View attachment 18371View attachment 18370View attachment 18372Hi experts / had-experienced-it E39 ownersJust got an E39 a few months back. No problems except missing pixels in both MID (see pic) and Instrument Cluster (minimal). I attempted DIY with very poor result, to say the least. I am sure the ribbon cable is beyond salvage by now. Radio / CD still works fine, luckily.Can anyone suggest a place where I can get it fixed together with the Instrument Cluster as well? And approximately how much poorer will I get? I am from Penang.Thank you everyone for advice.
Messed up MID
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haywire
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When you DIY'ed, did you change the ribbon cable or did you attempt to clean it?
You can buy new ribbon cable for bot MID and cluster from ebay, somebody from Romania (or somehwhere close to there) is selling it quite cheap and offers warranty if you messed it up. Meaning if you damage the new ribbon while installing it he will send another one for free.
I bought 1 from that guy and fixed my cluster myself.
You can buy new ribbon cable for bot MID and cluster from ebay, somebody from Romania (or somehwhere close to there) is selling it quite cheap and offers warranty if you messed it up. Meaning if you damage the new ribbon while installing it he will send another one for free.
I bought 1 from that guy and fixed my cluster myself.
Thanks haywire
I cleaned up the contacts, even peeled back a few mm of the plastic lamination on the ribbon cable end to gain extra contact length. That's why I think it's now beyond salvage.
I've read the Romanian site selling the cable, good to hear that you have success at it. Did you just change the MID cable or also the Instrument Cluster cable. I don't think I can ever DIY the latter as it appears too formidable.
I cleaned up the contacts, even peeled back a few mm of the plastic lamination on the ribbon cable end to gain extra contact length. That's why I think it's now beyond salvage.
I've read the Romanian site selling the cable, good to hear that you have success at it. Did you just change the MID cable or also the Instrument Cluster cable. I don't think I can ever DIY the latter as it appears too formidable.
haywire
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Bought from here (It was Hungary, not Romania, sorry)
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BRAND-NEW-LCD-RIBBON-CABLE-BMW-E38-E39-X5-5-7-SERIES-/180619382397?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item2a0dc10e7d
Ask them if they have one for the MID as well, I'm not sure. I've only done for the cluster as I dont have an MID unit in my car.
I messed up the first ribbon and they sent me another one no charge, only postage.
This is the link to my DIY for my cluster
Instrument Cluster Pixel Repair
Pixel repair end result
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BRAND-NEW-LCD-RIBBON-CABLE-BMW-E38-E39-X5-5-7-SERIES-/180619382397?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item2a0dc10e7d
Ask them if they have one for the MID as well, I'm not sure. I've only done for the cluster as I dont have an MID unit in my car.
I messed up the first ribbon and they sent me another one no charge, only postage.
This is the link to my DIY for my cluster
Instrument Cluster Pixel Repair
Pixel repair end result
Creazee;609265 said:
Hi Creazee
Check out this site - www.bmwpixelfix.co.uk.
I am tempted to try it except that I will need to get the units (MID & Instrument Cluster displays) removed and couriered there. Then I will not know if the repair is good till they come back - even though I should think that they would have tested it first.
That is why if there is somewhere / someone here who can do the same, it will so much better.
herbert;609599 said:
Thanks Herbert, exactly what I needed.
I called Ah Heng and he will repair my Instrument Cluster when he comes up to Penang (he is a Penangite, lucky me) which he does on and off. He says the MID is most likely beyond repair because of my failed DIY.
He offered a 2nd hand MID unit for RM1000. I think I might order a new ribbon cable and attempt another DIY first.
Thanks again Herbert.
Hi again
Remember, mine was a really messed up MID after a few DIY attempts by yours truly. At first I cleaned the ribbon cable ends - and promptly lost more pixels. I then ordered a new ribbon cable from the Romanian/Hungarian website and tried fixing it and bingo, lost all pixels.
