Gauge cluster problem

Mtnclimber · 06-10-2022, 01:10 PM

Has anyone ever had this happen before? I had the car in the body shop and they did work with the headlight and parking sensors system and now it looks like this. I think it's either an electrical short from something they did or just from it being so hot out.

eff32fl · 06-10-2022, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mtnclimber

Has anyone ever had this happen before? I had the car in the body shop and they did work with the headlight and parking sensors system and now it looks like this. I think it's either an electrical short from something they did or just from it being so hot out.

It looks like the black material that covers the LED's/LCD melted. Did this happen right after they worked on it? Maybe something shorted out and caused a bunch of heat.

Wires · 06-10-2022, 02:37 PM

I've never seen a thread about the cluster before, so I wouldn't think it was heat. Shorting it out would make sense.

On first glance, it's kind of cool looking when the backlight is on!

Billfitz · 06-10-2022, 02:44 PM

It's separation of layers. I can't imagine how they did that.

F30lolz · 06-10-2022, 03:15 PM

That is a nice mode. On a cereal note, is the shop denying any wrongdoing as usual?

Mtnclimber · 06-10-2022, 06:17 PM

It looked normal when I dropped the car off so it's either from sitting outside in the TX heat or something got shorted out when they were doing the work. I pointed it out to the shop and they said it wasn't something they did. I stopped into my BMW dealership and a tech that's been there 20 said he's never seen that so if it was from it being hot out I would think he would have seen that before. I'm taking the car in tomorrow and they are going to check it out.

MidtownMike · 06-11-2022, 04:16 PM

Normally the gauge cluster does not see enough direct sunlight for long enough for this to happen, even in the hottest climates.
A possible explanation could be that they took the cluster out and left it face up in the sun for an extended period.
Problem is that the "shop code of honour" is to always deny responsibility.

F30lolz · 06-11-2022, 07:04 PM

What did the dealer say about this OP? $2.5k parts/labor? SOL? It’s a shame that a certain amount of repair shops don’t want to own up and make things right.

im_an_alien · 06-11-2022, 07:43 PM

Time for a 6WB. About 1k and you can install and code yourself in 30 minutes.

Mtnclimber · 06-12-2022, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by F30lolz

What did the dealer say about this OP? $2.5k parts/labor? SOL? It's a shame that a certain amount of repair shops don't want to own up and make things right.

Dealer said it overheated from sitting outside. You nailed it on the cost, they quoted me $2.5k to replace the cluster.

Billfitz · 06-12-2022, 10:32 AM

If the dealer will attest to that in writing bring it to the shop and demand they replace it. If they refuse get it fixed, save the receipt, and sue them.

Mtnclimber · 06-13-2022, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billfitz

If the dealer will attest to that in writing bring it to the shop and demand they replace it. If they refuse get it fixed, save the receipt, and sue them.

I thought about doing that but I don't think I have that great of an argument. I can probably get the dealer to say it's from sitting outside but just because they left the car sit out side it doesn't mean it's their fault.

Billfitz · 06-13-2022, 09:51 AM

IMO what the dealer meant is that they removed the cluster from the car and left it outside in the sun. That's the only way it could have gotten hot enough for the de-lamination to occur. Double check that with the dealer. Why they would have pulled the cluster I can't say.

06-10-2022, 01:10 PM	#1
Mtnclimber New Member 0 Rep 14 Posts Drives: 2017 340i xDrive Msport Join Date: Jan 2021 Location: Houston iTrader: (0)	Gauge cluster problem Has anyone ever had this happen before? I had the car in the body shop and they did work with the headlight and parking sensors system and now it looks like this. I think it's either an electrical short from something they did or just from it being so hot out. Attached Images
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06-10-2022, 02:37 PM	#3
Wires Brigadier General 1662 Rep 4,906 Posts Drives: 2016 340i xDrive Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Calgary iTrader: (0)	I've never seen a thread about the cluster before, so I wouldn't think it was heat. Shorting it out would make sense. On first glance, it's kind of cool looking when the backlight is on!
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06-10-2022, 02:44 PM	#4
Billfitz Lieutenant General 8279 Rep 16,143 Posts Drives: '15 328iX GT Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: New Hampshire iTrader: (0)	It's separation of layers. I can't imagine how they did that.
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06-10-2022, 06:17 PM	#6
Mtnclimber New Member 0 Rep 14 Posts Drives: 2017 340i xDrive Msport Join Date: Jan 2021 Location: Houston iTrader: (0)	It looked normal when I dropped the car off so it's either from sitting outside in the TX heat or something got shorted out when they were doing the work. I pointed it out to the shop and they said it wasn't something they did. I stopped into my BMW dealership and a tech that's been there 20 said he's never seen that so if it was from it being hot out I would think he would have seen that before. I'm taking the car in tomorrow and they are going to check it out.
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06-11-2022, 04:16 PM	#7
MidtownMike Lieutenant 357 Rep 416 Posts Drives: BMW F30 LCI 320i M-Sport Shado Join Date: Nov 2021 Location: Netherlands iTrader: (0)	Normally the gauge cluster does not see enough direct sunlight for long enough for this to happen, even in the hottest climates. A possible explanation could be that they took the cluster out and left it face up in the sun for an extended period. Problem is that the "shop code of honour" is to always deny responsibility.
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06-11-2022, 07:43 PM	#9
im_an_alien Lieutenant Colonel 1151 Rep 1,524 Posts Drives: 2016 340i Join Date: Jul 2019 Location: Florida/NH iTrader: (0)	Time for a 6WB. About 1k and you can install and code yourself in 30 minutes.
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06-12-2022, 10:32 AM	#11
Billfitz Lieutenant General 8279 Rep 16,143 Posts Drives: '15 328iX GT Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: New Hampshire iTrader: (0)	If the dealer will attest to that in writing bring it to the shop and demand they replace it. If they refuse get it fixed, save the receipt, and sue them.
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06-13-2022, 09:51 AM	#13
Billfitz Lieutenant General 8279 Rep 16,143 Posts Drives: '15 328iX GT Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: New Hampshire iTrader: (0)	IMO what the dealer meant is that they removed the cluster from the car and left it outside in the sun. That's the only way it could have gotten hot enough for the de-lamination to occur. Double check that with the dealer. Why they would have pulled the cluster I can't say.
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