Gauge Swaps for Coding Newbies...

[chris_flies]

I'm seriously considering swapping a 135i gauge cluster into my 128i, I would love to be able to monitor oil temps during warm-up and monitor them on-track without having to leave my phone in my line-of-sight, therefore leaving it free for HLT/Camera duty.

I have a few questions I need answered, since there's not very concrete information being offered, please use very simple terms, and clear and descriptive language:

1. What software will I need (preferably for Mac, but 'Dows is OK) to perform all of the necessary coding operations? Free is nice, too...

2. What tools/hardware will I need to allow my computer to communicate with the car? Inexpensive stuff is preferable...

3. If I buy a cluster from a car with fewer miles than my car (not hard to do), will I need to replace the EEPROM chip in order to complete this without any issues?

4. What, if any, is a good resource that has good instructions on how to do the necessary coding operations? If not, what are the operations I'd need to finish this?

If none of this is, IN ANY WAY, user UN-friendly...is there someone in the Northern Virginia/DC area that can do all of this if provided with the cluster, car to code on, and EEPROM chips (if needed)?

I want this thread to be a sort of FAQ on the subject, to make for an easy reference and a good place for people to post their questions on the subject.

Thanks for any help, and clarifying for others who may want to do this in the future!

[Mybimmer]

BMW model and engine is?

[chris_flies]

Originally Posted by Mybimmer

BMW model and engine is?

2009 128i Coupé 6-Speed with an N52.

[desertman123]

Hold up, I did some research on this a little bit ago.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1174832

An M3 E90 cluster will work with a weeee bit of sanding, by the way.

You have much experience coding with BMW standard tools? (INPA, WinFKP, NCSexpert, etc.)

[chris_flies]

Originally Posted by desertman123

Hold up, I did some research on this a little bit ago.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1174832

An M3 E90 cluster will work with a weeee bit of sanding, by the way.

You have much experience coding with BMW standard tools? (INPA, WinFKP, NCSexpert, etc.)

I like the M3 cluster, but they're more expensive than used 135i ones.

No, hence the "Gauge Swap for Coding Newbies" title. I do want to learn, though...

[chris_flies]

Bringing this back from the short amount of death it experienced.

So, I've done more looking (and also got INPA, NCSe, NCSd) and from what I can tell, as long as I get an instrument cluster with fewer miles than my car has, I'll be golden, and it should just be plug-and-play (after install).

From someone who knows, is this true? Are all three options plug-and-play, or would all three options (135, 1M, M3) need to be coded?

I have 170k miles on my car, I'll have very little trouble finding a cluster with less miles (the benefits of a well-worn car)...

[desertman123]

From the 30 random threads with sparse info I read, I think you still need to overwrite the EEPROM (or something) with your VIN in order to make kombi work 100% as normal, even if you have fewer miles.

I believe 1M and M3 are as plug and play as possible. Just keep in mind the M3 one will have like a 8k redline

[chris_flies]

Originally Posted by desertman123

From the 30 random threads with sparse info I read, I think you still need to overwrite the EEPROM (or something) with your VIN in order to make kombi work 100% as normal, even if you have fewer miles.

I believe 1M and M3 are as plug and play as possible. Just keep in mind the M3 one will have like a 8k redline

Have you seen the video from Bimmer Performance Center of an N52 328i doing an 8200rpm dyno pull? The noise that thing made was ridiculous!

I think I'll grab a 135i cluster (they're cheap, $130 versus $350 for the M3) and see what happens...from what sparse information I gathered, as long as the replacement cluster has less mileage than my car, it should plug-in and work right off the bat, with no tamper dot. If not, I'll just get a new EEPROM and see if someone can remote code it for me (I'll watch closely and learn how it's done). Maybe make some custom dials, though someone is selling some really nice ones somewhere on here...

[chris_flies]

Just put an offer in on a 135i cluster from a wrecked car with 89k miles (it wasn't broken-in yet!) .

We'll see how this goes!

[chris_flies]

Just bought a 135i cluster for $99. Most are going for $120-$150 on eBay, so I think I got a good deal. BTW, this one was on the market since March of 2016 (according to eBay), so they may have just been anxious to be rid of it.

[desertman123]

Originally Posted by chris_flies

Just bought a 135i cluster for $99. Most are going for $120-$150 on eBay, so I think I got a good deal. BTW, this one was on the market since March of 2016 (according to eBay), so they may have just been anxious to be rid of it.

You keep giving me ideas

[snub-nose 28]

Originally Posted by chris_flies

Just bought a 135i cluster for $99. Most are going for $120-$150 on eBay, so I think I got a good deal. BTW, this one was on the market since March of 2016 (according to eBay), so they may have just been anxious to be rid of it.

I know you'll keep this thread alive, but really, there is interest-keep it going
to its logical conclusion-need that oil gauge!

