Instrument panel mod
- Thread starter sean100473
- Start date
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I've tried to take my needles off one of my spare gauges (actually all four), and I was unsucessful. I'm not sure how they're supposed to go on, but I'm assuming you have to take the needle off, and remove the two tiny screws to take the old faces off. I think those works better for E36 models. Maybe I wasn't trying hard enough, but it looked like the needle was going to break before I was going to pop off.
Okay, I've done it. I've popped the needle off of an old speedometer from an 86 325e (with 453726km's on it!!) the first time I popped it off the whole needle including it's shaft came off. I put it back on and it still had it's full range of motion with no rubbing on the face. I took it off again, and this time the shaft stayed in and just the plastic needle came off, but the needle will go back on again without any problem. I'll take some pictures tomorrow to show you that it will work despite what I previously said. The pictures should settle your mind so that you don't think I'm pulling your leg. I'll tell you that this is off a car with a "Motometer" gauge cluster, and I know some cars have VDO gauge clusters, so I'm not sure if they are mfg'd any differently.
Here's the gauge cluster out:
Pry the needle off carefully, but use force.
Undo the two small screws (don't lose them!), and off come the gauges.
and here are the two peices:
Just make sure that when you are removing your instrument cluster from the car, that you put a towel on the steering column to prevent the face of the cluster from getting scratched. Also, now might be a good time to check your SI board batteries for corrosion. The tachometer and L/100km (fuel milege) guages each have a small tab that stops the needles at the "0" (zero). These little tabs are easily pulled out with your fingertips, and are easy to push back into place.
Oh, and try to resist turning your odometer backwards... 'cause you can, but shouldn't, of course.
Good luck,
Scott
Pry the needle off carefully, but use force.
Undo the two small screws (don't lose them!), and off come the gauges.
and here are the two peices:
Just make sure that when you are removing your instrument cluster from the car, that you put a towel on the steering column to prevent the face of the cluster from getting scratched. Also, now might be a good time to check your SI board batteries for corrosion. The tachometer and L/100km (fuel milege) guages each have a small tab that stops the needles at the "0" (zero). These little tabs are easily pulled out with your fingertips, and are easy to push back into place.
Oh, and try to resist turning your odometer backwards... 'cause you can, but shouldn't, of course.
Good luck,
Scott
My "SI" batteries were growing, I recently took my gauges out to replace bulbs that were blown and decided to have a look to see if they were still in there, the "SI" board was disconected and the led oil service panel gone 
im thinking about putting a fuel mixture led panel from jaycar behined that oil service panel, though i was hoping to use the original leds anyone got any pics of those leds?
im thinking about putting a fuel mixture led panel from jaycar behined that oil service panel, though i was hoping to use the original leds anyone got any pics of those leds?
