Can't Set Your BMW E46 Clock Anymore? - Cluster Rebuild DIY

My mailing address for correspondence or swag of any kind is on my about page.
This video is for entertainment purposes only. 50sKid assumes no liability for any repairs or modifications performed by the viewer as a result of the information contained in this video.

[@artpedraza1]

You're the best 50's kid. Got my e46 in May and I just can't stand not having a clock. The process looks delicate but totally do-able. Thank you very much. Next I need to figure out how to make a duplicate, functioning key that doesn't cost $300 bucks!

[@stevegoosney676]

Well thanks Jason, I had the same issue with my new 325i... but I caused it, being too rough and not pushing when I turned it, broke one arm off... I glued it back together today, cut up some box banding straps, and glued them on both sides, did the none broken one too.... works awesome now, clock is back! Yeah! Thanks so much, your videos saved my ass, buying someone else's problem, but no longer a problem, now a nice reliable car! Awesome!

[@jonathanwestrum9345]

Just complete this job today. Thanks for the video, it really made the process a whole lot easier. The only issue I had was getting the needles realigned. After watching your video I took the time to mark the locations but it still took more than a few tries to get my speedometer correct. Thanks for the great video.

[@av6162]

Dude. Thanks for the sacrificing your instrument cluster for us "everyday Joes". My clock still works but can only switch between 12 and 24 hour clock mode. Can't get it to advance the time. I will just leave my 21 year old display alone and stick with my watch. Awesome videos.

[@davidnguyen5028]

The best trick is to use a paper clip to move the side dial when the side tabs are broken, be sure to push down the center shaft. This may take a couple tries but it worked well.

[@JohnIsett]

Very well done, Jason! The best thing I learned from all this is to handle my knob very gently.

[@donny007x]

Protip: you can use a program called Navcoder to set the clock in the instrument cluster via the IBUS data network. Of course it's annoying that you have to use a laptop every time you want to set the clock, but it's better than nothing. If your E46 is equipped with the factory navigation system your clock will automatically be set via GPS.

[@SwingingInTheHood]

Thank you so much for this comment. I googled Navcoder, which led me to I-Bus, which let me to K-Bus (e46). I was hoping, but had no idea that there was a way to connect to my old 2002's computer using an android app. I was just about to pay a guy to do the hardware workaround in this video. For us software guys, i-bus is a way better solution to this clock problem.

[@robertcoyle9071]

I have inpa, ista and PAsoft Is there any way to do it with any if those? I'm not trying to do what this guys doing. My hands aren't steady enough.

[@Wipsplash]

I JB Quick Welded my old pieces back in place then lightly sanded the entire finger. I cut and bent 2 pieces of beer can to fit the entire area then used The Right Stuff gasket maker to adhere the properly sanded aluminum covering the entire finger joining the broken and unbroken areas. I added more Gasket maker around the area so the pieces couldn't move around even if they broke again. Setting the clock works perfect again and I think it will be a lasting repair. I used JB Quick Weld, Permatex The Right Stuff Gasket maker and Budweiser..

[@MikeNielsen12]

I just had this same problem. Instead or replacing with a new part, I used hot glue to add two pieces of Popsicle stick where the broken tabs were. Worked like a charm!

[@TheCowgirlNiamh]

This is why I love you Jason! Lol mine has been bugging the shit out of me since I broke it. I've been planning to take it apart but I didn't know what I was looking for. Can't believe some of the comments here! You try to help someone but they're not happy unless you fix it for them by the looks of it .....

[@dodger59]

Was able to fix the unit using your technique.... Thanks... Man, I missed my clock!

[@vloniello]

They do sell grey gauge faces that resemble M series. They also have colored needles or methods to change the glow on them (sharpies etc). Using a fork works well to remove the needles. The needles can be installed off zero and it can cause faulty reporting down the line - a possible calibration was mentioned in the video comments but that secret menu does not calibrate a bad needle placement in my experience. Fyi the temperature gauge is the most likely to get noticeably wrong as it is designed to pin center after warm-up.

[@glowsite2088]

Great video liked how you took the time to fully explain exactly what you were doing. Fantastic job brotha.

[@davidnguyen5028]

My broke too, the trick is disconnect the battery and reconnect at midnight.

[@do9221]

Had that exact same thought at 00:30 in.

[@do9221]

....except that didn't do anything but give me a blinking "- - : - -" display that is only slightly less irritating than the incorrect time.

[@Aus.S7in]

You're a fucking genius!!!!!

[@herrfinke1]

Make sure the clock is displayed on the center cluster. Not distance to empty, etc. It needs to Mach the radio time. Easy to forget....

