Speedo/tach lights stay on all the time
My dad was driving his R50 last night and when he pulled into the driveway, turned off the lights, and took the keys out of the car, the dash lights remained on. He had to disconnect the battery to shut them off and went to the mechanic this morning. He says the rheostat in the dimmer toggle to the left of the speedo was causing the problem and it's apparently a $1,000 job.
Is this really a rheostat issue? I thought rheostats were just an adjustable resistor and there's a separate switch or relay to actually allow current to flow. I haven't looked at the wiring diagram yet, but does it sound like the mechanic may be right or is it more likely a switch or something? |
I had that issue for almost a year, I replaced the speedo and it fixed it. Not sure if yours is the same issue, a speedo is in the $600 range and its and easy install but requires coding at the dealer.
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Originally Posted by bavmotors
(Post 4179492)
I had that issue for almost a year, I replaced the speedo and it fixed it. Not sure if yours is the same issue, a speedo is in the $600 range and its and easy install but requires coding at the dealer.
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Yea both, as well as my brake lights. I bought a used tach off eBay for $40. The mileage is inaccurate but it saved me around $650
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Originally Posted by sevin
(Post 4179482)
Is this really a rheostat issue?
Check if the lighting turns off by itself after 20 minutes. If it does, it wouldn't be ideal but you might be able to live with it. The dash lighting is very low power LED and not enough to drain the battery. |
Yes, the leds are low power. Have you pressed the dimmer button ? Also check that light switch on the stock, click it back and forth , maybe its the stalk sticking.
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Coming back to this as my dad is itching to get repairs started. He wants me to find the part number for the dimmer switch. So you guys are saying the dimmer switch merely allows or disallows current to flow to the lighting module? That means I just need to replace the dimmer switch right? I looked on realoem and my Bentley manual and I can't find the part. Does anyone have a number for it?
To answer your question, rkw, the lights never go off unless a fuse is pulled. |
The adjustment of the dimmer is that button . Its part of the speedo cluster , which when replaced will have to be flashed by the dealership.
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nor...e6038d7900.jpg https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nor...cb29f4edb1.jpg http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/show...diagId=62_0392 62109126992 https://www.ecstuning.com/Search/SiteSearch/62109126992/ |
So you have to replace the entire speedo? I had thought it was just a module that housed the dimmer switch. Will this also wipe my total mileage or will that be preserved?
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Unless you pull the button from a used cluster, the module is in the cluster last time i looked at one, but its not a separate part.
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Originally Posted by ECSTuning
(Post 4186817)
Unless you pull the button from a used cluster, the module is in the cluster last time i looked at one, but its not a separate part.
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That's what I would try first.
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Originally Posted by ECSTuning
(Post 4186840)
That's what I would try first.
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Yes, most speedo cannot be reflashed by MINI, the dealership will request new only. . I know some aftermarket shop can reflash them, but the mileage will be off. I was talking about using an old speedo as a transplant for the switch only as ist not a separate part , try that first into your old one.
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Originally Posted by ECSTuning
(Post 4186878)
Yes, most speedo cannot be reflashed by MINI, the dealership will request new only. . I know some aftermarket shop can reflash them, but the mileage will be off. I was talking about using an old speedo as a transplant for the switch only as ist not a separate part , try that first into your old one.
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Originally Posted by sevin
(Post 4186900)
So even if I get it flashed at the dealership the mileage will be off? I will try switching the buttons first, thanks.
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Originally Posted by bavmotors
(Post 4186942)
I didn't have to get my used speedo reflashed, worked like a charm.
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Originally Posted by sevin
(Post 4186984)
And your mileage carried over? I'm guessing that information is stored in the ECM, don't know why it would be kept in the speedo.
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Yea, its kept in two places, the mileage thing is the only thing that does not carry over. MINI flashes new ones so the mileage get carried over, its a theft thing ( mileage roll back issues ) so MINI has to do it.
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Originally Posted by ECSTuning
(Post 4187207)
Yea, its kept in two places, the mileage thing is the only thing that does not carry over. MINI flashes new ones so the mileage get carried over, its a theft thing ( mileage roll back issues ) so MINI has to do it.
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Yes, flash and register to the cars ecu, they will only flash new units/ uncoded. I had mine done and they stated new only. you want want to ask the MINI dealership service first , things might have changed things , had mine done almost 10 years ago.
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They told me a had to use a new one, it's worth asking though.
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Ordered a speedo from a junkyard for $94 today, should be here tomorrow. I'll let you guys know how it goes. I'm hoping it's just the button, would like preserve mileage.
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Alright, I have some good news and some bad news. The good news is that the new speedo fixes the problems with the lights. The bad news is it introduces some new ones. The first is that the ASC/DSC light is on, as well as the brake pad sensor light. My dad's car had neither of these options. Weren't brake pad sensors not introduced until 2003? My dad's old speedo just has a blank where that light is. He also doesn't have ASC. Is the speedo programmed for options or something? I drove it for a bit to see if the lights would go off but they do not.
Also, is there really no way to flash the speedo yourself? Can it not be done through the OBD-II port with a Techstream or something? Or an indie shop? My dad doesn't want to drive the car if the mileage isn't accurate in case he has to sell it. Several of you mentioned just replacing the dimmer toggle switch. I can't figure out how to do that. There's a button on top of the PCB, but I can't figure out how to take it off. https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nor...d67452df3f.png |
Other then solder the old one out on the microswitch, looks like the other speedo was not the same year or model, thus has more or less thing. People that do the switch try to get the same year and model. Yes the brake sensor did not come out to 2003~ish but the light might be programmed into the tach.
You can try to flash the old tach at the dealership, but last time i was there they would only do new ones. |
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