[chris_flies]

Originally Posted by snub-nose 28

I know you'll keep this thread alive, but really, there is interest-keep it going
to its logical conclusion-need that oil gauge!

I intend to, and I'll include a mini-DIY in this thread, and start a dedicated DIY thread with pics and everything! I'll also go through what (if any) coding is needed, and what I used to learn (give a man a fish...)

[swagon]

*hint*Instrument cluster retrofits are popular in Germany*hint*. Many run M3, E9x HIGH clusters or even the ones from E89 Z4's.

Mileage of the used cluster does not matter, it has to be coded to the car's specs before it goes into the car anyway. If you buy a brand new unit, then the mileage is automatically changed.

[chris_flies]

Delivery expected tomorrow...

I'm excited about this!

[iminhell1]

Just some pages that may help, not really sure what you'll need:

http://codinge90.com/ncs-expert-how-...vehicle-order/
https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...-of-NCS-Expert
http://www.babybmw.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=44677


And if you need a 135i cluster TRC to edit or compare just hit me up.

[chris_flies]

Originally Posted by iminhell1

Just some pages that may help, not really sure what you'll need:

http://codinge90.com/ncs-expert-how-...vehicle-order/
https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...-of-NCS-Expert
http://www.babybmw.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=44677


And if you need a 135i cluster TRC to edit or compare just hit me up.

Hey, thanks! I will if I need to...

[chris_flies]

Received the cluster this afternoon. It was in fantastic condition, and turned on when I plugged it in.

However, the tamper dot is there (mileage matched, though) and there are various errors for things I don't have (I believe it's a vehicle order issue).

I forgot to order a cable, so I'll have to wait on that in order for coding to happen...

[chris_flies]

NOTES TAKEN:

New (to me) cluster's EEPROM is an 080D0WQ.

I understand that I'll need to get/borrow a chip programmer to rewrite the VIN and Odometer. (About $35 for the programmer)

Then, I'll need to rewrite the VO using NCSexpert and a K+DCAN cable.

I may want to order some custom dial faces for the new cluster. Something under-the-radar but special...

QUESTIONS:

I have a cable (Shark Injector, somethin' like that) that came with my tune from Turner Motorsport. Will this cable work with NCSexpert to code the car? I'll try to find time tomorrow to answer my own question...

Can I just swap out the EEPROM with a fresh one, and all the information will simply transfer itself over from other modules in the car? Or must I program a fresh chip, too? It'd save about $35, which'd be nice...

EDIT: Could I also just swap the EEPROM from my original cluster into the new one? Aren’t the chips intercangeable?

[desertman123]

I would guess the EEPROM is programmed to the CPU of the cluster, or something along those lines, so I doubt it'd be interchangeable. This is a guess, but if it were that easy I'd think people would just swap the EEPROMs around instead of buying new equipment.

You probably already know this, but I've been seeing people have success with using an R270 programmer and a SOP8 clip to overwrite the VIN on the EEPROM. Some said they didn't even have to 'FF' their mileage.

As for if the cable will work, just open INPA and try reading some of your car's info.

Keep this thread updated. I'm very interested in this swap as well.

[chris_flies]

Originally Posted by desertman123

I would guess the EEPROM is programmed to the CPU of the cluster, or something along those lines, so I doubt it'd be interchangeable. This is a guess, but if it were that easy I'd think people would just swap the EEPROMs around instead of buying new equipment.

You probably already know this, but I've been seeing people have success with using an R270 programmer and a SOP8 clip to overwrite the VIN on the EEPROM. Some said they didn't even have to 'FF' their mileage.

As for if the cable will work, just open INPA and try reading some of your car's info.

Keep this thread updated. I'm very interested in this swap as well.

So, the EEPROM on my 128i cluster is the same part as the one on the 135i cluster. I checked all of the other chips, too, and ALL of the numbers match, the only difference is that the 128i cluster doesn't have the extra stepper motor for the extra gauge.

Yeah, I've done a good bit of exploring on this. The R270 programmer will work, but I don't want to really spend too much money on this. Worst comes to worse, I simply swap the EEPROMs again, and just go ahead and reprogram it.

I find it really interesting that everything is the same (save for the motor) between the two clusters.

I'm going to go ahead and try, and I'll have a whole day to fiddle tomorrow (no school due to forecasted extremely high winds). Our county is wimpy...

[chris_flies]

Well, swapping the EEPROM over did not work, and resulted in mass chaos.

I'll swap it back, hopefully nothing was damaged. I'll also test if the Turner cable will work with INPA/NCS in the meantime...

I ordered a new 080D0WQ from ebay, and also put an offer on a programmer. I'll do it right this time ...

EDIT: Getting mileage reading of 999,999 and a flashing tamper dot. No more of that gong sound either, it's just a grating dinging. I also gave myself a tiny burn from the soldering iron...