The E32 has a lot of variation in the mechanicals but fortunately the
instrument cluster is directly swappable between all models provided
you are careful with the coding plug and the type of cluster.
There are 3 types of clusters; the difference is indicated by the color
of the back plate -- click on the color
to see photo
| Date | Back plate colour | Code plug type | Additional information |
| start → 02/89 | Gray | HML 075 | Stops at 299960 km. Code plug is in the brown plug, not the cluster |
| 02/89 → 09/90 | White | PIC 93C46 | Code plug is in the back of the cluster |
| 09/90 → end | Blue | PIC 93C56 | Code plug is in the back of the cluster |
What is possible?
Check your cluster and try to get an equivalent cluster (same color)
- remove the plug from your old cluster and insert it in the replacement cluster.
You cannot mix plugs and plates!
If your cluster has a gray back plate and the replacement cluster has a white or blue plate, you must use the white/blue plug of the replacement cluster.
If your cluster has a white back plate and the replacement cluster has a blue plate, you must use the blue plug of the replacement cluster (vehicle details will be for the car the replacement cluster came from).
If your cluster has a blue back plate and the replacement cluster has a white plate, you must use the white plug of the replacement cluster (vehicle details will be for the car the replacement cluster came from).
If your cluster has a white or blue plate do not use a gray plate cluster as it does not have any plug in it.
The coding plug is a small memory chip that holds car-specific data such as
- distance covered
- fuel tank capacity
- gearbox details
- rear differential ratio
here are two of them
here is the coding plug for the gray plate -- its in the brown plug! (from Johan735)
