good will warranty: Did they replace the whole assembly, lens and everything or just the electronics? The reason I am asking is that I have aluminum gage rings installed and wonder if I'll loose them.

I have finally emailed the request for pixel-related coverage and have received a call from a guy at BMWNA. He asked if I was the original owner, miles on the car, etc., and he was particularly interested to know if I own any other BMW cars and if so, which one(s), and how many. Looks like they are looking for serious brand loyalty. I am expecting another call with the verdict.

Thanks!

When my cluster was replaced last year, they replaced the entire assembly. I could tell because the lens still had manufacturing dust on the side facing me.

FWIW, I ended up paying only $70 out of pocket. BMW offered me a 50/50 split on parts and labor, but the dealer misunderstood that and charged me only for the labor (1/2 hour), not the part. The part was $700 at the time, I think, so I got a deal.

-pd.

When my cluster was replaced last year, they replaced the entire assembly. I could tell because the lens still had manufacturing dust on the side facing me.

FWIW, I ended up paying only $70 out of pocket. BMW offered me a 50/50 split on parts and labor, but the dealer misunderstood that and charged me only for the labor (1/2 hour), not the part. The part was $700 at the time, I think, so I got a deal.

-pd.
Cool! We'll see what I get...

So you have to be the original owner?

Don't have to be the original owner but it is not a "warranty" it is a goodwill gesture by BMWNA!! That is why the offer is different from person to person. Yes the entire assembly is replaced! Unless you guage rings are glued in, you may want to remove them. If they are glued in place, then be prepared to buy another set!

So you have to be the original owner?

I am the second owner of my car. I had my cluster replaced at about 94,000 miles and roughly 6 1/2 years from production.

I believe, as LJBimmers states, that the offer from BMW varies based on the factors you've read. I also think that the offer can be used at different dealers, so if you have a dealer that charges less per hour of maintenance, then you can save some money depending on the offer. Or go to the dealer that gives you a loaner, etc.

-pd.

Ill give it a try. Gess I'll have to dig up the contact info

Unless you guage rings are glued in, you may want to remove them. If they are glued in place, then be prepared to buy another set!


Do you think a BMW dealer would grip about a cluster having rings installed (ie - that means the cluster was already opened....)?

BMW NA offered to pay only half of the parts for both my E38 and E39 when I contacted them a month ago. I had resent another email asking for a different representative to be assigned to my pixel issues (cluster replacement) as some other owners had suggested. I am hoping that BMWNA will concede and offer me a complete replacement instead of the half offer.

who are you emailing

Just got a call from BMWNA. They are covering 100% parts - I pay labor.
They won't cover MID, as it is not a "safety issue", only the cluster.
Better than nothing.

who are you emailing

Leonora Vlaovich....if you type her name into the search...you'll get more hits than you can throw a stick at. :D

Just had mine done yesterday bought the car about a couple months ago and it had 108,000 on the dash. They replaced the entire cluster and I paid for 1hr labor. I sent an email to BMWNA (Leonora Vlaovich) and they gave me a call back asking the usual question and requesting a copy of my registration. They were pretty quick in their decision. They did ask if I own any other BMW too.

Just had mine done yesterday bought the car about a couple months ago and it had 108,000 on the dash. They replaced the entire cluster and I paid for 1hr labor. I sent an email to BMWNA (Leonora Vlaovich) and they gave me a call back asking the usual question and requesting a copy of my registration. They were pretty quick in their decision. They did ask if I own any other BMW too.

they didn't ask me for registration.

They may have asked Pass427 for registration info because he had just purchased the car and BMW NA may have had no records of him as the owner.

If you had owned your car for awhile...or had some work done at a BMW dealership where your car's VIN and your name created an information trail...then they probably didn't ask you for registration since they already had documentation that you were the owner of the car.

Just a thought. :)

damn i keep putting this off, I gotta get it done :mad

Should I call or email? If so Whats the email Addy?

Thanks

damn i keep putting this off, I gotta get it done :mad

Should I call or email? If so Whats the email Addy?

