Another digital alternative to the standard instrument cluster

[B21]

I’ve looked at both this version and the one from China that mimics the G29 style display.

In the past neither floated my boat.

Both seemed fixed format and limited options.

The lack of s/w support on the Chinese one..evidenced by lack of E89 image in start up display and fuel figures not available in UK gallons per mile plus for me the garish (IMHO) graphics rendered it a no go.

The ID4 version mimicked the old analogue dials but seemed a lot of money for a digital rendition of the original display.

Time moves on ..the company subsequently released several different themes..each of which could be had in a broad palette of colours.

So with Black Friday coming up and in collaboration with another AY 35is owner we negotiated a deal to buy two units and a few bits.

Each theme and colour combo is charged for..so I picked an initial 8 themes / colour combos..plus the support for reversing camera and the blind spot h/w and s/w..

Box arrived yesterday..

Plan to fit it over the next two or three weeks along with the rest of the audio upgrade ..DSP amp and Subs along with front and rear cameras plugged into this and the MMI MOST box..

[B21]

Here are the 8 themes or skins I’ve initially chosen..

[Steve Jarvis]

Are the silver rings on 3 and 8 digital or physical?

[B21]

Originally Posted by Steve Jarvis

Are the silver rings on 3 and 8 digital or physical?

Everything is digital…the screen when powered down is just a single black screen….all icons, shades, edges are rendered…

Looks so realistic that if confuses quite a few folks..

[Steve Jarvis]

Pretty cool. Will it display icons for things auto headlights and Sport or Sport + modes?

[B21]

Originally Posted by Steve Jarvis

Pretty cool. Will it display icons for things auto headlights and Sport or Sport + modes?

In general terms anything that could be displayed in the original analogue KOMBI system can be displayed..how it’s displayed may be done in different graphical ways..plus animations..for compatibility reasons some of the ‘extras’ require additional pins / interfaces..so rear camera, blind spot monitoring, boost all require additional h/w….some nice to haves eg nav info shown on the display are not feasible due to limitations in the original bus architecture of the E89..

[B21]

The fitment of the ID4Motion digital cluster is turning into a nightmare.

The primary issue appears to be that the generic hardware ..used on many BMW models like 3/5/7 series is just too big to fit in the E89 instrument cluster space.

I couldn't make their installation instructions work..certainly without severely scratching /damaging the plastics in and around the instrument binacle.

So I've taken the whole dash out to fit it.

Even then its a f$%kfest...some of the screws that hold the dashboard together and to the rest of the car have to be jettisoned.

I'm not very happy at all.

Had I known how difficult and the compromises needed I certainly wouldn't have bought it.

But I've started so I'll continue..

The darkest hour is before the dawn..