Can I fix the odometer myself?

[DaN]

The odometer and trip counter aren't working on my 85 325e VDO gauge cluster.
I've heard they have some gear inside that commonly strips out. Is it possible to obtain the parts to fix this? Do they make a repair kit? II'd rather get the parts and do it myself, than send it out.

[arnoldgtr]

VDO's have three gears that commonly break. You may as well change them all...otherwise, you'll be taking it apart again. Buy the three gear set here.

http://www.odometergears.com/

[DaN]

Cool thanks.
Wow they really bank on these plastic gears, $25 each? lol
It doesn't say which bmw the gears are for, I can assume its for the e30?

[Sean]

You can always just find a junker and steal that one?

[Jand3rson]

You can always just find a junker and steal that one?

And replace broken parts with worn parts?

[arnoldgtr]

I've pulled a dozen clusters from junkyard E30's and I have yet to find one with good odometer gears.
I believe the 3-gear set from odometergears.com was less than $75.

[hotghias]

:) i found one with good gears, but it has 20k more miles than my car, so i have to wait a year or two to put it in.

[PanamaE30]

I've pulled a dozen clusters from junkyard E30's and I have yet to find one with good odometer gears.
I believe the 3-gear set from odometergears.com was less than $75.

$65 when you buy them together.

[Sean]

You can always just find a junker and steal that one?

And replace broken parts with worn parts?

No, not take the gears. i meant take the odo from a parts car and use that til is dies. That's what I plan on doin when mine stops working.

[318driver]

ok, so i just found that one of my gears is busted, its the smallest one, Would this be the problem for my speedometer not working as well as the odometer.

Thanks.

[AdamF 88iS]

ok, so i just found that one of my gears is busted, its the smallest one, Would this be the problem for my speedometer not working as well as the odometer.

Thanks.

No. The gears only run the odo.

FWIW, the reason these gears break is because somebody along the line had pressed the reset button while the car was moving. Make sure you're stopped when you press the button, and when you do press it be gentle.

[318driver]

got my hopes up for nothing lol. Atleast my odo will work, or will it since my speedo dont work? Oh well. Do the SI batteries control the speedo at all? or is it something else, because the rest of the cluster works, only the speedo doesnt.

Thanks.

[arnoldgtr]

If the speedometer and odometer both don't work, check the sender on the differential.

FWIW, the reason these gears break is because somebody along the line had pressed the reset button while the car was moving.

An internet myth.
Certainly not true in either of my own cases. I never reset the trip odometer at all.
If you inspect the gears, the combination of heat, age, and the grease used to lubricate them turns them to a jelly-like substance. They finally just disintegrate.