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Thread: OBC pixel and button fix DIY...

  1. #76
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
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    Toronto, ON, Canada
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    99
    My Cars
    97 BMW M3, 99 Acura TL
    Some less scientific methods I found worked considerably better than the double-sided tape.

    1. A piece of string- a bit stretchy, but overall a bit thicker than the area. Just put it into the slot where you removed the existing 'pad' and voila- it's perfect in my case.

    2. I used a cut piece of those Livestrong bracelets (or breast cancer ones) that area hard thick rubber- like a firm elastic only 3x as thick. Cut that to disconnect the circle, then cut a strip to fit in there. If it bows out a lot (mine didn't)- use a knife and just thin out the ends a bit.

    Overall I found the tape never got quite right in any case- these methods- by using materials that will conform a bit more, seemed to do the better trick.

    -M

  2. #77
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
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    Bay Area, CA
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    1,290
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    '09 135i
    good job, nice writeup!

  3. #78
    Join Date
    Jun 2004
    Location
    Edina, MN
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    322
    My Cars
    1997 328i (for sale), 2003 540i M-Sport
    Quote Originally Posted by bmtroubleu98 View Post
    i know what OBC means...but that's a multi function clock...not an on board computer
    Ok I'm just going to go ahead and disagree with you here..., uhm...

    Since it walks and talks like an OBC, I'd say it is one.

    Sure it has multi function clock elements to it, but it also contains the logic for the extra calculations thats 18 button OBCs have - dist, range, code, etc.

    I really can not see how you can say this is NOT an OBC. It's puzzling, to say the least.

    This could be looked at as a simple semantic difference, but since you brought it up...

    I would be happy to stipulate that it IS an OBC with multi clock functionality, however.


    More on topic: I have the same problem with the OBC on my '97 328i, and I tried this once, but it didn't work for me. I didn't use 3m tape though, so I think I will re-visit this and focus more on the actual tape/space/thickness issues of the fix.

    Love all the pics. Makes it so easy, a caveman can do it.

  4. #79
    Join Date
    May 2005
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    Chicago USA
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    4,010
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    09 Yamaha R6s & 95 325iC
    Quote Originally Posted by Three28i View Post
    More on topic: I have the same problem with the OBC on my '97 328i, and I tried this once, but it didn't work for me. I didn't use 3m tape though, so I think I will re-visit this and focus more on the actual tape/space/thickness issues of the fix.

    Love all the pics. Makes it so easy, a caveman can do it.
    Haha.. that was my intention.
    As far as it not working for you... try something that's somewhat flexible (rubber works pretty good, double sided tape, etc.) and try out different thicknesses... it should get better
    good luck
    -Ivan

  5. #80
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    Toon Town
    Posts
    7
    My Cars
    325i
    nice DIY i know it's and old post but i just found it toady and did it to my OBC it didn't fix it 100% but it sure is a heck of alot better then what is was, before over 20 pixels where out now there's only two

  6. #81
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Corvallis, OR
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    132
    My Cars
    95 M3
    So far, using some nylon cord has worked like a charm...

    Thanks for the DIY

  7. #82
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    Teeny-Tiny Delaware
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    548
    My Cars
    '97 328ic Slushbox

    More Info

    I did the repair -- and THANKS! for the write-up.
    Did not get all the pixels back. <frown>
    Did some reading and searching. The connnection is know as a Zebra Stripe
    Connector, and the one good repair article I found is below.
    Looks like the repair might work more reliably if you CLEAN the connecting film with pure alcohol (NOT Rubbing alcohol -70% or so - your local drugstore probably has 93% alcohol for around $2) before re-assembling -- and don't touch the surfaces after cleaning.

