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Dash Cluster

Discuss problems you have had or are having with your Z4
benben
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Dash Cluster

Post by benben » Tue Mar 07, 2017 5:00 am

Ok so road side assistant came down and the battery was fine, lights and indicators etc work aswell but they just dont show up on the dash cluster for whatever reason hence why I thought they are not working haha.

Anyone know whats causing this? perhaps the cluster light has gone? Wiring issue?
Still doesnt explain why the central locking sometimes works and other times it doesnt?
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raymond.harper
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Dash Cluster

Post by raymond.harper » Tue Mar 07, 2017 8:43 am

Fuse number 22 for the power steering also affects the warning lights on the cluster for some reason. Battery in key fob may be low or failing. Try using other key. In the boot there is a small bag with spare fuses and a tool to remove fuses.

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Dash Cluster

Post by benben » Tue Mar 07, 2017 11:43 am

Tested fuses they are fine and im sure its not the key. Must be a computer issue because now the roof doesnt work neither does the aircon!
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peteslag
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Dash Cluster

Post by peteslag » Tue Mar 07, 2017 1:48 pm

Could it be an earthing issue? Maybe a high resistance on the main earth from the battery? Do you own a multimeter?

I would at least check to make sure the positive and terminals are on the battery are nice and tight. My VX220 did something like this when the negative terminal corroded and broke off.

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Dash Cluster

Post by benben » Wed Mar 08, 2017 4:01 am

the RAC guy already checked the battery, there is power it just doesnt get to certain parts for some reason.

Did a bit of research on bimmerfest forums and exactly the same thing had happened to this guy and the cause was the wiring from the LCM (light on/off module) to where the fuses are under glovebox. :headbang:
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benben
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Post by benben » Thu Mar 09, 2017 5:37 am

Looks like its from the light control module lcm.
Gotta go in on monday and hook it up to the diagnostics. More $$$ just to see what the issue is.
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Marius
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Dash Cluster

Post by Marius » Thu Mar 09, 2017 9:25 am

disconnect speedo and light module and clean contacts, usually helps .

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Post by benben » Thu Mar 09, 2017 3:40 pm

How does one do that
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vester86
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Dash Cluster

Post by vester86 » Fri Mar 10, 2017 4:11 pm

1 screw in the middle of the dash, then you can just pull it out.

follow the first couple of steps in THIS thread: viewtopic.php?f=26&t=16422 and you're good

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Post by benben » Mon Mar 20, 2017 3:49 am

The car has been with the electrician for a week now they still cant figure out what is the issue. Im thinking some sort of wiring problem. They cant even connect the Diagnostic cable it doesnt come up/connect for some reason!!!
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Post by Marius » Mon Mar 20, 2017 9:18 am

benben wrote:The car has been with the electrician for a week now they still cant figure out what is the issue. Im thinking some sort of wiring problem. They cant even connect the Diagnostic cable it doesnt come up/connect for some reason!!!
time to change your ''electrician'' :lol:

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Dash Cluster

Post by benben » Wed Mar 22, 2017 1:59 am

They have checked the cluster, the ecu unit and nothing and now are saying it might be a short circuit caused by the damaged cables going from the roof motor to the ecu unit and say for them to check that the roof needs to come off!!!
What should i do????
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raymond.harper
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Post by raymond.harper » Wed Mar 22, 2017 8:39 am

From reading this forum over the past 6 months it never ceases to amaze me the number of cars that are crippled by electrical issues that can cost a substancial amount of money to fix. The first question I would ask you is the car driveable and safe to use on the road? If so you can use the car for now. I would suggest the auto electrician gives you a quote on the total cost for this repair and if this scenario is likely to fix the car. You can tell him money is in short supply. On hearing this they ar less likely to attempt futile work knowing that you will not pay. It might be better to take the car elsewhere to another "specialist". Do not rush into a decision on the car. It is possible for you to remove the roof yourself to save money.

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Post by benben » Wed Mar 22, 2017 9:46 am

Thanks for that yes im planning to get a mate to open the roof then toe is to the place to check the wiring. what a situation we are stuck in...bloody Z4 and its s**t design. yes the car is driveable so yeh ill leave it for now. thanks for the advice.
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Post by Crazy Harry » Wed Mar 22, 2017 9:46 am

I think you might have reached that tipping point where you need someone who specialises in BMWs rather than someone who specialises in vehicle electrics. I can't imagine a BMW specialist telling you that their diagnostic kit won't talk to the car for example. I also think that statistically they have more chance of having met this issue before. I guess that even a main stealers would charge less to identify the fault than the cost of removing (and more critically correctly replacing) the hood with a reasonable certainty of finding the fault.

The vehicle electrics specialist is most likely working from first principles to track the problem (since they can't connect to the car to read the faults) and you are paying for each possible idea they have. I know its a bit of hit but for me it would be time to go to a BMW specialist be it independent or main stealer. Good luck getting sorted. Raymond is right we are all held hostage by modern car electrics - do you remember the days when the biggest worry was bodywork - would it make 60K before it rusted to nothing :rofl:

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