Tachometer Options

[318isbmw]

Sorry if this has been covered, I wasn't able to find anything e30 specific. It looks like most are running e36 Tach's in the e30 clusters? Are there any other options without redoing the entire cluster?

Brendan

[nando]

I don't think E36 tach faces fit in E30s, and it has to go through a coding plug of some sort. the tachometer is just a stepper motor and it doesn't work without some sort of controller. the coding plug is what controls the sweep of the gauge, not the motor (they're the same anyway).

the simplest option is an E30 M3 tach face and you need a coding plug from a specific E28, but it's not cheap and I think that coding plug may be NLA as well.

you could also print a new tach face that just extends the range of the stock one by another 1500rpm. the problem of course is what to do with the econometer..

[318isbmw]

I don't think E36 tach faces fit in E30s, and it has to go through a coding plug of some sort. the tachometer is just a stepper motor and it doesn't work without some sort of controller. the coding plug is what controls the sweep of the gauge, not the motor (they're the same anyway).

the simplest option is an E30 M3 tach face and you need a coding plug from a specific E28, but it's not cheap and I think that coding plug may be NLA as well.

you could also print a new tach face that just extends the range of the stock one by another 1500rpm. the problem of course is what to do with the econometer..

Thanks Nando, e30 M3 makes a lot of sense, I hadn't thought about that option.

[Loupoz]

Thanks Nando, e30 M3 makes a lot of sense, I hadn't thought about that option.

Yeah but you cant use it with the stock E30M3 coding plug, you have to get a E28M5 coding plug, take the circuit board out of it, and put that into the plastic housing of an E30 coding plug.