Cluster On The Fritz

[DDub88]

Alrighty then, well about two weeks ago, my instrument cluster went a bit crazy. I noticed that my OBC screen would go dim to point of not being able to read my mileage at night, the temp gauge would peg all the way to the red ( on a cold start) and sometimes go past the red. The fuel gauge would read full even though there is only 3/4 of a tank full. The RPM and the instant MPG gauge would not work and at times the oil and battery light stay on after startup. The main lights that stay on all day are the DSC and Brake lights in amber. My cluster seems to beep once, when I get the car rolling in 1st gear. I've removed the battery and cluster to see if I could reset the system somehow to no avail. I've done the cluster test through the OBC screen. The only thing that seems to kinda fix the issue is if I tap the dash it goes back to normal except the amber DSC and Brake lights stay on. I've read many forums over on the Fanatics and Bimmerforums side of the house and alot of them are pointing towards a bad ignition switch or a short. I would like to get some of your guys input on this issue and see whats up before I start dumping money into this issue. Sorry for the long post and bad grammar ( alcohol and forums don't mix :asshat )

[kayger12]

How old is your battery?

Common suspect with electrical gremlins.

Sent from my kick-A Galaxy S3

[danewilson77]

Alrighty then, well about two weeks ago, my instrument cluster went a bit crazy.

How old is your battery?

Common suspect with electrical gremlins.

Sent from my kick-A Galaxy S3

Read the first sentence of the first post and knew what the second post was going to be. I agree.

DDub, are you saying your brake lights are staying on while driving, and NOT applying the brake?

[johnrando]

How old is your battery?

Common suspect with electrical gremlins.

Sent from my kick-A Galaxy S3

I was gonna ask the same thing. Even check to make sure the battery cables are tight.

[brettbimmer]

If not a dying battery, perhaps a bad/intermittent ground issue.

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[danewilson77]

If not a dying battery, perhaps a bad/intermittent ground issue.

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Nooooooo....don't even say that.

[DDub88]

I replaced my battery this last January. My buddy was saying that if I can tap the dash above the cluster and that fixes the lights, then it's probably a short. If that we're the case, could it be a short within the cluster? I've removed the cluster before just to make sure the two connectors were good but not sure if the issue is inside the cluster it self. I'm going to go have my battery tested later today and see what comes of that. Sorry if I'm seeming really stupid, I'm not very savy with the electrical sort of things.

[niart906]

If not a dying battery, perhaps a bad/intermittent ground issue.

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I would agree, I had a similar problem on my ///M about a week ago, it turns out that my ground wire in the trunk was bad. I replaced it and haven't had any issues since.

[DDub88]

I would agree, I had a similar problem on my ///M about a week ago, it turns out that my ground wire in the trunk was bad. I replaced it and haven't had any issues since.

Where in your trunk was this ground wire located?

[Johnmadd]

Where in your trunk was this ground wire located?

It goes from the battery to the inner fender... passenger side...

You do know the battery is in the trunk?