group buy: in-cluster digital oil temp/pressure gauge

[kronus]

It is way too late for this one, sorry.

I will be in touch with Roland about getting a second round done, but unclear when I will have time.

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GB Update, I emailed tracking numbers and instructions to everyone who has a package on the way to them.

Owndapwn and SmokeyJohn102 are up next for shipping, and then I ran out of bubble wrap so everyone else is going out tomorrow morning.

[MannyE]

GB Update, I emailed tracking numbers and instructions to everyone who has a package on the way to them.

What about instructions for us who already received their package?

[kronus]

You should have an email as well!

[kronus]

packages for

Owndapwn
KrautNotRice
SmokeyJohn102
missmye21
cek

are now shipped

expect emails with instructions in a few hours once I'm at work.

[KrautnotRice]

Thanks!

[kronus]

Email instructions and tracking information sent out.

[clipper47]

I sure hope that one of the buyers will post a photo shoot of how to install these gauges. The photos that came with the instructions are not very good quality IMO ( no fault of Kronus who has done a great job of acquiring these gauges for us.) I am looking forward to have them installed on my 635CSi. Thanks.

[kronus]

I'm intending to do a detailed pictorial writeup once I get a bit of time - probably next week.

[Owndapwn]

I get the gist of what's to be done, but the NiCad clusters are a bit different from the one in the pictures. If anyone gets to their NiCad cluster before I do, posts would be good. If not, I'll post pictures and upload.

[dcains]

Count me as one interested in a good picture thread showing the installation process. Also, just unpacked mine, and my first impression is that everything looks great, except the wiring included for the senders. I'm not sure that wire is suitable for the heat of the engine bay, nor is it very good in terms of abrasion resistance. I'd suggest changing it out for some high-temp automotive wiring. Other than that, I can only say thanks to kronus for getting this group buy doen for us all.

[2manyBimmers]

I'm in for a set with sender unit.

[kronus]

I get the gist of what's to be done, but the NiCad clusters are a bit different from the one in the pictures. If anyone gets to their NiCad cluster before I do, posts would be good. If not, I'll post pictures and upload.

I didn't know that there are different clusters. What's a NiCad cluster, what e28s does it come in? (I'm assuming it's just the SI board that's different..)

[Owndapwn]

I get the gist of what's to be done, but the NiCad clusters are a bit different from the one in the pictures. If anyone gets to their NiCad cluster before I do, posts would be good. If not, I'll post pictures and upload.

I didn't know that there are different clusters. What's a NiCad cluster, what e28s does it come in? (I'm assuming it's just the SI board that's different..)

The later models used Lithium batteries. Earlier ones (And I think all M30 models, but don't quote me on that) used NiCad. There's not much difference in way of physical shape and how it mounts and everything, but I don't know about clearances from the inside or special wiring differences or what have you.
Two clusters, two sets of pictures seems, at the very least, convenient. I'll do just fine once I have the cluster and gauges in front of me, but some people just get scared and confused with electronics, so a picture to back up the gut feeling of "Maybe I should drill and drop the wire through here.."

[Kyle in NO]

The only real cluster differences are Early vs Late. Multiple types of batteries can be found in both types. Again, accuracy of information.

[Owndapwn]

The only real cluster differences are Early vs Late. Multiple types of batteries can be found in both types. Again, accuracy of information.

RealOEM shows the same cluster in the very first 533 and the very last 535, as well as the early 528, but the later 528 uses a different cluster, the main difference being two different boards, which looks like, from the factory at least, came with NiCad on the first design and Li-Ion on the second design. Also, the Bentley suggests two clusters being used, as did BMW when I called to inquire about a replacement tach, which the parts guy asked how many red service lights mine had, and if I had NiCad or Li-Ion batteries, which implied they didn't use Li-Ion on the early clusters or NiCad on the late clusters.
This is for US only cars, and only assumes the cluster is stock. Since Li-Ion clusters will fit in a car that originally had a NiCad, all bets are off there.
So if you have other sources that say BMW supplied early boards with Li-Ion and later boards with NiCad, I'd love to hear it. But multiple sources claimed two revisions while troubleshooting my dead tach and when replacing the bad SI batteries.