I now had my MID pixels fully restored. Had called Ah Heng months ago, he said he was going to contact me when he comes up to Penang but I never heard from him. I was on vacation in London in June 2011, so decided to bring the MID there and get Rudi (www.bmwpixelfix.co.uk) to fix it. I contacted him from here by e-mail and from London by phone many times and he replied each time with no fuss at all.
Rudi works from his house in Southampton, and I went there from London by train. He is the coolest chap you could meet, he fixed my MID within about an hour. At first, he quoted me 120 pounds sterling (RM600). When completed he said that the glass panel needed replacement as well, I thought he was going to charge me real and proper. Instead he kept to his words and charged me the 120 pounds, not a penny more. The MID was even tested (all kinds of wires and gadgets in his house) and shown to me.
It was late in the evening and I requested him to send me to the railway station to go back to London and he obliged readily. He drives an X5, comes from South Africa (white), works in the IT field and repairing pixels is just a hobby - according to him. He said that he had MIDs and Instrument Clusters for pixel repairs sent from from Malaysia, Australia etc to him.
On my return here, the MID is in perfect condition. I would love to post some pictures here but am finding it difficult on how to do it. The total cost of the repair and train ticket may be more than if I had it done here BUT I am totally pleased with Rudi's work. I am now planning to send my Instrument Cluster to him by courier to have the pixels fixed as well - as soon as my other car is functional (E30 undergoing overhaul at the moment).
I hope my experience with this cool Rudi will give BMW Club readers another option on where to get their MIDs and Instrument Clusters sorted out. I believe you can totally trust him. Remember this is just my personal opinion and based on a single personal encounter with him and his work!!
If anyone can let me know how to add photos to this, I'll be very grateful. Cheers.
Remember, mine was a really messed up MID after a few DIY attempts by yours truly. At first I cleaned the ribbon cable ends - and promptly lost more pixels. I then ordered a new ribbon cable from the Romanian/Hungarian website and tried fixing it and bingo, lost all pixels.
I now had my MID pixels fully restored. Had called Ah Heng months ago, he said he was going to contact me when he comes up to Penang but I never heard from him. I was on vacation in London in June 2011, so decided to bring the MID there and get Rudi (www.bmwpixelfix.co.uk) to fix it. I contacted him from here by e-mail and from London by phone many times and he replied each time with no fuss at all.
Rudi works from his house in Southampton, and I went there from London by train. He is the coolest chap you could meet, he fixed my MID within about an hour. At first, he quoted me 120 pounds sterling (RM600). When completed he said that the glass panel needed replacement as well, I thought he was going to charge me real and proper. Instead he kept to his words and charged me the 120 pounds, not a penny more. The MID was even tested (all kinds of wires and gadgets in his house) and shown to me.
It was late in the evening and I requested him to send me to the railway station to go back to London and he obliged readily. He drives an X5, comes from South Africa (white), works in the IT field and repairing pixels is just a hobby - according to him. He said that he had MIDs and Instrument Clusters for pixel repairs sent from from Malaysia, Australia etc to him.
On my return here, the MID is in perfect condition. I would love to post some pictures here but am finding it difficult on how to do it. The total cost of the repair and train ticket may be more than if I had it done here BUT I am totally pleased with Rudi's work. I am now planning to send my Instrument Cluster to him by courier to have the pixels fixed as well - as soon as my other car is functional (E30 undergoing overhaul at the moment).
I hope my experience with this cool Rudi will give BMW Club readers another option on where to get their MIDs and Instrument Clusters sorted out. I believe you can totally trust him. Remember this is just my personal opinion and based on a single personal encounter with him and his work!!
If anyone can let me know how to add photos to this, I'll be very grateful. Cheers.
Hi moots
Sorry, my mistake, I left out the bmw bit in front of pixelfix. The website is www.bmwpixelfix.co.uk. You can e-mail him at rudi@bmwpixelfix.co.uk. I have just made the correction to the above.
Sorry, my mistake, I left out the bmw bit in front of pixelfix. The website is www.bmwpixelfix.co.uk. You can e-mail him at rudi@bmwpixelfix.co.uk. I have just made the correction to the above.
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