[Cyless]

I am new to this so sorry if I make any mistakes. So just yesterday I drove my 2007 e90 BMW 335xi and the instrument cluster was working just fine but now I get in my car to drive it and it doesnt work at all. My OBD II socket works just fine. I need help please, I just bought it.

[Cyless]

So I started my car this morning and now my instrument cluster is working for some reason. Im glad its working right now im just worried its gonna go out again. I'll keep you updated.

Yeah by the way can anyone tell me why my Idrive keeps saying there is a door open when there is not. Thank you.

[lookalikehuuh]

Hey Cyless welcome!

To clarify what do you mean by "doesn't work at all". Like the gauges don't work or just the displays? Is there no backlight? The more information you can provide with as many specific details as possible will help us point you in the right direction.

There are sort of infinite possibilities at this point that could point you to where to even begin looking. Step 1 would be to get a good BMW specific scan tool theres plenty of options out there from commercial tools like sold on Amazon to phone based app tools like bimmergeeks protool or laptop based applications you can download like INPA or ISTA.

A BMW specific scan tool might be able to read a code for an electronic fault or loss of communication to a specific module that could cause that issue. If you are new to the BMW life a tool like this will pay for itself many times over and is a great investment for you.

For your door issue, each door has a door contact sensor/trigger that is pushed in when the door is closed you could have one that is damanged physically, disconnected or just failed entirely. Look at whatever door is showing as being open and ensure the pin pushes in and out correctly and is detected by the car as "closed" I also found that some models needed to have the FRM reprogrammed due to the same issue but unsure if your car fall under that service bulletin. I would have to research more and well... I'm lazy right now.

[charlie_m]

Apparently cluster issues are not that uncommon. Here's a sticky about it in the 'coding' section; not sure it applies here, but just in case it comes back:

https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=586614

[ISSA335]

Currently having the same issue, my turns off and on while driving, getting a CDA8 code. Tried checking all the fuses etc to no avail

[gbalthrop]

Originally Posted by ISSA335

Currently having the same issue, my turns off and on while driving, getting a CDA8 code.
Tried checking all the fuses etc to no avail

It would be helpful to identify WHAT turns off & on, and WHAT, if anything, remains ON. Do Tach & Speedo go to "0"?
Does Outside Temp display remain shown? Time as well? What about Fuel Level? B/C Buttons on Turn Signal Lever?

Fuses do NOT normally function intermittently, on/ off/ on, etc. Attached is ISTA ScreenPrint of KOMBI Wiring Diagram
with Lines ID showing function of the 7 wires. Note Outside Temp display & B/C buttons are ONLY hard-wired functions.

All other inputs are via CAN Bus, K_CAN_H (Orange/Green wire) & K_CAN_L (Green wire). If the K-CAN Bus Inputs
are intermittent, then I would check the Connector X11175 on rear of Instrument Cluster, and also Connector
X14272 (Black) at the JBE, per the attached Location & Connector View ScreenPrints. Check for any corroded/
damaged Pins/ Sockets, clean & reassemble. These locations and Fuse identification are for LATE 2007 335i,
built AFTER 3/1/2007. You want to check Power Supply (pin #9) and Ground (pin #18) as well as K-CAN pins.
If you have an EARLY 2007 335i, those items differ, so post back with your Last-7 Characters of VIN.
George

[ISSA335]

Originally Posted by gbalthrop

It would be helpful to identify WHAT turns off & on, and WHAT, if anything, remains ON. Do Tach & Speedo go to "0"?
Does Outside Temp display remain shown? Time as well? What about Fuel Level? B/C Buttons on Turn Signal Lever?

Fuses do NOT normally function intermittently, on/ off/ on, etc. Attached is ISTA ScreenPrint of KOMBI Wiring Diagram
with Lines ID showing function of the 7 wires. Note Outside Temp display & B/C buttons are ONLY hard-wired functions.