    Here's the LINK http://www.repairfaq.org/REPAIR/F_au...#AUDIOFAQC_012


    14.42) About elastomer ('zebra stripe') connectors
    Remember that first (or last) digital watch you took apart?
    Remember how a little piece of rubber fell on the shag carpet and you thought:
    "What the heck, that can't be anything important".
    Remember how the watch's display never worked again?
    Well, you lost the connector that linked the LCD panel to the logic board.
    Elastomer or 'zebra stripe' connectors are used to attach LCD panels to the
    logic board and interconnect multiple boards on digital watches, calculators,
    pocket computers, and many other modern gizmos. It seems as if every cheap
    and many not so cheap gadgets now uses this connector technology.
    They can shift position, become dirty, and lose pressure due to warpage or
    damage to the plastic retainers. Very often, a weak display or missing
    segments can be traced to a problem with these 'zebra stripe' connectors.
    Equally often, disassembling, cleaning all parts with alcohol, drying, and
    reassembling will return the device to (better than) new condition.
    When installing, make sure the striped edges are against the circuit traces if
    there is any ambiguity.
    Of course, it isn't that the zebra stripe shifts position a small amount
    - by its nature this should not matter. However, if the display shifts with
    respect to the circuit board contacts or the zebra stripe material becomes
    twisted or angled, poor and/or erratic connections will result.
    (From: Spehro Pefhany (speff@gold.interlog.com)).
    These are conductive elastomer connectors made from alternating layers of
    conductive (carbon filled) and insulating silicone rubber.
    There are also lower resistance versions with embedded wires, but they
    are not used for LCD displays because the series resistance doesn't matter for LCD's.
    Alignment to the PCB is critical as is even pressure, so they tend to be
    used only in high volume applications where a metal stamping or plastic
    molding is used to hold all the parts in place.

    ALSO:

    > Clean both sets of pads and the zebra connector with pure alcohol. > Dont touch any of the surfaces while reassembling or it will get
    > contaminated again. With any luck , you'll be back in business.


    Right.

  8. #83
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Location
    Norway
    Posts
    1
    My Cars
    E36 318is
    Just tried this fix on my -96 328iT OBC, and it worked! Thank you !
    Can't believe I actually made this work, hehe

  9. #84
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    Rock Island, IL, U.S.A.
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    1,425
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    97 328is,94 530i,93 325i
    I tried it once and it didn't work...I'm going to tinker around with it again and add more tape and see if that works.
    E36 parts for sale...cheap! Click the link below!

    http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum....php?t=1454653

  10. #85
    Join Date
    Aug 2004
    Location
    Vancouver, BC
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    14
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    1998 BMW 323ic
    When will you be posting the button fix?

  11. #86
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
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    Rock Island, IL, U.S.A.
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    97 328is,94 530i,93 325i
    ok it helped a lot. theres only two lines that don't appear. What's strange is that when I first did it the first bulb to the left went out, then I redid it...and it worked again. WITHOUT REPLACING IT! I think there is a ghost that lives in my car!!!!
    E36 parts for sale...cheap! Click the link below!

    http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum....php?t=1454653

  12. #87
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
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    MA
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    328i, M5
    good to know, what a bloody pain that is

  13. #88
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
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    Castro Valley, CA (San Francisco Bay Area)
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    399
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    1998 M3 Convertible Cosmos, 2000 RAV4

    Lightbulb

    Thanks for the writeup!To remove the OBC with almost no effort I bought a tool.It's called 1 1/2" flex putty knife. Should be available at any hardware store in the paint department.The tool allows you to apply more prying force without any damage to the console. That means a LOT less work!Wagner part number #3410320. Lowes item #234331.
    '98 M3 Convertible
    Cosmos Automatic
    Diamond Audio/Alpine/Sony ES HU sound
    Mishimoto radiator and hoses
    Motion Motorsport underpanel
    BMW CCA #387533 - join today and save on everything related to your BMW - http://www.bmwcca.org
    Know your rights when it comes to dealing with police - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqMjMPlXzdA

  14. #89
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
    Posts
    1
    My Cars
    1998 E36 328i M-Tech
    Sweet. I just got my first BMW. A 98 328i M-Tech, absolutley love it. But it had this OBC issue. The guy i bought it from sujested that I go on ebay and get a new OBC. I'm glad I joined this site and didn't buy one. This DIY fixed the issue, for the price of some 2-sided tape.

    Awesome DIY

    Cheers
    K

  15. #90
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    Old Fort, NC, US
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    1999 BMW 323ci, 2003 zzr 600, 2006 Ford Ranger XLT
    hah, mine had this problem when i bought it so i had dad buy a new one off ebay for me.... he bought an 18 button... mine was 11.... crap don't wanna go through that mod.

    so I bought another 11 off ebay, put it in and worked great for about a week.... freaking thing now it's doing the same screen thing as the other...

    AWESOME write up man, going to be working on both my OBCs tomorrow I suppose lol!

    I'll have an 11 and maybe even the 18 up for sale if anyone needs one.

