VDO vs Motometer

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  • handysmurf59
    Grease Monkey
    • Dec 2007
    • 335

    #1

    VDO vs Motometer

    Does anyone know if the Motometer speedo will fix and work in a VDO cluster? Also are the VDO and Motometer clusters interchangable? I remember someone saying that they wernt, but could not find that post.
    Thanks,
    Jason
    sigpic
    "But the way it deals with bumps and heaves makes you think the shocks are filled with unicorn farts and pixie tears."
  • lordofthewaters
    Mod Crazy
    • Oct 2005
    • 714

    #2
    First look at the front of the cluster, do you have 1 or 3 RED S.I lights?

    If you have 3, then all parts from all 84 - 03/86 VDO/Motometer clusters will interchange with each other.

    If you have 1 (04/86 - 1992) then all VDO/Motometer parts will interchange with each other.

    The earlier ones use different S.I Boards, Motherboards, and Speedo/MPG/Tach gauges then the newer one, which also has parts that you cannot change with the older ones.

    The Early versions also had the Tach coding plug on the rear of the tach, while the newer spec had the plug on the front of the cluster itself.


    VDO/Motometer were two suppliers built to BMW spec on how to make the cluster.

    So the parts can interchange.

    Sarcasm is a body's natural defense against stupid.
    When a man talks dirty to a woman, it's sexual harassment. When a woman talks dirty to a man, it's £3.95 per minute.
    "My mother never saw the irony in calling me a son-of-a-bitch." Jack Nicholson"
    Old age and treachery will always overcome youth and skill.



    Comment

    • Dylboz
      Noobie
      • Jan 2008
      • 7

      #3
      The parts (lights, gauges even) may interchange, but the clusters themselves don't. If you replace a VDO cluster in an 84 or 85 with a later model Motometer, your D+ circuit will not function correctly, depriving you of the use of your alternator, a situation that is not conducive to battery life or driving much at all. I speak from experience here. VDO and Motometer clusters are not interchangeable, so try and stick with what you got originally.

      Comment

      • devonjordan
        R3VLimited
        • Jul 2006
        • 2386

        #4
        So if I replace, say the tachometer in my Motometer guage cluster with one from a VDO will it work?
        Hemingway said it best. “There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely games.”

        Help a brother out, buy your detailing products here...

        Comment

        • ldsbeaker
          No R3VLimiter
          • Aug 2004
          • 3098

          #5
          Perfect timing! This is where I'm at:

          My TURTL3 ('86 325es) has a VDO cluster. So I bought an early VDO cluster with the 7k tach to work with the M30 swap.

          Then I bought GREEN HELL ('86 325e). Of FREAKIN' course! It's Motometer.

          Both are x/85 build dates, so they both are early generation. I'm going to do the M30 swap in GREEN HELL now, so I wonder if the VDO 7k tach will work in the Motometer cluster. I'm thinking not, but I'm going to go ahead and give it a try anyways. The temp gauge doesn't work either, so I have to pull it anyway...

          Anyone know for sure?
          Slicktop City!

          Comment

          • devonjordan
            R3VLimited
            • Jul 2006
            • 2386

            #6
            Let us all know if it works.

            Originally posted by ldsbeaker
            Perfect timing! This is where I'm at:

            My TURTL3 ('86 325es) has a VDO cluster. So I bought an early VDO cluster with the 7k tach to work with the M30 swap.

            Then I bought GREEN HELL ('86 325e). Of FREAKIN' course! It's Motometer.

            Both are x/85 build dates, so they both are early generation. I'm going to do the M30 swap in GREEN HELL now, so I wonder if the VDO 7k tach will work in the Motometer cluster. I'm thinking not, but I'm going to go ahead and give it a try anyways. The temp gauge doesn't work either, so I have to pull it anyway...

            Anyone know for sure?
            Hemingway said it best. “There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely games.”

            Help a brother out, buy your detailing products here...

            Comment

            • devonjordan
              R3VLimited
              • Jul 2006
              • 2386

              #7
              double post
              Hemingway said it best. “There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely games.”

              Help a brother out, buy your detailing products here...

              Comment

              • ldsbeaker
                No R3VLimiter
                • Aug 2004
                • 3098

                #8
                Great, I get to be the guinea pig.
                I'll see if I can do it in the next week or two. I just got an Mtech wheel that I want to put on as well.. It all works out so PERFECT!

                Stay tuned.
                Slicktop City!

                Comment

                • NC325iC
                  R3V OG
                  • Mar 2004
                  • 6565

                  #9
                  ive been runing vdo guages on a motometer board for a while now
                  Your signature picture has been removed since it contained the Photobucket "upgrade your account" image.

                  Originally posted by TimKninja
                  Im more afraid of this thread turning into one of those classic R3v moments, where Pizza gets delivered.

                  Comment

                  • devonjordan
                    R3VLimited
                    • Jul 2006
                    • 2386

                    #10
                    Originally posted by NC325iC
                    ive been runing vdo guages on a motometer board for a while now
                    No problems thus far? I guess that means the motometer board is getting some VDO updates soon.
                    Hemingway said it best. “There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely games.”

                    Help a brother out, buy your detailing products here...

                    Comment

                    • netcsk
                      E30 Mastermind
                      • Apr 2004
                      • 1609

                      #11
                      I run a moto speedo/odo on my VDO cluster. No problems.

                      Comment

                      • NC325iC
                        R3V OG
                        • Mar 2004
                        • 6565

                        #12
                        as long as you have stuff from the same time period ie after 86 i think
                        Your signature picture has been removed since it contained the Photobucket "upgrade your account" image.

                        Originally posted by TimKninja
                        Im more afraid of this thread turning into one of those classic R3v moments, where Pizza gets delivered.

                        Comment

                        • ldsbeaker
                          No R3VLimiter
                          • Aug 2004
                          • 3098

                          #13
                          Mine doesn't work.
                          Tried switching a VDO 7k (early 318) tach to an early Motometer cluster. No workie.
                          Tried both plugs and everything.
                          The temp gauge works, though. Anyone want to trade for a VDO cluster?
                          Slicktop City!

                          Comment

                          • lordofthewaters
                            Mod Crazy
                            • Oct 2005
                            • 714

                            #14
                            Originally posted by Dylboz
                            VDO and Motometer clusters are not interchangeable, so try and stick with what you got originally.
                            Not so. The only caveat is that you should not use an early cluster (pre 6/86) in a later model car (post 6/86), or vice versa. The clusters are made to spec, and are completely interchangeable.

                            Sarcasm is a body's natural defense against stupid.
                            When a man talks dirty to a woman, it's sexual harassment. When a woman talks dirty to a man, it's £3.95 per minute.
                            "My mother never saw the irony in calling me a son-of-a-bitch." Jack Nicholson"
                            Old age and treachery will always overcome youth and skill.



                            Comment

                            • lordofthewaters
                              Mod Crazy
                              • Oct 2005
                              • 714

                              #15
                              Originally posted by devonjordan
                              So if I replace, say the tachometer in my Motometer guage cluster with one from a VDO will it work?
                              Yes. provided that you follow the rule I stated above.

                              Sometimes that one doesn't necessarily apply, as I have an early style 7k tach cluster in my 87 eta (in it when I got it last year) and it works fine without any voltage drain.

                              Sarcasm is a body's natural defense against stupid.
                              When a man talks dirty to a woman, it's sexual harassment. When a woman talks dirty to a man, it's £3.95 per minute.
                              "My mother never saw the irony in calling me a son-of-a-bitch." Jack Nicholson"
                              Old age and treachery will always overcome youth and skill.



                              Comment

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