offers more flexibility and compatibility for stuff like MID and NAV. All '98 and up BMW V8 domestics are high cluster incl M5, 540i and X5, although there are some issues that limit speedo compatibility. ETK shows that ongoing cluster firmware revisions allow newer speedos to work in older cars. I'm talking about uncoded ones you buy new at the dealer. Of course the speedos are coded and become married to each car, sensitive to tire diameter, axle gear ratio, transmission type etc. This makes speedo swaps an uncertain science. Firmware rev's allow BMW to stock only one speedo for pixel repair for most all E39 540i. Older speedos may not work in newer cars.

You can get one installed without the tamper light going off if you buy a new one from the dealer. Not sure about the other functions.

Good point. A new, properly coded speedo will have actual odometer reading transferred from old speedo or LCM and the proper VIN & car options/specs will be coded.

This is proper procedure and means no tamper light. This will cost you about $1K and your car must be in the shop for data download. You ain't getting this service over the parts counter as their tools require connection to the car. The fellow 540is had this done and discovered the M5 speedo special features are still inactive.

Well the bmw specialty shop that was going to code the cluster for me has a GT-1 which will give them the same ability that any dealership has when it comes to clusters.... any reprogramming that needs to be done such as milage, VIN, etc. they should be able to do with less restrictions of a dealership.


so basically what i see everyone saying is that the cluster will work without the RPM LED's or oil temp gauge?