[MoeTE87]

Update below:

For the longest time I have been wanting to change up my cluster and wasn't sure which route to take. Haven't really been a fan of the 6WB as I feel it is too much in your face and looks pieced together with not a lot of info shown..just my take.

I just so happen to browse these forums and some one with an F30 had an F80 cluster installed. I really liked the way it looked and it was def an OEM+ mod that really changed the interior look. I reached out to the guy (codingdynamics is his handle on Instagram) and he gave me the info of the coder in NY that could virginize the F80 cluster and then code it to my car.

I went on ebay and found a MY2018 F80 cluster in near perfect condition. To my surprise, the clusters are pretty cheap. I paid $200 for it shipped to the coder in NY.

He virginized the cluster same day. He charged me $200 to virginize it then another $150 to code it to my car. So I am all in $550 for it. The guy who did the coding was very knowledgeable and very quick to respond when I had questions.

Thoughts after driving with the new cluster over a week:

I really like the way it looks, especially at night. I was getting tired of looking at the same cluster over the years with nothing special to look at. OEM one is simple, but almost too simple and dated. Some people love the classic look but I want to enhance my driving experience and not look at a cluster that I have been looking at for a long time anymore.

My HUD still works and it is awesome as I can see the RPM's move and the speedo is still in tact. The only down side with it all is the "P" for parked does not show up but everything else does. Would need an expensive module to get that to work and the guy even said, if I were happen to get the XHP tune, it will show up. Still debating on that.

Final thoughts:

I love the way it looks, really transforms the interior, however..for $550...to me, that is a little steep. Wish I knew how to virginize clusters and code. I would say this would be a great deal at $400. But all in all, I am very pleased with it.

A few pictures:







My original cluster ^--



F80 cluster ^--

UPDATE 3/18/2023:

Last week I purchased the F80 to F30 cluster adapter from Bimmer ECU Solutions. LINK: https://www.bimecu.com/f80-cluster-retrofit-adapter

Cost was $300 for the adapter then about another $26 for shipping.
- Note: Once you get this adapter installed, you will need to code it to your car. I have provided documentation how to do that below.

I reached out to my coder (you can find him on Instagram: codingdynamics) a few days ago and he sent me a detailed things to code within EXPERT mode under the instrument cluster part of Bimmercode.

Here is a list of things that need to happen if you already have the F80 cluster coded to your car and bought the F80 cluster adapter after the fact:




Additional pictures after getting the adapter coded correctly. Which was very simple. Very happy now that I have the P, R, N and D displayed on the F80 cluster. Finally can call this project complete!









Don’t hesitate if there are any questions about this and the process. Happy to answer!


Thanks!

[Prak903]

Thanks for the write up! I was talking to Straight Six and they mentioned I would not need the adapter and still have the P/R/D show up. Weird - Maybe It's cause XHP can change it? Not sure.

Also - that warning on the cluster, I'm assuming its for low fuel correct, nothing to do with the cluster itself.

[MoeTE87]

Correct! XHP has it built in where the gear selection will show up and there won’t be a need for the adapter.

I was low on fuel but don’t remember seeing a warning light. Range was at 60 miles.

Not sure why the pics are showing blurry..

[Dagstar]

Just when I thought I was about done with interior mods...awesome writeup! Tach in the HUD is the most appealing feature to me.

[seanquest]

Great write up, I wonder what if for manual cars do you need the same adapter?

[F30_328i_uk]

Do the lights around the rpm tach function in any way it does on an M3? (According to oil temp etc...)

Also, are the revs accurate because the F30 only goes to 7k where as the F80 goes to 8k.

Looks pretty damn good overall though. Very nice.

[toxik]

Originally Posted by seanquest

Great write up, I wonder what if for manual cars do you need the same adapter?

6MT cars do not need the adapter

[Runner340]

Are the gauges backlit during the day?

[MoeTE87]

Originally Posted by F30_328i_uk

Do the lights around the rpm tach function in any way it does on an M3? (According to oil temp etc...)

Also, are the revs accurate because the F30 only goes to 7k where as the F80 goes to 8k.

Looks pretty damn good overall though. Very nice.

The colored lights around the tach are always lit up and I am not sure if they do anything else as I have not seen it do anything in my time of driving my car with the f80 cluster in since Nov 2022. When I have the M rpms up in the HUD, looks like they are in sync and at the same rpm range.