    I may get up the nerve to do the 18 conv. though so I may keep it

    thanks again for the write up mate!

  16. #91
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
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    Old Fort, NC, US
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    1999 BMW 323ci, 2003 zzr 600, 2006 Ford Ranger XLT
    just did the first one worked great! looks like about all but two small vert. lines are fully showing up but WOW! what an improvement!!!

    now to start on the other one I have!

  17. #92
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    San Francisco, CA
    Posts
    62
    My Cars
    1990 300ZX Twin Turbo, 1996 328i Sedan
    FYI on bulbs - 3 of mine were burned out and instead of getting them from the dealer for $6.50 a pop I bought two 2-packs of the very small euro bulbs (2.4W) or whatever and replaced them with these. Basically you unscrew the existing bulbs from the OBC and remove the bulb from the plastic screw and replace. Best way to do this is carefully pull up on the two contacts one at a time and it lifts the bulb out. Take one of the new bulbs and bend the wires out so they lay where the contacts go and carefully replace the two contacts. Hurrah. New lights.

  18. #93
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    Houston, TX
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    207
    My Cars
    E30, E36, E36, E39, E83
    I found the mod a little hard to read and follow, however, I got through it and eventually figured it out.

    My LCD was TOTALLY disconnected from the circuit board. I had to de-solder the light bulb harness and take everything apart. I was able to place the LCD back into place and hold it down with CA. THen did the tape mod. It works great. I dont have ALL the pixles, but I can actually read it now. THis morning was 72 Degrees in stead of LKDFJHSLKSDFSD>MCSDCSDCKJSDFLSKDJF<MCSD

  19. #94
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Location
    Metro Vancouver, Canada
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    481
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    Ducati 748L
    Round 1, not so good. I had like 1 or two lines missing from the display so I thought I would give this a try. When I reinstalled the Check Control I had way more lines out plus two of the backlights have stopped working.

    Why did I start this when all that was wrong was two bloody lines missing? Argh.

  20. #95
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Location
    Richmond, Virginia, USA
    Posts
    229
    My Cars
    1992 325i
    I was attempting this and the f***ing connecter tape strip thing that connects the circuit board to the display came off. Oh well, I guess Im in the market for a used one now.

  21. #96
    Join Date
    Oct 2002
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    Chicagoland
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    '00 528iA, '01 325iA
    Quote Originally Posted by Harv328is View Post
    Round 1, not so good. I had like 1 or two lines missing from the display so I thought I would give this a try. When I reinstalled the Check Control I had way more lines out plus two of the backlights have stopped working.

    Why did I start this when all that was wrong was two bloody lines missing? Argh.
    I'm the one that did Ivan's (OP) the first time. I've never done one that was right the first time. Just do it again and pay attention to the alignment of the 'zebra stripe'. The tape, or whatever you use as the spacer, cures that problem, but it's easy to create another by misaligning the connector halves.

  22. #97
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    Richmond, va
    Posts
    34
    My Cars
    97 328is
    Thanks for the write up!
    Did it in about 30 mins and looks great now.

  23. #98
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Location
    Metro Vancouver, Canada
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    481
    My Cars
    Ducati 748L
    After the third and final attempt at getting all the pixels to display, any modification I made seemed to make it way worse than before I started. Finally I removed all my foreign objects and reassembled it as stock. So I have two, maybe three lines not showing depending on the ambient temperature. I figure that anything the Check Control reports as malfunctioning I'm going to fix immediately anyway, so the display will rarely be lit for extended periods of time.

    In this case, close enough is good enough. Was *kinda* fun to remove and replace the unit four times though. Not really.


  24. #99
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    Fed Way/Pullman, WA
    Posts
    226
    My Cars
    97 Alpine White M3
    so now that we have gone through the process of fixing our OBC's, does anyone know the way to change the read out from german to english???? I thought it was cool at first right when i got my car but now its getting a little old and i would like to at least know how to switch it back. Have searched many times and have gone to the OBC tricks and tips pages and nothing seems to work. As soon as i hold the 1000 and 10 button nothing shows up after that???? am i doing something wrong here or is my OBC toast?
    PRICE DROP!!!!
    My E36 ///M3 FOR SALE!http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum...ht=sjnorton320


  25. #100
    Join Date
    Jun 2001
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    Der Waffelhaus
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    966
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    Yes
    If anybody needs to fix a simple 7-button MID, here's a procedure for that repair.

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