'97 540i board computer display problems

Piotr · 12-22-2002, 06:55 PM

hi, i just bought a '97 540i and have noticed that the display in the instrument cluster (the bottom part that displays the messages) the lighting is very uneven like some of the dots light up fine while random ones are dim and some are very dim or very bright, is this a common problem with this model? i could get a picture of the display if it is needed, thanks for your responses- Pete

Kashinski · 12-30-2002, 05:07 PM

Apparently, this is not an uncommon problem. I just bought a 98 740iL that is in otherwise perfect condition that also has this problem.

I found other posts about this on http://bimmer.roadfly.org/bmw/forums/e38/ (e38 is the last generation 7XX model designator).

There is a post about a fix -- bathing the board in circuit cleaner and also a post from a lawyer who's trying to put together a class-action suit against BMW for this problem.

Piotr · 12-30-2002, 06:51 PM

i cannot seem to find the thread that shows the fix, could you help me out ?

Kashinski · 12-30-2002, 08:17 PM

Try this:

http://bimmer.roadfly.org/bmw/forums/e38/forum.php?postid=1551088&page=1

Also, if you go to the top of the full page this is on, there's the post from the lawyer who is really charged up about going after BMW NA.

Let me know if this URL works for you.

Wayne 962 · Wayne 962's Garage

Wow, a lawyer with too much time on his hands. I wonder if he would file a class-action suit for all the things that break on a Porsche 914?

-Wayne

Bart911Man · 01-03-2003, 09:14 AM

Could I sue Porsche for my CDI unit that broke after 75K miles?

Serious now.
BMW is very serious about their build quality (at least in Europe they are).
I have found it very easy to make a deal with an official BMW dealer to fix poor quality for a "frendly" price even after years after warrenty.

Your displays deffinately have some interior oxidation or other sources of electrical resistance.

Go for it,
Bart.