i just bought a 325i and i am fixing it up. I replaced the instrument cluster with b/c the odometer did not work. I then filled the gas tank and the needle only reads half way with a full tank of gas. Is this a problem with the instrument cluster or the fuel level sesnsor? any thoughts? thanks Matt
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Could be either. A common cluster problem is a poor contact where the threaded studs of the fuel & temp gauges mount to the main PCB in the cluster. re-flowing the solder on the main PCB is the fix. Another possibility is a sticking or bad level sensor. The sensor is pretty easy to check. Pull it and see what its resistance looks like with the float at each end of travel (should be ~3 ohm with the float at the top and ~72 ohm with the float at the bottom) and the fuel warning light contact should go to open circuit when the float reaches the bottom.The car makes it possible, but the driver makes it happen.
Jim Levie, Huntsville, AL -
thanks that helps alot. regards MattComment
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i tested the sender and it reads 11.5 at the top and 65.8 at the bottom. I pulled a sender from the junkyard and it read pretty much the same. still not getting 3 ohms and 72 ohms. should i keep looking for a good sender?Comment
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Not to hijack your thread, but I am having a similar problem with my newly purchased 87 325is. Odometer didn't work, put an 89 325i cluster in, and filled the tank up. The gas gauge reads full, but as I use the gas, it slowly goes down to the half mark, then the orange low fuel light comes on, then I run out of gas. So it's like your problem but the opposite. Ideas?Comment
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maybe motometer vs VDO clusters? (not sure what years got which etc).
my cluster is a VDO, and my fuel level sender is marked VDO as well.Jay
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Don't think that has anything to do with it, I've had like 5 clusters in my 325e and the gas gauge hasn't changed, and they've all been different types (early and late vdo and motometer)Originally posted by fretburnr View Post
I just read another thread where the guy had the EXACT same problem as me. Checked resistance on the sender to be between 3 and 72 ohms, it checked out fine. He replaced the sender anyway, and it works fine. I'd suggest that, for both of us.Comment
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Looks like i will be heading to the junkyard again. Let me know how you make out as well. thanks MattComment
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