e39 pixels - again!

[english68]

Apologies in advance for treading on old ground, but here goes anyway...

We have an 01 e39 540i (Touring).

It arrived with part-visible pixels, but I already had the 'fixes' printed off.

I am useless at these things.

So I asked my local mechanic to run through the 'fix' (he's good, but had not done this before). It worked perfectly for a couple of days but is now part-visible again.

Can anyone here direct to me one of the places I have read about that fix them for good without a £500 bill please?

We are near Marlow/High Wycombe/Henley/Oxford/Uxbridge/West London etc etc and will travel!

All help gratefully received as always.

Many thanks

English68

[christer]

There's a guy in Southampton area that does a fix - I think a mobile number was posted at some stage - maybe search under "pixels"?

[richyb]

christer said:

There's a guy in Southampton area that does a fix - I think a mobile number was posted at some stage - maybe search under "pixels"?

This is the guy everyone always recommends.

This is his ebay ad - pixels

[Stu R]

richyb said:

christer said:

There's a guy in Southampton area that does a fix - I think a mobile number was posted at some stage - maybe search under "pixels"?

This is the guy everyone always recommends.

This is his ebay ad - pixels

Yep, seen him recommended by quite a few folks on a couple of forums.

the 'proper' fix is apparently to change the actual ribbon cables, which you can get for about 25 quid a pop (there's 3 of them), but most who know more than I who I've spoken to, reckon he'll just be flipping a pressure bar whatever that is. either way it seems to work, won't last forever but in theory I'm told it should last a good while, so when I start getting more dead pixels I'll try the same technique.

[richyb]

I'm sure you could just buy the ribbons and then pop down and see him and he'd put them in if you want piece of mind. There is a write up on E38.org for pixel repair via ribbon reversal. I'll see if I can find it.

EDIT- And here it is.

The guide is excellent but its still a pretty daunting task.

Edited by richyb on Wednesday 3rd June 17:37

[Stu R]

In the name of science I'll give it a go myself and do a write up when the need arises, not averse to getting my hands dirty, but in all honesty if I were any closer I'd just pop down and let that chap do his quick fix, as it should still last quite a while in theory.

[richyb]

The hands dirty bits not the worry, snapping something expensive is. Very fiddly from the look of it.

[Stu R]

there's nothing that superglue or a hammer can't fix

[english68]

Thank you all so much.

I will get in touch with the chap in Southampton and take my car down there.

And let you all know how it goes, of course!

Thanks again.

[english68]

So here we are with an update:

Chap in Southampton is very nice, helpful etc.

It did take 2 trips, but worth it as we now have a lovely, clear, complete display!

Thanks for the recommendation!

English68

[dave_s13]

You had to replace the rear subframe mounts on yours yet English?

Just out of interest.

Oh and what MPG is your OBC telling you?....I daren;t look at mine again since it flashed the number 18 at me, cheeky fekker.

[english68]

Rear subframe mounts? If that is the same as drop-links then yes. Otherwise I think mine must be OK.

MPG currently shows 24.1

After a Dartmoor run it showed 27.9

After a couple of weeks of short runs, in the past, I have seen 21.5 as an average.

Never into the teens though (thank goodness!)

This car is really growing on me - have been contemplating a change but now I have 'invested' so much in this one I might just hang on for while!

[dave_s13]

No different jobbies.

mine started to crash over the slightest ripple. There are 4 large rubber, oil filled, mounts that sit between the rear subframe and the chassis, when they go it results in the symptoms I describe above.

Mine has a few years on yours though, although only done 45k mine, they must perish with age.

Your MPG is pretty impressive, mine rarely sees the motorway though.