Thanks

These links have everything you need to know.

base link:

www.e38.org

http://www.bimmerboard.com/forums/posts/52513

http://bimmer.roadfly.com/bmw/forums/e38/1706512-1.html

http://www.e38.org/bmw_pixel_response.pdf

Once on e38.org, search the page for "Pixel Display Defects" you'll see several options.

When my cluster was replaced last year, they replaced the entire assembly. I could tell because the lens still had manufacturing dust on the side facing me.

FWIW, I ended up paying only $70 out of pocket. BMW offered me a 50/50 split on parts and labor, but the dealer misunderstood that and charged me only for the labor (1/2 hour), not the part. The part was $700 at the time, I think, so I got a deal.

-pd.
Got my car back today. The paperwork says they replaced the inst. combi., but my rings are still on. Pixels are fine now, so I guess they just replaced the component, although the paperwok states P.N. 62-11-9-138-503, which is the assembly. Paid $110 labor.

Got my car back today. The paperwork says they replaced the inst. combi., but my rings are still on. Pixels are fine now, so I guess they just replaced the component, although the paperwok states P.N. 62-11-9-138-503, which is the assembly. Paid $110 labor.

They are reconditioning these----maybe you just happened to get someone elses rings.

The core charge for the cluster is 100.00 if you keep your old one.

They are reconditioning these----maybe you just happened to get someone elses rings.

The core charge for the cluster is 100.00 if you keep your old one.
Nope, these are definately mine. I can see one spot where glue ran out about 1/8" on one of the rings when I installed them. But you are absolutely correct about the item description "RMFD INST COMBI". Remanufactured. The cluster IS my old one. Weird.

I puchased my 01' 740i/sport last November had the pixel display repaired at the dealership several months ago. BMWNA paid for the parts. The dealer gave me a loaner, no charge, and when I picked up the car, not only was it washed, the service manager handed me the keys and told me to have a nice day. It sure was.

Nope, these are definately mine. I can see one spot where glue ran out about 1/8" on one of the rings when I installed them. But you are absolutely correct about the item description "RMFD INST COMBI". Remanufactured. The cluster IS my old one. Weird.

My guess is that they noticed the rings and the tech consulted the SA whom asked the parts department if BMW would accept a "modded" KOMBI core return. Parts guy said, "no way. BMWNA will charge it back to the dealership. Split the case and put his old front section on. Put the new front section on the old cluster then send it back." All is good on both ends this way! dealership sounds like they got their stuff together.

Got my car back today. The paperwork says they replaced the inst. combi., but my rings are still on. Pixels are fine now, so I guess they just replaced the component, although the paperwok states P.N. 62-11-9-138-503, which is the assembly. Paid $110 labor.

??? if it were me...I would have asked the dealer BEFORE I left their establishment...what exactly did they do? The paperwork says that you were to receive a new cluster...I would have asked why do I still have the same instrument cluster installed in the car that was in it when you brought it there that morning.

There are no BMW components in the instrument cluster for them to fix. The BMW instrument clusters are put together by an outside company that BMW buys from. The BMW mechaninc isn't an "electrician" per se that is going to open up the instrument cluster to do electrical repair like resoldering a pc board etc.

They take out the old cluster, download the mileage/VIN/service interval info, then upload that info into the new cluster, then reinstalls the new cluster into your car.

Something doesn't sound right...I'd keep a close watch to see if pixels start disappearing...they may have reinstalled your old cluster...and when it was unplugged then plugged back in etc...the pixels returned.

It would be a long shot...but perhaps the mechanic saw your rings and opened up the clusters to swap...but I would have never left the dealership with a big question like that unanswered. Especially when you knew immediately that those where the same rings you installed which where identified by the "running" glue.

There are only 3 BMW parts to the instrument cluster...that would be:

the cluster itself
bulbs
screws


http://bmwfans.info/original/images/11596_p.png

??? if it were me...I would have asked the dealer BEFORE I left their establishment...what exactly did they do? The paperwork says that you were to receive a new cluster...I would have asked why do I still have the same instrument cluster installed in the car that was in it when you brought it there that morning.

There are no BMW components in the instrument cluster for them to fix. The BMW instrument clusters are put together by an outside company that BMW buys from. The BMW mechaninc isn't an "electrician" per se that is going to open up the instrument cluster to do electrical repair like resoldering a pc board etc.

