BMW E9X Instrument Cluster Disassembly DIY

[nyc_dude]

Excellent BMW Tech taking apart a BMW E9X Instrument Cluster.

Just removing the instrument cluster will scratch the clear plastic window.
So place a microfiber towel on the top/back of the steering wheel. A protective sheet of plastic/foam sheet taped to the clear plastic would help. Adjust the steering wheel out and down to provide more room to work.

Use two plastic spoons to pop out the needles. Try not to spin the needles.

Skip the scary Dremel part. The M3 clear plastic window is lightly glued in place and pops out. A heat gun or blow dryer should do the trick. It is only held in place with two small v shaped tabs at the bottom. When you reinstall the instrument cluster, the clear window is held in place more securely...but it is loose when the gauge cluster is removed.

Use Meguiars PlastiX or Griot's Garage Plastic Polish to remove scratches from the clear plastic. A 1" foam pad on a drill will help, but you can polish it by hand.

The black plastic cluster area behind the clear plastic should never be touched, wiped...anything. It is that icky BMW black matte coated plastic...that scratches even when you just look at it.

Also notice that the fuel gauge is out of wack. You have to remove the needles, plug the cluster in, and turn on/off the start/stop in accessory mode. Then pop in the needles to zero. Easier to do in the car if the clear plastic is loose.

None of the individual instrument cluster parts are available separately from BMW...so eBay is your friend. Not sure if the BMW 325i/335i and M3 clear plastic window are the same. So you need to find a E9X M3 cluster...usually $300+. Maybe finding one "damaged" is the best bet...hard to find.


Cheers