[2016M235i]

Brand new member here. Looks like a great forum. Hope you can help me out with a question.

I have a 2016 M235i 6 speed manual that I recently purchased and for some reason the clear polycarbonate cover over the instrument cluster has a crack in it.

My question is can this cover be easily removed and replaced with one from a donor car or do I need to replace the entire cluster? I've swapped this out before on other brands of cars, but I am new to BMW. If anyone has actually done this, any tips or recommendations would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance

[pz619]

Not sure how useful this will be, but this is how you remove the entire cluster. I'm not sure if the plastic in front is a clip in. Perhaps once you remove it you might be able to see better.

https://f87.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...79&postcount=9

[2016M235i]

Looks easy enough. Thanks!

[2016M235i]

I thought I'd provide a quick follow-up to my original question in case anyone else has the same question. Just completed the lens replacement tonight in less than 15 minutes.

The cover is in fact very easy to replace. Six clips and four t-9 torx screws and it comes right apart. Removal of the cluster from the car is as easy as it gets. Two T-20 torx screws at the top, pivot forward, remove 2 electrical connectors from the back, and it pulls right out. Putting it back in is equally as easy.

I did disconnect the battery just to be safe, remembering not to close the trunk while the battery was disconnected since the power latch won't release the trunk lid if there is no power.

[designatedposter]

Originally Posted by 2016M235i

I thought I'd provide a quick follow-up to my original question in case anyone else has the same question. Just completed the lens replacement tonight in less than 15 minutes.

The cover is in fact very easy to replace. Six clips and four t-9 torx screws and it comes right apart. Removal of the cluster from the car is as easy as it gets. Two T-20 torx screws at the top, pivot forward, remove 2 electrical connectors from the back, and it pulls right out. Putting it back in is equally as easy.

I did disconnect the battery just to be safe, remembering not to close the trunk while the battery was disconnected since the power latch won't release the trunk lid if there is no power.

Did you have to remove cluster to get to replace lens?

[itsbeenfunmike]

Originally Posted by designatedposter

Did you have to remove cluster to get to replace lens?

Yes. The cluster must be removed as the screws and tabs are inaccessible unless you do.

[2016M235i]

Originally Posted by designatedposter

Did you have to remove cluster to get to replace lens?

Yes. There are four T-9 Torx screws that must be removed from the back of the cluster and there are six clips that must be released. Two of the clips are on the bottom, two are on the top and there is one on each side.

[CJ_M240]

Maybe get I ask where you bought the new lens from? Mine has some annoying scratches and it would nice to replace it..

Thanks

[2016M235i]

I couldn't find anyone who would sell me just the lens, and the lens only is not available from the dealer. I found an entire cluster from a wrecked 2014 M235I reasonably priced on ebay. I made a best price offer and the seller accepted for just over $100. I then swapped the lens from the ebay cluster onto my original cluster so no programming or initialization was necessary.

[CJ_M240]

Ah, makes sense.

[nahtanoj1]

Originally Posted by CJ_M235i

Ah, makes sense.

I have a lense with a water stain, presumably from an overzealous windex sprayer while doing an interior detail before I bought the car. It sounds like it's possible to just replace the lense and I would buy a used cluster just for the lense on eBay, but wondering what models would have the same lense as my F30 2016 340i. I figure I can go with the cheapest that has the right lense and not worry about the rest of the details...Thanks for any help!!

[designatedposter]

No need to replace.. Just remove lens and clean it. Polish if necessary with common paint correction products from the auto store. I'd also get tack cloth to ensure no dust particles are there when you reinstall

[El Conquistador]

Originally Posted by nahtanoj1

I have a lense with a water stain, presumably from an overzealous windex sprayer while doing an interior detail before I bought the car. It sounds like it's possible to just replace the lense and I would buy a used cluster just for the lense on eBay, but wondering what models would have the same lense as my F30 2016 340i. I figure I can go with the cheapest that has the right lense and not worry about the rest of the details...Thanks for any help!!

You could definitely just clean that.

[nahtanoj1]

Originally Posted by El Conquistador

You could definitely just clean that.

Thanks guys! With your help I pulled out the cluster, pulled it apart, cleaned it and put it back together and It looks so much better! Really appreciate all of the help!!

[Floatymoe]

I know this an old thread, but I'm trying to replace the gauge lens but it's stuck in the bottom left corner and I don't see any torx screws as mentioned by others.