??????? BMW PIXELS MISSING - DASH ??????

[mike888]

BMW claim they do not have a regular problem with dashboard problems on late 90's onwards digital displays.

I have heard different and wondered if anyone else knows much about pixels dissapearing from the display of 5 and 7 series.

[Vesuvius 996]

Some guy was on here last week complaining about this and the fact thay BMW wouldn't fix it for free on an eight year old car with no warranty.

Known issue apparently.

[bullitt rich]

Its a bit on and off is this issue tbh

We've done a few since I started here in april 2002 but not enough to be considered an 'issue' probably about 10 max in four and half years.

[off_again]

Yep, known problem and it (on the E39) is down to the track contacts between the instrument cluster and the dash itself. It can be fixed one of a couple of ways, but basically its one of those things and unless it becomes a major issue its worth leaving alone.

But yes - been around for some time and well known. But should not be a major issue

[plasticpig]

My E38 7 series suffers from this. I bought it like it and am willing to put up with it. What is a bit wierd is it dosent suffer from it all the time and it isnt necessarily the same pixels that die. If I drive it for about an hour most of the dead pixels have come back to life.

[mike888]

Thanks guys , I will leave it be then.

[scared but happy]

I have a repair form here from a BMW main dealer for the dash and both climate displays, done by the garage before I had it. Bill comes to £1100 !! So perhaps its best left alone

[laingy]

Just been quoted £500 to fix this on my e39 530. Im not that othered, but it now seems to be effecting the service interval indicator, so no idea when that comes up. Doesn anyone have any experience of approaching bmw for this, I am out of warranty by about 6 months.

[Mustard]

http://www.bba-reman.com/catalogue/Products.aspx?c...

[Shropshiremike]

www.speedofixer.com

The reason the pixels sometimes come back to life after an hour or so driving is to do with heat soak into the instruments.

Exactly the reason why the problem is more prevalent in very cold weather with such displays

[Denis O]

It's very prevelent with the e39 although (touchwood) mine doesn't suffer. It's a new binnacle (£500) about every 6 years although there is a guy in Manchester who claims he can fix them for about £100. If he can't fix it he'll refund your money. The problem with this is you take out the binnacle and post it and wait for it to come back so you're without a useable car for a few days. His details are on BMW Land or probably on other 5 series sites.

Remember, if your mileage pixels go then you'll fail your MOT if the tester can't read the mileage.

[Mustard]

Denis O said:

It's very prevelent with the e39 although (touchwood) mine doesn't suffer. It's a new binnacle (£500) about every 6 years although there is a guy in Manchester who claims he can fix them for about £100. If he can't fix it he'll refund your money. The problem with this is you take out the binnacle and post it and wait for it to come back so you're without a useable car for a few days. His details are on BMW Land or probably on other 5 series sites.

Remember, if your mileage pixels go then you'll fail your MOT if the tester can't read the mileage.

Been there ....Not true, though it did make for a cheap E34 that was subsequently fixed for 25 quid

[laingy]

If the service interval display goes, do you think I could plug it into something at a bmw showroom and they can give me an indication of mileage left until next service, Im a bit annoyed at paying 500£ for something to tell me when it requires a service.