Instrument Cluster LCD Display Screen damaged

[WrathOTM]

Hey folks, got an annoying problem with my instrument cluster KOMBI unit. My bottom lcd is screwed up badly, and it came that way when I got it. I just barely read my mileage and the temp info but it is super blurry throughout the center of it. I've been searching for any related threads but there seems to be few out there with this same issue.


So a few questions. Does anyone know if it's possible to swap one of these displays from a cluster bought off eBay? And if so does it need to be coded? I assume since it's just a screen I would assume it's plug and play.

Or, anyone seen this before in my second pic? From China of course. I might get this and be a guinea pig, but I'm hoping to find some info first.

[CRuben09]

Originally Posted by WrathOTM

Hey folks, got an annoying problem with my instrument cluster KOMBI unit. My bottom lcd is screwed up badly, and it came that way when I got it. I just barely read my mileage and the temp info but it is super blurry throughout the center of it. I've been searching for any related threads but there seems to be few out there with this same issue.


So a few questions. Does anyone know if it's possible to swap one of these displays from a cluster bought off eBay? And if so does it need to be coded? I assume since it's just a screen I would assume it's plug and play.

Or, anyone seen this before in my second pic? From China of course. I might get this and be a guinea pig, but I'm hoping to find some info first.

Any luck? I'm looking to switch mine as well. I was thinking of doing the same thing that came to your mind, buying a cheap cluster from eBay and just taking the display and put it in my existing unit, but if there is a replacement screen I believe that should work. Would you mind sending the link?

[WrathOTM]

Thanks for the reply and no I haven't done this yet. I was hoping to get some feedback on this first before attempting it. I really want get the cheapest gauge cluster/instrument pod off ebay and experiment with it first. But whatever maybe I'll get it ordered later in the week.

Here's that eBay link
https://www.ebay.com/itm/264990000444

[Suprgnat]

Originally Posted by WrathOTM

Thanks for the reply and no I haven't done this yet. I was hoping to get some feedback on this first before attempting it. I really want get the cheapest gauge cluster/instrument pod off ebay and experiment with it first. But whatever maybe I'll get it ordered later in the week.

Here's that eBay link
https://www.ebay.com/itm/264990000444

PM me a shipping address and I'll send you 3.

[nacaruh]

If you're just replacing the screen, you don't need to code the cluster.
If you replace the entire unit, then yes, you have to reprogram the chip, and then coding it.

[WrathOTM]

LOL holy crap Supergnat. I would like one of those to mess with. Also plan to change to LEDs on mine to white and want to practice on one first. Thank you to nacurah, that was one of my big questions.

Supergnat, can you flip one of the clusters over? I'm trying to figure out if the LCD screen is just clipped and screwed into place or if it was glued too.

So anyone here need a Lexus GS400 Stereo? I got three of them

[Suprgnat]

Originally Posted by WrathOTM

Supergnat, can you flip one of the clusters over? I'm trying to figure out if the LCD screen is just clipped and screwed into place or if it was glued too.

I threw the cluster portions away so no photos, but no tools are required to remove. The LCD is held in place by plastic spring clips built into the cluster's plastic casing. I just dug the clusters out of the trash and popped the LCDs out when I saw your post.

[Suprgnat]

Originally Posted by WrathOTM

LOL holy crap Supergnat. I would like one of those to mess with. Also plan to change to LEDs on mine to white and want to practice on one first. Thank you to nacurah, that was one of my big questions.

Supergnat, can you flip one of the clusters over? I'm trying to figure out if the LCD screen is just clipped and screwed into place or if it was glued too.

So anyone here need a Lexus GS400 Stereo? I got three of them

LMK what you want to do. Another member is interested in the LCDs.

[CRuben09]

Originally Posted by Suprgnat

LMK what you want to do. Another member is interested in the LCDs.

Hi! I Pmd you
For one of them if possible. Thanks!

[WrathOTM]

Bump back from the dead

Look what came in the mail. Bought new off eBay, seller is tomway360, shipped from China. Package showed up in good shape and the screen was packed in bubble wrap and it's own sealed pack.

[WrathOTM]

So out came the gauge pod, two T10 screws hold it in to the binnacle and one connector is plugged into the back. There are six tabs holding the front plastic on which are easily undone with a small flathead screwdriver, or, to my surprise I could lift with a few of them with my fingers. The back black plastic piece comes undone at the connector port. Just wedge a flathead on the top and bottom of the outside of the connector. Once the back has been removed you can flip it around and see the screen's clip-in style connection. Pry gently on the black bar and it will pop up a little ways. Once it does you can pull the ribbon out.

[WrathOTM]

Pop off the piece that has all the icons for the warning lights off, which is barely held in at the bottom between the gauges. This exposes a couple little arms that hold in the screen via tension. Push on the screen towards the arms, or just pry up from the bottom, and boom, screen comes out.

[WrathOTM]

Put the ribbon in it's place and push the black bar down securing it. Reassemble the gauge pod and plug back in. None of this was difficult. The only thing that sucked was the twenty mph winds while it was around 30 degrees made this somewhat miserable. But extracting the pod really didn't take long whatsoever. The new screen works great.

Finally I can see muh precious info.

[ResinThirteen]

Originally Posted by WrathOTM

Bump back from the dead

Look what came in the mail. Bought new off eBay, seller is tomway360, shipped from China. Package showed up in good shape and the screen was packed in bubble wrap and it's own sealed pack.

Another bump up just to say thanks, as my 135i LCD screen is starting to have issues. Just ordered a new one from your same dude in China. Thanks!

[________]

Do you guys know if the E90 LCD would fit in our cluster?

[WrathOTM]

Glad to see the thread helped someone.

I think it would, but I also think there were two versions of screen for the e90 based on my research around the web.

[jdt10768]

what's causing the damage to the LCD screens? Age? Heat? Design flaw?

[WrathOTM]

I think direct sunlight and high temps are the probable cause. I've noticed my new one get a little blurry one afternoon as the sun was hitting it directly for the past couple hours. It looked fine again as the sun set. My guess is that it was just not made robust enough, parts of the screen not being thick enough or something.

[ResinThirteen]

I'd guess age is the main cause, with heat definitely not helping. You see posts all the time of old German cars with LCD screens that just go bad. Mine definitely wasn't as bad as my iDrive display, but it's on its way out, so I'm getting a jump on it while it still works.

[________]

Originally Posted by WrathOTM

Glad to see the thread helped someone.

I think it would, but I also think there were two versions of screen for the e90 based on my research around the web.

It’d be cool if it did, because the E90 cluster is much higher definition… looks better. If the part is cheap and easily interchangeable, that is.