

The needle anywhere is this whole section is fine according to BMW. The E30 temperature gauge is not linear - it's compressed at each end, with the whole centre section from just clear of the blue to just before the red, covering just a few degrees. If your fuel gauge isn't working, click here. A 62 litre gauge connected to a 55 litre tank will still read half when the tank is empty, while a 55 litre gauge connected to a 62 litre tank will read empty when the tank is still half full.įuel gauges can be identified by a label on the side of the gauge. Depending on which tank the car has, a specific fuel gauge is installed in the cluster, which are not interchangeable. The E30 was fitted with two different fuel tanks, a 55 litre and 62 litre. Removal of the odometer is simple, but the only practical solution is to replace the entire dial.Į30 Fuel gauges are a standard needle gauge, fitted with an orange warning lamp when the tank level reaches 8litres. Over time, the small plastic gears that drive the wheels become brittle and break, especially in hot-weather countries. The odometer, or mile counter, is a simple system of mechanised wheels and gears, powered by a small motor. A green plug connects to the back of the dash cluster with provides additional pins to which the cruise control can be connected.

If your speedometer has stopped working, click here.Ĭruise control systems require speed information to work properly. It takes this measurement from a sensor inside the differential, which means that the displayed speed is dependent on the size of wheel and tyre you are using.Į30 speedometers are calibrated to display a higher-than-actual speed, which was common among manufacturers at the time. The Speedometer tells you how fast your car is going. The coding plug can be accessed by removing the plastic trim around the instrument cluster the cluster itself does not need to be removed. When replacing your dash cluster with that from a different model, it is an incorrect coding plug that causes instrument problems. Inside each dash cluster is a coding plug, which is specific to each engine, be it a 4-cylinder or 6-cylinder unit. However, if the SI batteries have leaked, the entire circuit board will need to be replaced.

The tags aren't the same as the originals, so note which end is +, and solder on some short lengths of wire to the tags to fit them in. These are tag ended AAA NiMH cells that are physically smaller than the originals (but with a higher capacity), which will allow you some extra room to fit them in. The batteries needed are CPC-Farnell, part # BT04235 at £1-79 each will do the job perfectly. NiCd and Lithium batteries are not interchangeable, but NiCd can be replaced with NiMh. If they measure low or zero volts, they can be replaced. Placing batteries in a freezer for 15 minutes, then measuring their voltage, will determine whether they need replacing. Most battery-related issues are caused by NiCd batteries. Two types of batteries were fitted during the production run 1.2 volt NiCd batteries and 3.0V Lithium batteries. Many problems associated with the dash cluster are caused by failing or leaking batteries which need to be replaced. To control a number of the instruments, batteries are fitted to the back of the circuit board. If you have changed your engine, especially for a non-E30 engine such as a M50, then rewiring the C101 plug is essential for making the dash cluster work properly. These plugs are fed information from the main loom through the C101 plug, which is attached to the bulkhead inside the engine bay.

It receives its information through two plugs (white and blue) connected to the rear of the circuit board. The dash cluster is a one-piece circuit board inside a plastic shell, mounted to the dashboard. Learn more about replacing your Dash Cluster. A Speedometer, fuel guage and coolant temperature gauge were standard across the range, while all M20 models received a Tachometer (rev counter) and econometer as standard. The E30 was fitted with a multi-instrument binacle featuring all the standard clocks and dials expected of a car.
