BMW Z1 89 - Speedo/mileometer issues

[derekmm]

Hi.

The mileometer and trip gauge are not recording on my ‘89 Z1 - although the speedometer Itself is working. BMW have said that replacement speedo’s are no longer available for this car and have not offered any assistance with regard to getting the unit serviced/repaired.

The speedometer is currently out of the car - and would be great if I can get it sorted.

Any advice/assistance/recommendations in finding a solution will be greatly appreciated.

Best regards

Derek

[a1z1]

Hi Derek,
Welcome to the forum.
There are small gears inside the speedo that disintegrate.
This link has some good info
http://m.odometergears.com/howto/BMW_Z1_how_to.pdf

Regards
Ivor

[derekmm]

Thanks so much Ivor - especially for such a speedy response. Must admit I’m ok at putting fuel in and know how to operate the doors but this looks a bit adventurous for me. Do you, by any chance, know of anybody/company that would be capable of doing this as the speedometer’s already out of the car?

In the meantime thanks so much for taking an interest - and feel sure that once I’ve found somebody who’s far more technically able than myself it will be really useful.

Thanks again.

Best. Derek

[TJS]

Derek,

I have used a couple of specialists to sonically clean, rebuild and calibrate speedos for old Land Rovers and MG's. May be worth contacting them. If can can do it check the proposed turnaround time .... one of them took 3 months which wasn't a problem for me.

http://magnetic-speedometer-repair.com/index.php

http://www.speedograph-richfield.com/ht ... pairs.html

https://speedycables.com

[derekmm]

Thanks for the suggestions. Will explore these tomorrow.

Regards. Derek

[Jet]

Good luck, keen to know the cause.

Bought a used MPH speedo years ago, (seemed like a good idea at the time), just need to remember where its stored.

[Cabrioot]

Hi is this problem solved? I seems to have the same problem
Thanks

[Cabrioot]

Toke mine to pieces and orderd new theetwheels
Seems to be a very common problem and parts are avaliable.
One theet was broken. Think sticky graese

[Cabrioot]

Hey Everyone
This is still not working. Think problem is electric and now nothing about it.
Someone has a solution adres or phone number ??
Thanks

[bluejay]

I believe they are VDO gauges, maybe they can assist?

[Cabrioot]

Problem solved.
Found a former engineer ho was involved in developing the speedometer for the Z1.
Works perfect now.

[ChrisS]

What was the solution the developer proposed? I've just got the same problem with the odometer, although the speedometer is unaffected. I've found someone in Germany who sells replacement gears for the odometer for £45 including delivery. Let's hope the packet doesn't fall foul of Customs, HMRC and the shipper. Since it will only be in an envelope, I'm hopeful!

[bjorno]

We had the same thing with a customers car.
And I had the same problem on my E30 320is, I changed the parts myself on the E30 but to change the one on the Z1 is lot's more difficult.
Eventually we send it to a https://www.info-instruments.com/contact/, it's just over the border for us in Breda Netherlands.

We had it back in a month and I think we payed 130 euro's.

[Cabrioot]

When it is a mechanical problem many can solve this. Electronic problem you need a specialist.
I changed the gears and was not working. So i had it repaired in Germany and the changed lot of El components
Works fine now.

[ChrisS]

I've received the replacement gears from GearWorks in Paderborn, Germany. I just don't trust myself peeling off the speedometer face without ruining it, using the link Mark provided.
Of the UK companies recommended in 2019:
http://magnetic-speedometer-repair.com/index.php
http://www.speedograph-richfield.com/ht ... pairs.html
neither will touch electro-mechanical instruments.
https://speedycables.com
will do the job but their turn-round time is 8 weeks from receipt of the faulty instrument and the cost is £140 - £160, although there may be a small discount for providing the replacement gear wheels.
Does anyone else have experience of this?

[Green Genie]

SPEEDO/MILEOMETER ISSUES SOLVED

Chaps, I had the same problem as most people above. My speedo and mileometer/trip counter were not working but everything else in the cluster was.

With the help of a couple of Zroadster friends we initially changed the differential impulse sensor as this was what a specialist had diagnosed, this made no difference-wrong diagnosis! We then swapped instrument clusters and the donor clock worked in my car yippee! success. One of the chaps had kindly found these people who were local to me on the internet: https://www.clusterrepairsuk.co.uk/ after a phone call they confirmed that they could repair this for me. You first have to download a form and fill it in and put the form inside a well packed box with the cluster and then courier it to them.

They are approximately 40 minutes from my house so no need to courier as I took it it to them in my daily driver. They said it would be ready in 2 weeks time but that went into 3 weeks but that wasn’t a problem for me. They have done a full rebuild of the speedo and given a 2 year warranty at a cost of £216.00 inc.VAT. So I am pleased to recommend them to anyone with this problem.

Everything now is working perfectly, anyone thinking of doing this don’t be put off by removing the cluster it’s fairly easy just some screws and Hex bolts to remove and an electrical plug to pull off the back, if I can do it so can you

[TJS]

A useful resource. Glad to hear it has fixed, did they explain what the problem was ?

[Green Genie]

A useful resource. Glad to hear it has fixed, did they explain what the problem was ?

Hi Tony
When I first rang them I asked them if they thought the problem was likely to be the plastic gear wheels broken. They said they would be refurbishing the entire speedo and that would be one of the things they would replace. When I collected it from reception (its in a large business centre) I asked what had been done, but the person who gave me the speedo wasn’t one of the technicians so he didn’t know.

BTW I’ve driven the car using my phone as a sat nav. And the speedo reads within 2 MPH difference, so they must of recalibrated it during the rebuild.

[bluejay]

Mine failed too,yesterday,…

Will contact the Dutch company to see what they can do for me!

Robert

[bluejay]

http://www.info-instruments.nl/ Did the repair, everything is working again, well from the odometers anyway.

The fuel gauge is now misreading, it looks like it is has twisted 45° counter clockwise… is there a way to adjust that back? The needle has not been removed or anything. When the tank is full it indicated ¾ full and with abt ¼ tank left the needle sits on the “R” but the light does not come on?

If there is a simple solution let me know otherwise I need to send it back again, which takes several weeks

Robert

[F.Brossaud]

Now it's my turn
Speedo needle is working properly but both odometers are now stuck...

[bluejay]

Send it to the company in the Netherlands.

Easy to do! and not too costly, about 250Euro

[bluejay]

http://www.info-instruments.nl/ Did the repair, everything is working again, well from the odometers anyway.

The fuel gauge is now misreading, it looks like it is has twisted 45° counter clockwise… is there a way to adjust that back? The needle has not been removed or anything. When the tank is full it indicated ¾ full and with abt ¼ tank left the needle sits on the “R” but the light does not come on?

If there is a simple solution let me know otherwise I need to send it back again, which takes several weeks

Robert

I suspect this might be due to an increased resistance in the connector for the fuel gauge, I need to remove the panel and clean the contacts...