[@carlwood5501]

or Midday

[@HunterOfHalfLife]

Wearing a pair of gloves would be a good idea to prevent getting everything there dirty with your dirty fingers. You know, at one point you'll look at the cluster and there will be this damn fingerprint somewhere, when sun shines on it lol

[@nikolasekulic7194]

Thank you man , I will do just that , go to a junk yard and practice whit a old one first . it sure is a pain whit out the clock , and just because I like everything in good working condition ( if I can manage or at least try ) THANK YOU AGAIN !!!!

[@0AndrewBolt0]

Great vid. Lots of important small details. Really helpful. Thank you.

[@agent_ethan]

All you have to do, to have the same VIN and Mileage it's transplant the main chip from the old odometer to the "new" one. It's a pretty easy task if you're confortable with soldering iron. It's a chip with 6 pins I believe... (3 on each side)

[@aprilbellamycreed1242]

Thanks 🙏🏽 for the detailed information!!! Now I know what to do.. well my husband knows what he has to do! 😅😅

[@209xKiiNG]

Didn’t realize removing cluster was that easy. 330 cluster here I come!

[@MDKRTG]

The screen connections are known as zebra strips or zebra connectors, although I think that may be a brand name, and are normally a piece of rubber with conductive sections that rely on the compression to make the connection between the pcb and screen matrix. Common in things like calculators and multi meters. Normally when you see half a screen working on something chances are the strip has moved, has crap in it or is not being compressed enough.

[@inguesuni]

12:10 the first one dropped

[@AnthonyGall0YT]

lol i noticed that too

[@daaniel69]

Thanks! Looks like mine is broken too! I will definitely try to recover the plastic piece from the cluster and see how much they’ll charge me for that instead of the whole cluster at the junk yard ahaha

[@mountainwoodie9816]

Great video. Couldnt stand the time being off one hour (lol) and went to adjust. Got a lil too frisky with the knob and I just broke ( I think) the clock tabs by being too forceful. Going to try the disconnect battery trick then move to finding a replacement yellow piece with tabs intact :).

[@grovestreetbarz9938]

Cause you gotta practice doing it right before you do it to your own 👌🏽

[@royleger364]

Excellent! Thank you, I'll be back for more.

[@ubcmember]

Good Job! This was one of the first things I did when I got the car. I wonder how many people broke their knobs turning too hard trying to set the clock? Be very careful not to pull the metal spindle off when removing the needles.

[@MartyHaloMeyer]

A couple of years ago I ordered new spindles from onlineshop.wunschtacho.de/product_info.php/info/p841_Original-reset-buttons-for-BMW-E46-instrument-cluster.html They did ship to the USA. A bit pricey. I never installed them, but plan on it and will use this video to do so. There is also a paper clip fix on E46Fanatics.com for the spindle, using your broken one. Another great job by 50's Kid here. Thanks again. DEADF15H

[@damojan]

"Be very careful not to pull the metal spindle off when removing the needles" It's not really something you have a choice of. Either the shafts come out, or they stay in. My junkyard cluster left the shafts in the stepper motors, but on my cluster, the shafts came out with the gauge needles. I think they are made one way or the other. Putting it back together was nerve wracking, as it took a few tries to un-jam the shafts from the stepper motor gears. The only 2 affected of course, were the most important ones; the tach and the speedo. I found that pulling them away from the overlay helped. Had to get the motors moving a bit, while I had the mainboard plugged into the car, moving the gauge needles and cycling the key. At first I thought I wrecked the cluster, but some patience paid off.

[@dexietyy7922]

@@damojanhi my shafts came out today and my tach and speedo no longer work how can I fix it? You can hear the motors working the needles just won’t move

[@mattiedanielcucu]

hello I'm from Italy thanks for the video I have the same problem with the clock from my bmw e46

[@PRAGEETHKARUNADHEERA]

Hey 50sKid, be careful when removing needles. You better turn them anti clockwise while gently pulling them up. If you just pull them up you can damage stepper motors. Ask me how I know!!! I had to replace all of them in mine.

[@artpedraza1]

Help Please. After reassembling the rpm and mpg needles were loose. Also my mph do not register a speed. I think an issue with my needles. Any ideas???

[@artpedraza1]

What are stepper motors? How do I replace those?

[@dexietyy7922]

Yeah I did this today the pins came out of the motors my tach and speed no longer work

[@FstSgtHromushin]

Thank you, fixed the buttons thanks to yours video

[@artpedraza1]

Hey 50's kid thank you very much. You helped me a ton and saved me a ton. Question for a problem I can't shake with my 2001 BMW 325CI, Convertible. My damn Service Engine Soon light won't shut off. The code says P0128, something with my thermostat. My foreign auto repair place I go to is great. They replaced the thermostat 3 times. also hoses and sensors. Any idea ??? I"m wondering if its electrical at this point.

