E36 Dash Crazyness
Discussion
Hi all,
Bought a very nice E36 328i Touring a few weeks back. All has been fine, until Sunday when I started to get some strange problems with the instrument binacle.
Basically two scenarios happen:
-Number one is the guages freeze, with both the fuel and temp guages moving to an innacurate position and the speedometer drops to zero. Also, whilst this happens the orange backlight on the console computer goes very bright (the computer functions still toggle though).
-Number two normally follows number one, but has happened on its own; The instrument panel seems to restart as if the ignition has just been switched on I.E. all of the warning lights illuminate and then go out.
The problem does not seem to conincide with me doing/operating anything, or the car going over a bump etc. However, It has failed to happen on my drive into work, but has occurred on the way home.
Any thoughts anybody? Thanks! Rich
Bought a very nice E36 328i Touring a few weeks back. All has been fine, until Sunday when I started to get some strange problems with the instrument binacle.
Basically two scenarios happen:
-Number one is the guages freeze, with both the fuel and temp guages moving to an innacurate position and the speedometer drops to zero. Also, whilst this happens the orange backlight on the console computer goes very bright (the computer functions still toggle though).
-Number two normally follows number one, but has happened on its own; The instrument panel seems to restart as if the ignition has just been switched on I.E. all of the warning lights illuminate and then go out.
The problem does not seem to conincide with me doing/operating anything, or the car going over a bump etc. However, It has failed to happen on my drive into work, but has occurred on the way home.
Any thoughts anybody? Thanks! Rich
Well without fail on my way in this morning, no faults! But I can be sure when I drive the car again later it will occur again 
My first thoughts were it must be a poor earth somewhere, but then that just doesn't explain the fact it doesn't occur during the first drive of a day... Which seems to suggest it's engine temp related, BUT HOW!?.... grrrrrrrr
My first thoughts were it must be a poor earth somewhere, but then that just doesn't explain the fact it doesn't occur during the first drive of a day... Which seems to suggest it's engine temp related, BUT HOW!?.... grrrrrrrr
Invisible man said:
Could be a worn ignition barrel?
Very unlikely im afraid as it had a new one from BMW just last year following a steering lock failure...Just been out in the car on site (a 60mile round trip) and it happened several times, but is deffinately random (whilst hot). So im thinking its a connection/feed onto the binnacle. So I guess i'll be having a root behind the dash then... D'oh!
sniff diesel said:
Rich, if you want to try another instrument binnacle I have one off that 320i I broke up the other week.
Thanks for the offer Rich; I may well take you up on that! 
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