XSeries-forum

Yay!!!!!!!

I am SOOOOO happy!  )  )  )

Sorry for creating a new thread on this old topic, but I want to share the joy with as many people as I can.



BEFORE...




AFTER...




I bought a new full ribbon & LCD screen kit from here - http://www.akspeedo.com/bmw-lcd-pixel-repair-shop.php - It cost £39.99 inc p&p.

Then I followed the excellent instructions for dismantling the radio, here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKYk0zWSse4&spfreload=1

Then I followed AKSpeedo's video tutorial on fitting the new bits, here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9i65nCb ... WW3HARKSuw

And guess what? It worked first time!!!!!

I've read some horror stories about people spending ages trying to fix the dead pixels and failing - and to be honest, I tried various methods of cleaning up & re-using the original ribbon connector, with no success. Anyway, I bit the bullet and bought the full kit. It arrived within 48 hours. It was REALLY well packaged (AKSpeedo is clearly someone who takes a pride in his product). I fitted it and tested it - WOW - SUCCESS FIRST TIME!!!


A WORD OF WARNING...
Do not attempt this if you are a bit of a bull in a china shop. The whole job is only to be attempted by people like me - OCD and a complete fussy fiddle-ar$e. You need patience and extreme accuracy (especially when lining up the new ribbon cable with the contacts on the motherboard). I took photos and made notes from start to finish, which made re-assembling the head unit a bit of a doddle.

But, boy, what a sense of achievement when you turn it on and it works!


Final photo - a pic of the electrical contacts after I'd cleaned them up (I used cellulose thinners, as my wife's nail polish remover wasn't strong enough to remove the hardened crud covering the contacts). It's vital that you clean these 100%...

Ive got one of their kits waiting for me to put into the wifes X5 dash display. I might do it on monday.

[quote="themoog"]
Ive got one of their kits waiting for me to put into the wifes X5 dash display. I might do it on monday.
[/quote]

Good luck.

I only needed a nice thin T8 torx screwdriver - a T9 wasn't needed. Cotton buds, dipped into cellulose thinners, were good for cleaning the motherboard contacts (personally, I didn't scrape them with a blade, like he does in the videeo, for fear of causing damage). My work surface was really clean & dust-free. 10mm Koptan (high temp) adhesive tape was used for sticking the ribbon cable.

The front of the new LED screen has removable protective film on it.

The most crucial moment is positioning the cable onto the contacts. Do it in a good, strong light and make sure your positioning is perfect, down to a fraction of a millimetre, and you'll be okay.

Follow the videos steadily and carefully. Personally, I numbered and photographed each stage, so I could refer back when I was reassembling the head unit.

Any questions - just ask.

Mine is for the instrument cluster. Apparently i have to drill some holes in it to access some screws. I half attemped it ages ago but my drill packed up just as I was about to do it so I just put it back together. I have a new drill now...

[quote="themoog"]
Mine is for the instrument cluster. Apparently i have to drill some holes in it to access some screws. I half attemped it ages ago but my drill packed up just as I was about to do it so I just put it back together. I have a new drill now...
[/quote]

Aaaah - just good luck, then.

I half attempted it and bottled out lol need to get it sort have the ribbon :-[ :-[