[Hawkshaw]

I picked up my e90 on Wednesday. On the drive home I noticed some streaks on the little piece of glass / plastic that covers the speedo / tach display. I thought, no problem, I'll just wipe it with some glass cleaner when I get home.

Well, after many wipes, the streaks are still there, and then I realized - they're on the inside of the glass! I took it back to the dealership and my sales associated said she doesn't know if there's anything they can do about it. And if there is, then it would be "quite the undertaking".

Quite frankly, I don't care if it's quite the undertaking, if I'm spending that much money on a car, I would expect it to be perfect upon delivery. She's going to talk to the service guys on Monday (I brought it by on Saturday and just sales staff were working).

Thoughts?

[Bimmer325]

if it distracts you when driving, go and ask for a replacement.
but i think its not easy to change the glass/speedometer unit...IMO
if the work involves dismantling the entire dashboard, i guess its not advisable as this might cause little rattling here and there later on...

[Fletch]

I have the same problem -- brand new 330xi, saw streaks on the inside of the spedometer. Dealer told me to fix the problem they need to remove the entire speedometer/instrument cluster from the dashboard, replace with a newone, recalibrate the instruments, I think also the digital odometer, etc etc. It is beyond me how this could have ever gotten beyond quality control at the factory. And yes, it is annoying when sunlight hits it. Not sure what I will do on this one. Anyone else have this experience?

[SCA]

I had the same issue when I took delivery of my E90 in Dec. The dealer was going to replace the cluster until the BMW Regional Service Mgr. advised them to take it apart and clean the backside of the plastic prior to any replacement. I was totally against that, as the unit is sealed.


See attached pic. Notice the top of the cluster.

[KL2DC]

its a manufacturer defect...I would push it as far as the new car warranty provides, but understand concerns about making the problems worse.

[SCA]

I have learned to live with it in fear, as if anything is done to correct the issue, it very likely could be worse than before.

[Josh49]

That would piss me off too..

This would piss me off in a major way, :mad: especially since I would not want to take the chance of additional annoyances after they replaced it.

Sorry to hear about this, I feel for you.

[Hawkshaw]

Thanks for all the input folks, I'll post what the dealer has to say tomorrow.

[canucklion]

Hawkshawk, I'd be pissed too, sorry to hear!
BUT, the thing is, if the dealership decides to take apart the dash and remount it, you might encounter potential rattling just in case they don't put it back exactly right, y'know? For example, right now, I have a little creaking noise once in a while coming from the dash area when I go over bumps, but I'm ignoring it for the time-being, as I figure what if they take the dash apart, couldn't find the problem, put it back, and then BOOM other noise starts?

[SCA]

Originally Posted by canucklion

Hawkshawk, I'd be pissed too, sorry to hear!
BUT, the thing is, if the dealership decides to take apart the dash and remount it, you might encounter potential rattling just in case they don't put it back exactly right, y'know? For example, right now, I have a little creaking noise once in a while coming from the dash area when I go over bumps, but I'm ignoring it for the time-being, as I figure what if they take the dash apart, couldn't find the problem, put it back, and then BOOM other noise starts?

Nothing can be put back together as well as it was installed at the factory. I've personally been told this by a BMW Master Tech.

[Krill]

I had the same problem with my new E91, showed the dealer and they immediately ordered a new cluster unit and replaced it.

The cluster is usually (I think the same applies to E90) just fixed in place with two or four screws and is pretty easy to slide out of the dash. My dealer had my car for about 3 hours...

I hope that your dealers do the right thing, this is definately not acceptable on a new car... especially not in this price range.

Good luck.

[poldim]

Wow, thats terrible if they tell you that they will take it apart and clean it.

These things are probably bought by BMW from someone, so its gotten by multiple QC points and hasnt been spotted. Pretty crappy QC...

[strykr]

I would take it back to the dealer. I don't think I would be able to drive my car w/o being annoyed with those marks.

[pablob]

I have the same streaks on the glass. Can you believe it, almost identical to your pics. I get annoyed when I have the bright light on as the blue light hazes, but I am also afraid of the dealer making things worse, so I've learned to live with it

[MoreCowbell]

Get it fixed...you spent a lot of hard earned cash on this car not to be completely satisfied.

[canucklion]

I totally agree, hence my suggestion to Hawkshaw to try to tolerate it as long as he can, but if it really irks him, bring it in and have them clean it or replace it, whichever will get rid of the streaks, just have your fingers crossed that they'll put it back the same way it was coming from the factory.

Originally Posted by SCA

Nothing can be put back together as well as it was installed at the factory. I've personally been told this by a BMW Master Tech.

[06alpine3]

Thats funny you brought that up. You triggered a recent memory. I remember a few months ago i was stopped at a light and noticed a bug flying around behind my steering wheel, of course I assumed it was in front of the glass, but when i went to grab it with a tissue i got nothing but with the glass casing. THE BUG WAS INSIDE THE DAMN GAUGE HOUSING!! I'm pretty sure i shrugged it off at the time because i was in a rush, im sure by now its dead somewhere back there. Unbelievable though, this was months after i got the car so theres no way it could have been in there since its October build date. It crawled in there somehow, little bastard.

Yeah, if I were you Id take it in if it distracted me that much.

[bk8]

Funny you say that about the bug. The same thing happened with my E36 except the bastard didn't have the decency to crawl in some nook and die so I have a nice view of it's little corpse.

And with our E90 I noticed some marks from day 1 that look pretty similar. Sort of like the marks when cheap packing tape is removed and leaves some residue. It only shows in certain light though and the car only gets used once in a while so I keep forgetting to clean it off. Now I'm slightly worried...

[David328M-Sport]

Originally Posted by SCA

I have learned to live with it in fear, as if anything is done to correct the issue, it very likely could be worse than before.

That was my inityial though after reading the first post. Be it electronic or mechanical, you may have encounter unwanted issues that could drive you (sorry about the pun) crazy.

Sorry about the streaks on your cover and to everyone else's as well.

Best wishes

[canucklion]

that is one funny story, but also worrying, I'm gonna rush out my door to check on the gauge cluster...

Originally Posted by 06alpine3

Thats funny you brought that up. You triggered a recent memory. I remember a few months ago i was stopped at a light and noticed a bug flying around behind my steering wheel, of course I assumed it was in front of the glass, but when i went to grab it with a tissue i got nothing but with the glass casing. THE BUG WAS INSIDE THE DAMN GAUGE HOUSING!! I'm pretty sure i shrugged it off at the time because i was in a rush, im sure by now its dead somewhere back there. Unbelievable though, this was months after i got the car so theres no way it could have been in there since its October build date. It crawled in there somehow, little bastard.

Yeah, if I were you Id take it in if it distracted me that much.

[SCA]

Originally Posted by poldim

Pretty crappy QC...

E90 QC is not the greatest. I will venture to say that it is currently on the same level as the E36 was. It will change as production continues though. It is the price we pay for being beta testers.