[Kyle in NO]

I don't know where you are getting this info on Realoem, or why you are trusting these people 100%, but there are early and late clusters. The BMW ETK does not indicate the same cluster is used in "the very first 533i and the very last 535i" if you know how to use it. What it likely says is that the part numbers have been superceded and there is only one available which will fit both models. Early parts are interchangeable among early clusters, and later parts are with late clusters. There were multiple different clusters offered, sometimes for each model. Yes, earlier boards had NiCads and later ones had LI-ions, but Forget about the batteries for now. LI-ion batteries replaced NiCads when the manufacturer realized that NiCads sucked ass. It was a running change, and all newer clusters and replacement boards for earlier ones had them. You may find LI-ions in early clusters, but you won't find NiCads in later ones.

'82 model 528e used it's own cluster which had no batteries or SI capability. Early 528e and 533i used the same basic cluster with different gauges. In 85 the same basic cluster was used with a different center stack and gauges for the 528e, 524td, and 535i. In '86 the newer style cluster came on board, again with different gauges for each model. In '88 there were 3 clusters based on the same design, for 528e, 535i/is, and M5. This completely excludes Euro models, which had an array of clusters. The only thing you need to know is that pre-9/86 is early and post-9/86 is late. Early clusters used 3 red SI lights in the center stack while late units had only one.

Does this clear things up a bit? I hope so. My source is myself, with knowledge gained from actual hands-on experience. I don't need to consult some parts pusher fool who clearly doesn't have the knowledge I do. All most of them know is which questions to ask to make sure they order the right part number.

[Owndapwn]

A running change would definitely explain why there's no reference to a middle era cluster being put out, since it'd have the same PCB reference. TV manufacturers do that all the time, changing from XG to FPC.
Is there anywhere to check, besides buying nine more cars and examining all the differences between them? 'Cause I'm seeing a lot of undocumented changes with these cars, and RealOEM.com, ETK.cc, and parts.bmwgroup.com show late boards on 535/533 all the way through, and the seperation between early and late on the 528 is about where you say, though there's not anything about a different set of center gauges.

[Kyle in NO]

You are over-complicating this. Early and late clusters will swap. Parts from early clusters will swap with other early clusters. Same for late. One notable exception is that all speedometers will swap to any year cluster.

[Owndapwn]

I'm not sure that wire is suitable for the heat of the engine bay, nor is it very good in terms of abrasion resistance. I'd suggest changing it out for some high-temp automotive wiring.

Package arrived today. Everything looks good, but definitely second this about the wire. It feels like old speaker wire to me.

[kronus]

I think it is speaker wire. I'll send Roland am email and see what he thinks - he provided it.

[Owndapwn]

It's not an issue, for me at least. I bought a set of gauges, a control module, and some senders. I didn't expect to get any wires.
What I was provided was some wires I'll probably use for speakers later and an idea of how much automotive wire I need.

[baders]

Any news on the Aussie orders Kronus ?

[kronus]

Writing it up now! Going to be expensive to ship to AU, but you already knew that. Going to see if everyone's ok with Gaz redistributing.

[baders]

No problem, thank you.

[SmokeyJohn102]

Can sombody hook me up with the link for the oil temp sender install. I can't seem to find it in the search, I knew Ishould have saved the link.

[kronus]

Here you go: http://www.mye28.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=133543

[clipper47]

I'm intending to do a detailed pictorial writeup once I get a bit of time - probably next week.

How is this project coming. I am a little intimidated with the complexity of this job so any assistance greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[kronus]

No progress yet, I've picked up a euro 318is and am doing an express build on that. I'm expecting to get this installed in the next two weeks, though.

EU/AUS folks, I am still trying to get the stuff packaged up and shipping estimated. All US folks should have their gauges, though.

[clipper47]

Has anyone who bought one of these gauges installed it yet? I would really appreciate any information you might be able to provide either on the forum of via PM of how you did this and what wires you attached to and what type of connectors you used etc. Thank you for any insite.

[Owndapwn]

Has anyone who bought one of these gauges installed it yet? I would really appreciate any information you might be able to provide either on the forum of via PM of how you did this and what wires you attached to and what type of connectors you used etc. Thank you for any insite.

It will be going in with the new engine and probably the new instrument cluster.