[@alexmolina3175]

Wow i thought that was for racing mode haha silly me i have to swap mine now thanks @50sKid

[@Mtinez61]

Enjoy your videos, I’ve learned a lot about my car just watching you. Tried to fix my clock just as you did, only not with much success. My clock is working, gas gauge is working, but my speed and rpm gauges are not working anymore. Any ideas about how to fix this? Thanks for all your help.

[@jonathan643]

Good video man :-) i recently 'discovered' you channel, i was looking for a channel like HumbleMechanic but fow BMW and i think this is the one :D I own an BMW e46 but only a 320d. Keep up the good work! GRTZ

[@AviatorDashie]

You can actually set the mileage to match your other modules with pa soft if i remember correctly i had it done on mine by a friend

[@billrimmer5596]

Enjoy your videos. Could u lay out how they break down e46 or other designations. Often times trying to find info, u need to know what the designation is. The year make and model is not the language BMW people use

[@straight6petrol]

Bill Rimmer it depends on year and model, try a Google of say a 330ci and it will come back with an e46. Try a 2007 320i and you get an e90, unless it's coupe then you get e92 ect. The 5 series has e60 ranges and it goes on!

[@turbocharger]

Hi, I have a problem. stereo disable bmw e46. Can you help me to make it work?

[@anatolimitkov3976]

Cluster reset - hold left button, go to number 19, press when it says off then go to number 21 and reset

[@deplorabledave1048]

I had a real carbon fiber dash face added professionally on my 2005 M3. My clock is broken now just from age. My speedo reads 5mph fast I wonder if I can re set that needle so it reads correctly. I would take a photo of the needle positioning and use cotton gloves.

[@stevegoosney676]

Just apply masking tape, mark with a pen, remove the needle, re install a little lower, remove tape! Done!

[@uilsonRJ]

Nice video, mine ad one broken since I bought it, and yesterday the other one followed the same path.. thanks for the video explaining it. Also in that radio model, cant you program the time using it? I think you can, but for me I have to take the cluster apart because I have a different radio that doesn't show time.

[@herrfinke1]

Pls make sure center console info. Center is also sent to time also. Not distance to empty, etc. Otherwise time won't change!

[@kurtlyons136]

wish we had a BMW junkyard here in the Detroit area

[@billrimmer5596]

Nice job!! Did u take it apart and out the dials in the right spot?

[@straight6petrol]

Mine let's you go forward but not back. It's great fun playing stop on the time otherwise it's another 24 hours round we go!

[@tonebebop7656]

I would of done a manual tightening on reassembly. Also used gloves or a tissue for a camera lens. Also try invisible glass cleaner.

[@thwong5386]

Hi 50skid, the spare instrument cluster PCB available for sale? mine the PCB burnt , btw have you tried to start the car without the instrument cluster? just want to confirm whether we can fire up the engine without the instrument cluster connected, mine somehow the instrument cluster affecting the engine startup, with cranks no start, thank you in advance

[@yokananpamungkas2648]

Dude, I have the problem that my instrument cluster is going crazy, it first happened 2 months ago with a light indicator on right headlight, but my headlight still good but sometimes it's blinking, then a month later my cluster going worse, when the gauge engine at the middle (engine running for a while) my cluster start showing the gearbox light, but I feel that my shifting is good, and at the clock instruments going so messy. and now when I run the car and engine is on that temperature, my cluster show battery indicator and finally, my cluster is dead. And then i watch so much video that most of them suggest to DC the battery and I done it, when I instal the battery again everything is normal until I drive the car and the gauge on the engine heat reach the middle, the battery light comes again and then my instrument cluster is totally dead, but I still can start the engine without any light come on the cluster, I've check battery voltage when engine not running and it's 13V and when the engine running it's 14V and it doesn't drop even I turn on the headlight, music, and AC (can't do cold blow) My car still can do a crank and start but I was so scared driving without any lights on the cluster. Anyone, please help me :( BMW E46 318i 2003 with N42 engine

[@OilBaron100]

Hi Jason, Ihave a brand new BMW instrument cluster for an E53 X5, 2003. What do I need to use to code the new cluster? (Ie: SSS Progman, NCS Expert, ISTA)? Is there a video or proceedure that you could share with me? Should I add a battery charger while I do the coding? Thanks.

[@thomass3559]

My onboard control button does not work anymore...and i only have the temperture on the display...how can i still adjust the time?or is it not possible anymore?