All other inputs are via CAN Bus, K_CAN_H (Orange/Green wire) & K_CAN_L (Green wire). If the K-CAN Bus Inputs
are intermittent, then I would check the Connector X11175 on rear of Instrument Cluster, and also Connector
X14272 (Black) at the JBE, per the attached Location & Connector View ScreenPrints. Check for any corroded/
damaged Pins/ Sockets, clean & reassemble. These locations and Fuse identification are for LATE 2007 335i,
built AFTER 3/1/2007. You want to check Power Supply (pin #9) and Ground (pin #18) as well as K-CAN pins.
If you have an EARLY 2007 335i, those items differ, so post back with your Last-7 Characters of VIN.
George

Everything turns off/on. The entire cluster along with the radio lights. The audio from the radio continues to play as well as AC continues uneffected but all light and everything turns off. All the gauges fall to 0, then return to what they should be, every service light comes on then turns back off till it repeats the cycle. I know fuses don't really go intermittently but I just wanted to double check everything.

Currently I've unplugged and cleaned the plug for the gauge cluster, checked all fuses related to gauge cluster OBD and looked over the power distribution box and nothing really looks out of place.

I will double check all the wiring you have referred too and check back. Just weird to me the radio turns off as well but my build date is a later model 07 so everything you outlined should apply.

[gbalthrop]

If Radio Display goes out (A/C Control Panel display too?) along with KOMBI functions, that suggests a K-CAN bus issue.
Any loose connection or short to ground in that "bus loop" can cause communication issues between Modules.

That could be confirmed by reading Fault Codes in ALL Modules, and if you have multiple modules with "Message Errors"
(no message received from 'X' Module) then almost certainly an issue with one of the Orange/Green, or Green wires,
or Pin/Socket at one of the connectors. While Fault Codes will NOT precisely identify the location of the fault, they
MAY offer some clues.

My "layman's concept" of the K-CAN bus is that it is like a computer network, where each Module/Computer sends
and receives signals via the "cable" (Orange/Green & Green wires).

Any electrical issue that disrupts or scrambles those signals causes abnormal Module behavior. Voltage spikes due to
faulty Alternator Voltage Regulator can cause a "Light Show" on the Instrument Cluster, but that is NOT what
you are reporting. Your issue sounds MORE like a wiring or connector issue in one of the bus wires.
ISTA SSP of K-CAN bus is attached. I would begin with the X14272 connector at the JBE, per earlier Connector View.
George

[Cyless]

Originally Posted by lookalikehuuh

Hey Cyless welcome!

To clarify what do you mean by "doesn't work at all". Like the gauges don't work or just the displays? Is there no backlight? The more information you can provide with as many specific details as possible will help us point you in the right direction.

There are sort of infinite possibilities at this point that could point you to where to even begin looking. Step 1 would be to get a good BMW specific scan tool theres plenty of options out there from commercial tools like sold on Amazon to phone based app tools like bimmergeeks protool or laptop based applications you can download like INPA or ISTA.

A BMW specific scan tool might be able to read a code for an electronic fault or loss of communication to a specific module that could cause that issue. If you are new to the BMW life a tool like this will pay for itself many times over and is a great investment for you.

For your door issue, each door has a door contact sensor/trigger that is pushed in when the door is closed you could have one that is damanged physically, disconnected or just failed entirely. Look at whatever door is showing as being open and ensure the pin pushes in and out correctly and is detected by the car as "closed" I also found that some models needed to have the FRM reprogrammed due to the same issue but unsure if your car fall under that service bulletin. I would have to research more and well... I'm lazy right now.

It just wouldn't work at all, nothing was lit up it was dead but I unplugged a bunch of fuses and put them back in. THen I waited overnight and the dash worked and its been working ever since. So I presume whatever it was is gone now (hopefully). But now im having a struggle finding where the problem to my P0012 code is 😔.

[javeci01]

Originally Posted by Cyless

It just wouldn't work at all, nothing was lit up it was dead but I unplugged a bunch of fuses and put them back in. THen I waited overnight and the dash worked and its been working ever since. So I presume whatever it was is gone now (hopefully). But now im having a struggle finding where the problem to my P0012 code is 😔.

Same thing happened to me, but for about two weeks. That was a year ago and all good since then. I note my car was out during some heavy rain, and the next day the cluster did not work as you described. I tried the fuses as well, but that didn't work.

[Cyless]

Originally Posted by javeci01

Same thing happened to me, but for about two weeks. That was a year ago and all good since then. I note my car was out during some heavy rain, and the next day the cluster did not work as you described. I tried the fuses as well, but that didn't work.

That's exactly what happened with me, my car was out in extremely heavy rain then I went out there a few hours later and the instrument cluster wasn't working but like I said its good now.

