odometer unreadable

duplexduck · 01-18-2008, 10:15 PM

New member with new car at least for me.1996 e36 328is coupe.Love the car but not being an electronics guy it,s a bit frustrating with some of the problems.
I believe I have one odometer back-light burnt out as the odometer is readable at night but not the trip meter.
The bulb change does,nt worry me but I think my real issue is the LCD as both are unreadable in the day time when you don,t have the lights on.
I am thinking there is an issue with the LCD. I have heard of people re -soldering the LCD with some luck. The only help I get from the dealer hear in Canada is hand over $1500.
Any help would be appreciated.

hornhospital · 01-19-2008, 06:06 PM

Can you read the odo/trip by illuminating them from the front with a flashlight? If so, there's nothing wrong except the rear illumination bulbs are burnt out. My daughter's '95 318is has the same problem, but we've only had it a couple of weeks, and I haven't had time to change the bulbs. The numbers are almost invisible even with the lights on, but they are easily visible with a flashlight. Changing bulbs is on the "to-do" list.

duplexduck · 01-20-2008, 11:26 PM

Yes I can read the (LCD Odo&Trip) with a flashlight but I am only able to read the odo side with my lights selected on but not the trip side as I assume the one back light is burnt out.
The real issue is neither are readable in the day when the lights are not selected on or are these backlights always"on" when the ignition is in posII?
If not it makes me think that the LCD itself is to blame?
I would then be looking for a repair contact as it,s beyond my scope.

hornhospital · 01-21-2008, 10:31 PM

I think (hope) the backlights for the odo/trip are lit any time the ignition is on, and both you and I only need to replace bulbs to correct this, but you may be right that the LCDs are going south, but why would the numerals be visible if the LCDs are going bad? Wouldn't they be blank?

I'm hoping to get to the bulb replacement this weekend. My daughter is using the car every day and doesn't get home until after dark. I don't want to tackle that job with a droplight for my only illumination. BTW, neither her odo nor trip odo are visible, even with the lights on, but are easily seen with front light (flashlight). That leads me to believe the LCDs are OK, and the backlight is the culprit.

Anyone else care to jump in and help here? Are the backlights for the odos on with the ignition, or only the park/head lights? Neither duplexduck nor I have anything to compare with to tell.

hornhospital · 01-22-2008, 04:34 PM

duplexduck, I found a thread on the bimmerfest.com site that deals with odo displays. A member posted a .pdf of a repair he did (good info to save) but his display LCDs were having issues. The last posting confirms what I've been thinking....if the numerals appear normal with front light, the LCDs are OK, it's just the backlighting bulbs that need replacing. Here's a link to the thread: http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=251379