[@cadong92692]

If you get a different instrument cluster could you not use your BMW scan tool to reprogram it with an advanced bmw scan tool?

[@Martin280967]

Which junkyard is recommended to get BMW parts, I'll go to LKQ Pick a Part but they have different prices for parts. One is more expensive than the other despite they share the same name.

[@nonimportant3505]

U can these from a 525i at junkyard if 325i dont have cluster still intact

[@dexietyy7922]

I did this today but unfortunately the metal pins came out with the needle on my tach and speedo after rebuilding they no longer work but everything else does. I guess it’s dead

[@eliasbot11]

Hey, love the vids, had a question.. I have a 02 e46 325ci and I can't reset the oil timer on the odometer. :/ any ideas?

[@paulofernandes2430]

Hello I have a problem, I went to the reset I Pressed the wrong number. My instrument panel went out no longer Work... That can be?

[@Sp3NgL3R_MF]

i have 316i from 2000, and i dont have BC button for board computer and also i wanna put M steering wheel with all the buttons on it. But people told me that i need to check the Can Bus. To check that so i will be able to use all the buttons from steering wheel. I Have now also a Multimedia in it. My question should i be able to put that steering wheel and that handle with BC on it even if i dont check the Can Bus system ? And also do i need to do some coding for BC handle ?

[@bretdevoe2291]

I have a 2004 bmw 330ci e46. I cannot get my Clock to set on the display on the radio it has little lines crossed it and it says a.m. so it’s telling me it’s morning I can’t get the mode to change on the computer by pushing the button on the end of my headlight dimmer switch that has BC on it so I’m assuming that the problem is that switch if you could help me with that problem at all I would be very greatly appreciate it

[@triciaharry7524]

I have an e46 n42 318i and my gears light on the odometer is not working and I cannot switch to tiptronic manual..please help

[@veganwally]

You're good!

[@Nina_39-c5l]

the mine is a bmw 325i 4 doors and only present on the test 2 front doors, so i think i have a 2 doors cluster, and this 2 doors are mixed rare, when i open the driver door indicate that the open door in the cluster is the passenger door and if i open the passenger door is the same, show in cluster that the open door is the driver one...so need help

[@ezekielmartinez1424]

My clock stopped working once I installed my Eonon aftermarket radio. How can I fix this issue ?

[@marcovandenbosch7639]

so why didn't you just set the clock with the radio buttons? the cluster changes then also

[@bretdevoe2291]

My radio doesn’t work either and the problem is not the cluster the problem is the BC switch on the end of the turn signal I need to know how to change that I watched a video on it earlier but it’s not in English and there’s no way to get it in English but he took the turn signal switch apart and there’s a broken wire in there and he started it and fixed it I just want to change the switch to buy a new one but I will switch it out if you please help me by doing a video or if somebody has information thank you

[@yeeluvspizza]

Time is an overrated concept. I have moved onto always knowing the current temperature outside. Always.😂

[@80MXM08]

In secret menu one of choices lights up whole instrument panel and all needles goes up and down. I think it might be some calibration

[@sirbader1]

Test 2.0. Turn to ignition pos 2, press and hold left plastic stalk on the gauges until "TEST" pops up, cycle to test 19. ON and OFF will be flashing, while it says off, cycle to test 2.0. Test 7.0 is your coolant temp, 9.0 is your voltage.

[@smarkwilson1]

Actually you can code new cluster with pa-soft software milage and error reset

[@haidar6638]

I set it from the navigation system 😂 mein is not broken I really wants to know how can i find the interior temperature sensor and how i can change it

[@slickwitdasticks4493]

PROBLEM SLOVED: ...look at your phone

[@jadelajouz2996]

You wouldn’t understand some like me are perfectionists

[@timovandam]

Can I replace the stepper motor for the temperature gauge myself? Where would I get one?

[@stevegoosney676]

I did on my suburban, had some extras, but if course they are different... if you can get them, forsure!

[@grovestreetbarz9938]

That was some fast thinking lol

[@grovestreetbarz9938]

Put an old blanket down on the ground for fragile flying parts

[@philipgrobler7253]

To make it easier just lower the steering wheel.

[@gianfrancoa]

Phillips screws on a German car? That would be too easy

[@williemickbillie]

there's a 3d print file on thingiverse takes 9 minutes to print with $.01 cost lol

[@fuzzyfuster]

crappy design by bmw!! mine broke too 2004 330ci.............broke in 2019

[@sirbader1]

If a little plastic stick lasted 15 years, I'd say it's a pretty good design.

[@MrSnowman669]

Or u could have took a picture before u touch it lol or sharpie