Karlson

Hi Guys,

I am still in hunt for E55, and I found one very pretty 2002 model. The only problem is that it got many dead pixels in the cluster, especially from temperature side? Is that recall fixable by the dealer?


If it is not a recall problem, then how much would it be and where to fix it? I searched, but didn't find any results. I went to Google, and found that site

http://www.pixelfehler-behebung.de/b...bauenglish.htm

As I understood the repair cost 110 euros ($145 usd). But I need to pay for shipping both ways(to Germany and back). Any ideas how much will it cost to repair it in a dealer or get a new one? I am trying to negotiate with a seller, and thought that it can help me the bring price down.

Thanks!

4runner

I had the same issue, sent to link below, if I remember the cost was about $200 w/shipping, they allow you to prepay and email you a ups ticket and always stayed in communication with me. Good luck.http://www.bba-reman.com/content.asp...edes_Dashboard

Karlson

thanks for quick respond and a good link. 250 to repair plus shipping to Massachusets is much cheper than to europe. Did you buy a removal tool from Merc dealer or made your self one?

I wonder how much will it cost to repair it in a stealership.

Peter_02AMG

I just call last week to get my repair. Stealer don't repair it, they replace it. Cost $1250 for new cluster plus 1 hr labor cost to reprogramming new cluster plus 1 hr labor to remove. Total cost is about $1500.

I'm going to send it in to BBA remanufacture to get it repair. Cost $225 plus shipping both way. I order the MBZ tool to remove the cluster. As soon as I get the pod out I can set it out to get repair. Can't use my car until I get it back, have to rent a car during the reapir. Still cost 1/3 less than a new cluster.

ProV1

BBA messed up my cluster twice during the repair. all the needles got f##Ked up and won't move right. all told, i've had to send it back to them twice ($$$ overnight) and waste 2 weeks. not to mention not having my car during that time. at least they are courteous when i call

Karlson

BBA looks like a solid company to deal with. So the "stealer" price is 1500. Thanks for that info. It is so hard to find the perfect E.

jimmydagreek

This is a common problem with our cars. I'm going to call these guys as well and have mine repaired too! Thanks for the info. and Karlson, I hope you get one of these beasts and join us in here. It's a lot of fun!

Peter_02AMG

I just removed my cluster to sent it off to BBA reman tomorrow. For those of you who thinking of getting it fix. Here is something you should know about your cluster.

Your car does start and drive without the clusterI drove it to get gas and grocery shopping with out it in.

Your center panel lights is all gone except the climate control panel. Pitch balck at night except the Climate control panel.

Your stering wheel control buttons doesn't work.

The radio doesn't turn off when key is removed, you have to turn it off manually via pushing power button on radio.

Other than that all other function work. YOu can drive it but without the aid of the cluster. Can't hear the turn signal blinking but it does work.

So i'm going to continue to drive the car until I get the cluster back.

BTW, you can make the MBZ cluster removal tool with a wire coat hanger. The tool I bought didn't do what it was designed for, but it did remove the cluster. It didn't grip the area (teeth like comb) on the side of the cluster like it support to, it grip the back of the cluster. Enought to pull the cluster out. Oh well, did get it out. I could of made the thing at home.

Well, I'll let you guy know if BBA repair it like they said. Hope everything goes well.

ProV1

LOL, i wonder if the car won't accumulate mileage while the cluster is removed???

Peter_02AMG

I'll let you guy know once i get it back in if this effect the miles. I just hope they don't make it worst than it was. I hate to sent it back and forward

jimmydagreek

The mileage is stored in the cluster so you won't accumulate miles without it. BMW is completely different, the miles are stored in the car's memory somewhere and also downloaded onto the key. When you go to the BMW dealer and hand them your key, they plug it into the computer and it spits out your car's info and mileage, crazy stuff!

Peter_02AMG

Wow!! if that the case someone could disconnect there cluster while driving for a fews month to keep the mile down. OR buy a low mile cluster and replace there high miles car and sold there car as a low mile vehicle I don't believe that another cluster would not work on another car. I think the reprogramming the stealer talk about was just to transfer ther mileage and service info over. They told me it would not start or driven without the cluster in. I proven them wrong! I drove it to work this morning

jimmydagreek

I guess that's possible but I would be afraid to mess with it not only because it's dishonest and against the law but also in fear of damaging the cluster and having to buy a new one and having it programmed . If anyone found out and it got back to the DMV your car's title (pink-slip) would be revoked and reissued by the DMV and the new title would have a big "TMU" on it, this means "True Mileage Unknown." This would flush your resale value down the toilet!

Karlson

Good to know that it is drivable without a cluster, but probably it is a funny feeling not to know how fast you going, probably the same thing when you remove abs unit, it won’t show you your speed and mileage won’t work. The only way I know to find the real mileage is to pull numbers from the ECU, if ECU has been swapped then there is no way to know the true mileage.

And looks like Carfax is been making a lot of mistakes lately, not recording all the records. Really hard to trust them

Peter_02AMG

I don't trust Carfax. If no one report it there will be no record of itThere always way around them. Best way to find the history of your car is take it to a body shop or mechanic.

2fast4amg

if u don't hve other problems.......be happy....you will get the best AMG ever built

1 BAD BURB

i guess im confused, what exactly does dead pixels looks like? where my engine temp guage is, the light doesn't come on till like 5min after i turn the lights on...it needs to warm up or something. is this the same thing? it works fine though, just takes time to turn on...

Aj

Karlson

Most of the time it will looks like this:






I think you got faulty connection about the light

ProV1

i cant believe our cars can run just fine without the cluster. it's even more disturbing that mileage wont get recorded with the cluster removed. who's to say anyone won't drive without the cluster for 5-10k miles a year?

Eraser-X

Peter_02AMG you get your cluster back yet? I also have an 02 E55 with dead pixels and just trying to see how how much time I have to live without the cluster in the car. I would really prefer not to have to drive my trail truck for a week!

Eraser-X
06 R350
02 E55 Black on Black with all options
91 Range Rover GDE
8X 280TE
53 356 Cab

Peter_02AMG

They just finished it last night and according to them it was a successful repair. I got them to over night it to me so I should get it before 10:30 today. I hope every went well, hate to have to sent it back and forward. I'll let you guy know later.

Peter_02AMG

Well, just got the cluster back. everything is good but now I have a check engine light on there nothing wrong with the car Drive perfect!

I accidently left the oil cap off when I was topping off the oil and started the car, it ran for a few min. I noticed it when I was about to close the hood. COuld that caused a check engine light. I know the fuel cap off put out a check engine light.

anyone know how to reset the check engine light???

jimmydagreek

I have opened the oil cap while running the car and no check engine light. Why does this sound familiar? I thought I read somewhere that someone else received their repaired cluster and the check engine came on. Do a search and see if you come up with anything.

Peter_02AMG

you are right Jimmy, i had AutoZone check it code (P0600) ECM faulty, unable to communicate on the SPI line and it is due to the cluster disconnected. They just reset it and everything is good go.

Eraser-X

Peter,

You forgot to tell us that the horn does not work when the cluster is out! I should have mine back today but I have been driving the car the whole time it was out. My choice was no cluster or driving my trail truck for a week!