M3 instrument cluster

[nobrakese36]

Hello, is it possible to put a m3 cluster in a 1993 318is, I know it fits, but does it read it properly(engine speed on tach),is it a plug in?, do you need to changer anything?
thanks

[bad man working]

You need to code it for the engine variant

[Furious]

yes it fits in no problem , but like bad man said ,you need to code it, so it tells you what your original mileage is.

[Delmarco]

Not really...you can buy the cluster used of course..but don't swap the whole cluster...just swap the guages/dials which is the only difference between the M# and the regular E36s...the M3 guage dials have red stalks and higher RPM#s...



the regular E36 have white stalks and lower RPM#s,




yeah so you open the cluster and it separates into three parts.
1. The back- this is where your odometer and memory info for your car is kept. don't switch this.

2. The middle bit- This the guages/dials. You swap this bit out...the M3 will
have the red stalks and your E36 will have the white stalk.

3. The glass/plastic housing- You can swap this if you wish...but this is identical between the M3 and the regular E36 car...


This guy is selling the M3 cluster on ebay for $75. Which is the average price these clusters sell for on ebay. Don't pay more than $100.00 for a used M3 cluster.

see link:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1995-...-M3-CLUSTER-W-
76K_W0QQitemZ8027268291QQcategoryZ3
3675QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[Delmarco]

here is when i did my guages:


middle guages.

front case

back computer/odometer.

[nobrakese36]

cool, wont the rpm be off because the measurements between them are different sizes, also the needles just come off? probably do this!! thanks DEL

[Delmarco]

Originally Posted by nobrakese36

cool, wont the rpm be off because the measurements between them are different sizes, also the needles just come off? probably do this!! thanks DEL

nah, you ar enot swapping the needle you are swapping the middle piece.

I don't think those needles can come off...

I'm also not sure how the RPMs would work out after the swap either. But I would reccomend that trying won't be too bad. Worst that can happen is you over rev the car...but I've never seen my RPM needle go past 6 in the 2 years I've been driving my BMW.


I've seen a DIY where some uses reddish nail polish to paint over the needles and it looked pretty good.

it's in our DIY PAGE LINKS section...(the section with links to external websites that have DIYs)