They take out the old cluster, download the mileage/VIN/service interval info, then upload that info into the new cluster, then reinstalls the new cluster into your car.

Something doesn't sound right...I'd keep a close watch to see if pixels start disappearing...they may have reinstalled your old cluster...and when it was unplugged then plugged back in etc...the pixels returned.

It would be a long shot...but perhaps the mechanic saw your rings and opened up the clusters to swap...but I would have never left the dealership with a big question like that unanswered. Especially when you knew immediately that those where the same rings you installed which where identified by the "running" glue.

There are only 3 BMW parts to the instrument cluster...that would be:

the cluster itself
bulbs
screws

Good points. I'll keep an eye on it - so far, all pizels are up. I only had a few pixels out, all the way on the left side, so I can only see them "on" when "key in ignition" sign comes up when I shut her down and open my door.
Thanks everyone!

Okay this is a recent problem for me. I have been searching the issue so this thread is awesome. My pixels have just started to bad. However if I have the correct terminology the pixels in question are on my MID the lower section of the cluster. Someone mentioned earlier in the thread the MID was not a safety issue. Isnt the MID the place where all of the warnings appear?

Okay this is a recent problem for me. I have been searching the issue so this thread is awesome. My pixels have just started to bad. However if I have the correct terminology the pixels in question are on my MID the lower section of the cluster. Someone mentioned earlier in the thread the MID was not a safety issue. Isnt the MID the place where all of the warnings appear?
The covered item is the Instrument Cluster (where all the warnings appear). The MID, where stereo, trip computer and climate controlls are, is not.

...However if I have the correct terminology the pixels in question are on my MID the lower section of the cluster. Someone mentioned earlier in the thread the MID was not a safety issue. Isnt the MID the place where all of the warnings appear?

Ditto Geno...the MID (multi-informational display) is the unit that displays the OBC features, Timed features, and radio/CD/Tape Cass etc. located on the upper ctr console.

This is the MID (non NAV cars):
http://www.bimmerboard.com/members/q/original/MID%20Timer%20functions.jpg
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~
The LCD display in the instrument cluster is the CCD (Check Control Display) which displays all of the Priority 1 & 2 warnings...and can be remotely programmed (as a secondary function) to display the OBC features. But the primary function of that display is for the Check Control System. That's why any OBC feature you have showing in the display is removed at every restart...the CC system does its diagnostic checks, which requires it to take control of the CCD and if everything is OK...it will display CHECK CONTROL OK. :D

This is the CCD (see #3):
http://www.bimmerboard.com/members/q/original/Check%20Control%20Priority%201.jpg

so when you are losing odometer and everything..this is an issue

I finally made the call and got this done. I must say BMWNA is a stand up group and Leonora V. was a giant help.

100% parts replacement and I pay labor. :cool

Just got mine done through BMWNA and had my cluster and climate control unit done,BMWNA paid 75% of parts and I paid labor,I was out $480.00.

i just emailed her, hope i can be covered too.
thanks!

-Raja

Dropped the car of yesterday for the replacement. Installed the cluster 62-11-9-138-503

Total cost with tax: $99.80

Just got mine done through BMWNA and had my cluster and climate control unit done,BMWNA paid 75% of parts and I paid labor,I was out $480.00.

For a 96 model year you got a hell of a deal!

They offered me 50% on it all, so I'm supposed to call the service manager tomorrow and schedule an appointment. Any ideas on how much it would cost?

Any ideas on how much it would cost?

At least $400. I bought my 00 740il last year with about 89K miles on it. It was my first and only BMW and I bought it on EBAY. That's the offer they made me. A friend of my fathers leases a new 7er every two years. I talked to him about it and he went in and talked to the service manager, who called my contact at BMWNA. My offer went from 50/50 to labor only - $80 later I was out the door. Do you know someone who's a regular customer at your local BMW dealership? They could make a difference for you too.

I have somebody that has been buying BMW's from the dealership since the 1990's, just bought a new 535i. I could ask her but I don't want to bother her about going in there. She gets her cars serviced elsewhere than the dealership, but I'm sure they'd know her at the dealership. I may just live with it for awhile.