Hope that helps!

Thanks!

[MoeTE87]

Originally Posted by Runner340

Are the gauges backlit during the day?

Maybe, will need to check and see. I know the colored RPM lights are on all the time.

[PEREZRAPHAEL]

Would I need to find a cluster with a certain code or year? Does it need ti be the same year as the car?

[MoeTE87]

Originally Posted by PEREZRAPHAEL

Would I need to find a cluster with a certain code or year? Does it need ti be the same year as the car?

No you wont. I am just particular when it comes to things like that. I wanted a 2018 since my 340i is a 2018. I most certainly could have bought a 2016 or 2017, but I found a good deal on the 2018 cluster and pulled the trigger on it!

[oem.plus_440gc]

Not sure if you'll know the answer, but with the cluster, virginized, and then coded and using XHP everything should work fine, including P,N,D,R function and HUD RPMS without using the adapter harness?

I've been on the fence about XHP but if buying the license will end up helping me when i decide to swap the cluster, i may pull the trigger on XHP now...

[MoeTE87]

Originally Posted by oem.plus_440gc

Not sure if you'll know the answer, but with the cluster, virginized, and then coded and using XHP everything should work fine, including P,N,D,R function and HUD RPMS without using the adapter harness?

I've been on the fence about XHP but if buying the license will end up helping me when i decide to swap the cluster, i may pull the trigger on XHP now...

If you have XHP and you find a F80 cluster, get it virginized then coded to your car..you will have the gears show up. That is straight from my coders mouth and a few others have verified that as well. I wanted to do XHP, but I am still under warranty and didnt want to mess with it to be honest.

[oem.plus_440gc]

Originally Posted by MoeTE87

If you have XHP and you find a F80 cluster, get it virginized then coded to your car..you will have the gears show up. That is straight from my coders mouth and a few others have verified that as well. I wanted to do XHP, but I am still under warranty and didnt want to mess with it to be honest.

Awesome! Appreciate the help. Will probably end up pulling the trigger on XHP sooner rather than later and keep an eye out for a good F8X cluster!

[MoeTE87]

Originally Posted by oem.plus_440gc

Awesome! Appreciate the help. Will probably end up pulling the trigger on XHP sooner rather than later and keep an eye out for a good F8X cluster!

Goodluck! I got mine from ebay..no issues! Near perfect condition!

Also, the post above is what I have been told, so please do your own research before pulling the trigger!

[eff32fl]

Getting an F8x cluster is so tempting to get the M HUD. Having the 6WB makes it a tough decision.

[MoeTE87]

Originally Posted by eff32fl

Getting an F8x cluster is so tempting to get the M HUD. Having the 6WB makes it a tough decision.

It is nice to be honest! I love having it and it changes the inside perfectly!

When I get a new/er BMW next year or two, it will have a digital dash. I want to keep the simplistic look of the F80 cluster right now while driving.

Plus, it was half the price or more than getting a 6WB. Savings back in my pocket to add a few more mods to the car. Which you can't beat.

Let me know if you have any questions. Wish the pictures were bigger and not so tiny.

[dangerus_car]

Originally Posted by MoeTE87

If you have XHP and you find a F80 cluster, get it virginized then coded to your car..you will have the gears show up. That is straight from my coders mouth and a few others have verified that as well. I wanted to do XHP, but I am still under warranty and didnt want to mess with it to be honest.

don't you think messing with the cluster will not avoid the warranty? lol

[Prak903]

Originally Posted by dangerus_car

don't you think messing with the cluster will not avoid the warranty? lol

I think he meant from a transmission point of view. A lot more expensive for that vs. a cluster issue.

[Prak903]

Originally Posted by MoeTE87

Correct! XHP has it built in where the gear selection will show up and there won’t be a need for the adapter.

I was low on fuel but don’t remember seeing a warning light. Range was at 60 miles.

Not sure why the pics are showing blurry..

Gotcha. I have XHP so can test this out when I get it installed and coded. As for the warning I was referring to the exclamation point in the bottom display, but now I realize that is probably for the door open warning

[thejeremyman9]

Anyone know if doing this allows the HUD to read over 162 MPH? On my stock F30 cluster, which maxes at 160 mph, the HUD maxes at 162 MPH and will not read any higher. I've always had to use a separate GPS app when im doing speed runs to see how fast i am actually going.