324td taco Help
Discussion
Hmmm thought someone on here would help? only car stuck in my garage in spain and not many garages about who know ... so apart from fitting a new viscous fan , thermostat and housing I thought I would have a go when over their again 
My housemate's 318i Touring has done the same - sat in the driveway for 2 years now, only started and moved once every 4 or 5 months. We've not been able to figure it out either. It starts first time every time (need jumpleads though as the battery has totally died).
Not much use to you, but it's not an isolated problem at least.
Not much use to you, but it's not an isolated problem at least.
324td? I take it this is an E30 then?
The problem may be related to the rechargable batteries on the SI board mounted inside the instrument cluster.
If they are old and the car hasn't been used much, they tend to go flat and won't hold their charge. This also leads to the instruments not working properly.
The batteries are soldered onto the board, and are a pain in the arse to change, though if you take it to an auto electrician, they will be able to do the work fairly cheaply.
The problem may be related to the rechargable batteries on the SI board mounted inside the instrument cluster.
If they are old and the car hasn't been used much, they tend to go flat and won't hold their charge. This also leads to the instruments not working properly.
The batteries are soldered onto the board, and are a pain in the arse to change, though if you take it to an auto electrician, they will be able to do the work fairly cheaply.
bob1179 said:
324td? I take it this is an E30 then?
The problem may be related to the rechargable batteries on the SI board mounted inside the instrument cluster.
If they are old and the car hasn't been used much, they tend to go flat and won't hold their charge. This also leads to the instruments not working properly.
The batteries are soldered onto the board, and are a pain in the arse to change, though if you take it to an auto electrician, they will be able to do the work fairly cheaply.
Yes it is an E30 Touring quite rare So I have been told The problem may be related to the rechargable batteries on the SI board mounted inside the instrument cluster.
If they are old and the car hasn't been used much, they tend to go flat and won't hold their charge. This also leads to the instruments not working properly.
The batteries are soldered onto the board, and are a pain in the arse to change, though if you take it to an auto electrician, they will be able to do the work fairly cheaply.
Ok thanks for that I am a dab hand with the soldering iron 
just removing the damm dash and sourcing the right batteries now then ...Any help will be graitfull
Ste .
Changing the batteries is pretty straight forward.
First thing to do is remove the steering wheel. Once you've done this undo the screws around the inside of the binnacle and you can remove the plastic trim in front of the dials.
Then you undo the screws that hold the instrument cluster in place, pull it all forward to remove the two sockets, unclip those and remove the entire binnacle.
Once you have the binnacle out, head back into the house, have a brew/beer and carry on working at the kitchen table.
You have to undo screws on the back of the instrument cluster and take the back off. Once you've done this you will see at the bottom a long and narrow PCB with a couple of silver AA sized batteries soldered to it. This is the SI board, as far as I can remember it just unplugs and then you can take it to your friendly local auto electrician/BMW specialist and they will swap the batteries for you.
Refitting is the reverse of removal...
Disclaimer - The last time I did this myself was around 2002 but I think I've remembered everything. It really isn't that difficult and there isn't anything that can be buggered up terminally, I however accept no liability if you scratch the kitchen table or piss your missus off. Good luck and God speed.
First thing to do is remove the steering wheel. Once you've done this undo the screws around the inside of the binnacle and you can remove the plastic trim in front of the dials.
Then you undo the screws that hold the instrument cluster in place, pull it all forward to remove the two sockets, unclip those and remove the entire binnacle.
Once you have the binnacle out, head back into the house, have a brew/beer and carry on working at the kitchen table.
You have to undo screws on the back of the instrument cluster and take the back off. Once you've done this you will see at the bottom a long and narrow PCB with a couple of silver AA sized batteries soldered to it. This is the SI board, as far as I can remember it just unplugs and then you can take it to your friendly local auto electrician/BMW specialist and they will swap the batteries for you.
Refitting is the reverse of removal...
Disclaimer - The last time I did this myself was around 2002 but I think I've remembered everything. It really isn't that difficult and there isn't anything that can be buggered up terminally, I however accept no liability if you scratch the kitchen table or piss your missus off. Good luck and God speed.
bob1179 said:
Changing the batteries is pretty straight forward.
First thing to do is remove the steering wheel. Once you've done this undo the screws around the inside of the binnacle and you can remove the plastic trim in front of the dials.
Then you undo the screws that hold the instrument cluster in place, pull it all forward to remove the two sockets, unclip those and remove the entire binnacle.
Once you have the binnacle out, head back into the house, have a brew/beer and carry on working at the kitchen table.
You have to undo screws on the back of the instrument cluster and take the back off. Once you've done this you will see at the bottom a long and narrow PCB with a couple of silver AA sized batteries soldered to it. This is the SI board, as far as I can remember it just unplugs and then you can take it to your friendly local auto electrician/BMW specialist and they will swap the batteries for you.
Refitting is the reverse of removal...
Disclaimer - The last time I did this myself was around 2002 but I think I've remembered everything. It really isn't that difficult and there isn't anything that can be buggered up terminally, I however accept no liability if you scratch the kitchen table or piss your missus off. Good luck and God speed.
Thanks a great help First thing to do is remove the steering wheel. Once you've done this undo the screws around the inside of the binnacle and you can remove the plastic trim in front of the dials.
Then you undo the screws that hold the instrument cluster in place, pull it all forward to remove the two sockets, unclip those and remove the entire binnacle.
Once you have the binnacle out, head back into the house, have a brew/beer and carry on working at the kitchen table.
You have to undo screws on the back of the instrument cluster and take the back off. Once you've done this you will see at the bottom a long and narrow PCB with a couple of silver AA sized batteries soldered to it. This is the SI board, as far as I can remember it just unplugs and then you can take it to your friendly local auto electrician/BMW specialist and they will swap the batteries for you.
Refitting is the reverse of removal...
Disclaimer - The last time I did this myself was around 2002 but I think I've remembered everything. It really isn't that difficult and there isn't anything that can be buggered up terminally, I however accept no liability if you scratch the kitchen table or piss your missus off. Good luck and God speed.
however do you know the battery type as I will solder the new ones myself ....Ste .
stesrg said:
Thanks a great help however do you know the battery type as I will solder the new ones myself ....
Ste .
To be honest, I have no idea. They are roughly 'AA' sized but I didn't change them. I took them to a bloke at our old Lucas place and he soldered them in for me. however do you know the battery type as I will solder the new ones myself ....Ste .
Good luck with getting it sorted though.
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