[wdwyerr516]

Hi, sorry for reviving an old thread but I’ve been have issues too where my cluster is on receiving power with all emergency lights on (no LED Screen or backlighting) and when I flash high beams they brighten but nothing else.
Any help is appreciated

[wdwyerr516]

Originally Posted by wdwyerr516

Hi, sorry for reviving an old thread but I’ve been have issues too where my cluster is on receiving power with all emergency lights on (no LED Screen or backlighting) and when I flash high beams they brighten but nothing else.
Any help is appreciated

Here’s a photo

[dazz100]

Hi
I have the same sort of fault.
The instrument cluster appears to be completely unpowered. No warning lights. No LED back lights. The dial needles are fixed at non-zero readings.

Everything else works. Lights, indicators, HVAC, steering wheel buttons, CCC display etc etc all function correctly. It is as if the instrument cluster is unplugged.

Today I checked fuse 58 5Amp and it is good.

I am an electronics engineer so my first thought would be to check power supplies to the cluster. If they are OK, then start looking at power supply regulation on the cluster. This really requires the cluster to be removed from the car and connected to a bench power supply. Has anyone else done this?

[gbalthrop]

Originally Posted by dazz100

... The instrument cluster appears to be completely unpowered. No warning lights. No LED back lights.
The dial needles are fixed at non-zero readings. Everything else works. Today I checked fuse 58 5Amp and it is good.
I am an electronics engineer so my first thought would be to check power supplies to the cluster...

Seems the guys in Northern Hemisphere who speak English have trouble with Electrical Diagrams. Hope your experience
in Southern Hemisphere differs.

Attached are ISTA ScreenPrints of KOMBI circuit, Lines ID & connector view. Removal of Instrument Cluster to access
X11175 Connector should only require removal of 2 screws on either side of top of unit. I would first test for 12V+ at
X11175/9 (Red wire from F58) & then Continuity to Chassis Ground at X11175/18 (Brown/Black wire). If power &
ground, ALL INPUTS to KOMBI are via K-CAN Bus, except Ambient Temp & B/C from Turn Signal Stalk.
George

[pdude1]

This happened to me several times with the older software on a '08 e92. It would shut off and if I turned everything off/on it would not come back. Eventually it would reboot itself. Usually within an hour.

I thought they fixed that issue with later code revs as I haven't seen that for a long time.

[dazz100]

Originally Posted by gbalthrop

Seems the guys in Northern Hemisphere who speak English have trouble with Electrical Diagrams. Hope your experience
in Southern Hemisphere differs.

Being up-side down, down under, the blood and oxygen naturally flow to the brain, so we are all smarter down here than up north.

I found a YT video where they went through and re-flowed all the solder joints on the instrument cluster pcb. This was on the basis that the solder joints fatigued and cracked over time. I have a hot air station so I could do that, but the complete black out I have points to a power supply problem. I would rather find a fault and fix it.

I also discovered I checked the wrong fuse because my E90 build date has a different fuse box layout. It will be easier and better to check power/gnd at the cluster connector.

Is it safe to bench test the cluster with just power connected?
I am assuming the answer is yes, but if you are able to answer, I don't need to make any assumptions.

The cluster is ex-parrot dead so I have nothing to lose by experimenting.

[dazz100]

Hi
My instrument cluster had the random stop working problem.
I tried the heat gun approach to reflow solder joints. It worked.

It works but I don't know what the exact fault was. Could have been a cracked solder joint, tin whiskers, or something else. As an old school Electronics Engineer, I hate lead free solder used on modern boards.

As a bonus, I have attached an image that identifies the key parts on the pcb. Basically it is interface ICs centred on a micro-controller.

[gbalthrop]

Originally Posted by dazz100

...My instrument cluster had the random stop working problem. I tried the heat gun approach to reflow solder joints. It worked. It works but I don't know what the exact fault was. Could have been a cracked solder joint, tin whiskers, or something else. As an old school Electronics Engineer, I hate lead free solder used on modern boards.

With my VAST Electronics Engineering skills (None ;-) I can immediately identify the problem. Your board is UPSIDE DOWN (or is that a Southern Hemisphere 'thing'?)

If you have the time to provide any links to Web resources, or Cites to other resources which provide some basics, such as identifying components or their functions (even techniques & tools for reflowing solder joints) that would be appreciated.

Glad you got it fixed & Hope it stays that way,
George