E30 cluster help

[TSI]

One more step towards driveability...
We're trying to reinstall the cluster in my girlfriend's E30 cab project, after changing the SI board batteries (fingers crossed). At some point in the car's history, someone hacked up the cluster trim and completely messed it up (lost some screws, used some longer ones and broke the SI board housing.


However, we can't seem to fit the cluster back in. On the driver's side, there appears to be a metal tube of some kind which prevents the cluster from reaching the necessary position (where the screws would line up). We've wrestled with it for three hours, to no avail. Is there something I'm missing here?

[Gregs///M]

Pics would help. So you got the cluster out and now you can't get it back in?

A very common problem for Si board damage is using the wrong screws in the lower trim. This will break one or more electrical circuits. You can find more info in my SI board thread.

[TSI]

Pics would help. So you got the cluster out and now you can't get it back in?

A very common problem for Si board damage is using the wrong screws in the lower trim. This will break one or more electrical circuits. You can find more info in my SI board thread.

Yeah, the SI board was slightly hit by a wrong screw, thankfully not too much damage.

As for the problem: I got the cluster physically back in, but I can't attach it properly. The left lower side hole can't match up to the dashboard one, as the back of the cluster hits a metal tube. It sits about a quarter-inch too high on the left side, a barely visible difference.

[Gregs///M]

If you need that Si board fixed, hit me up. I can do it for a very affordable price. As far as the cluster fitting in there...the wiring harness is obstructing the cluster from going all the way in, possibly.

[TSI]

Thanks for the offer...my new batteries (soldered onto what was left of the posts) seem to have revived the tach. Temp gauge goes to 1/4 and stops, and econometer is dead, but I'm happy with the fix.

I checked the harnesses, no problem. It's the blue backing housing of the cluster which is hitting the tube. Very strange.