Need help!!!

[husker4life]

I have a 97 540i, and the pixel problem was getting terrible. I opted to go to BMW and have a replacement done (I got 50% of the part covered by BMWNA when I asked what they could do). I entered the dealership with 123,000 miles. When the instrument cluster was removed and replaced with a new cluster, I am told there was an error after the programming (driver headlight module). The mileage being displayed was over 600,000 miles. I left the dealership when they told me they could try and diagnose it at more cost......

On my way home, the odometer went back to 000000. My trip odometer shows more miles than my vehicle odometer......... I don't understand how the headlights have anything to do with the odometer/miles the car has.

The invoice I received from BMW after the work has some notes about the problem.

"Replaced instrument cluster and programed with ISTA/P 42.7. The manipulation dot is on that the vehicle mileage is incorrect." The previous owner did put some aftermarket HID projector lights with halos in the vehicle.

I was told the drivers headlight module was showing some kind of error. The previous owner had the module replaced at an indy BMW shop. I got all the records the previous owner had. The module that was put in shows the correct part number for the year (looked up on realoem) that the invoice stated was ordered and installed.



I am hoping someone on here can help me out, and I hope I am posting this in the right place. Thanks for taking a look.

I will be deploying in 10 days, so I need to figure this out as soon as possible.

[Lord Vader]

Its possible to reset the milage on the cluster. The cluster stores the milage, and the ECU stores the milage. It is possible for the cluster to not display the correct mileage after a cluster change. It is resettable though, but it sounds like due to these aftermarket headlights that wasnt possible.

The dot they refer to is a little dot that illuminates when the vehicle suspects you have tampered with the odometer. Its to prevent fraud. if this dot is illuminated it can severley hurt your chances of resale. You need to find out why the headlight module is giving an error. If you can fix the error it should be possible to match the correct mileage.

[husker4life]

I just don't understand how the headlights have any effect on the mileage that is displayed.

[husker4life]

anyone have an old set they can sell me for a decent price.......

[Lord Vader]

They shouldn't, but they are tied in tithe ECU. Obviously something they did in the install messed something up.