Gauges reset while driving

[jailonacs99]

So this is a first for me. Did a quick search and didn't see anything exactly the same.

Was driving just now and mid-drive, going about 35-40 MPH, I suddenly saw my gauges drop to zero and then jump back up, all indicators on too as if during startup. No lingering warning light or chime, no engine shutter or anything. Mechanically the car didn't miss a beat, it's just like the gauges reset themselves. I was on my phone via Bluetooth and that wasn't affected, so it's not like all electronics blipped off.

Anyone else have that happen?

[tom @ eas]

Seen this happen often on early build 15s, either solved with software or replacement KOMBI. Are you still under warranty?

[jailonacs99]

Originally Posted by tom @ eas

Seen this happen often on early build 15s, either solved with software or replacement KOMBI. Are you still under warranty?

I'm an early 2015 (July 2014 if I remember correctly) build. I had my software and istep updated just a few months ago before my factory warranty ran out. I'd have to make a claim under my third party extended warranty if it replicated, or presumably there's some codes in there from when it happened.

It was odd and annoying, but if it's just a weird software glitch does it lead to long term issues or risk a more catastrophic failure (e.g. all the electronics shutting down on the freeway)?

[tom @ eas]

Originally Posted by jailonacs99

I'm an early 2015 (July 2014 if I remember correctly) build. I had my software and istep updated just a few months ago before my factory warranty ran out. I'd have to make a claim under my third party extended warranty if it replicated, or presumably there's some codes in there from when it happened.

It was odd and annoying, but if it's just a weird software glitch does it lead to long term issues or risk a more catastrophic failure (e.g. all the electronics shutting down on the freeway)?

Seems to be localized to the early MY15 (2014 production) models, the cluster just went dead for a few moments, eventually coming back alive. Those I've talked to had software updated or KOMBI replaced. Not sure what would happen long term, but not something I would let side by.

Extended warranty should cover it, may even be a TSB for it.

[c0nrad]

happened once or twice on my '16 3 series, there was a notice out at BMW dealers and fixed it with a software update during my next service

[jailonacs99]

I have a third party extended warranty so I need to call them before I take it to the dealer to get checked out.

But I think I've found a replicable trigger point. It's happened to me twice in exactly the same part of my drive home; when I'm exiting a long tunnel onto the surface streets. It seems to happen then when the interior lighting is switching from night to day mode. Mini-surge or something?

[jailonacs99]

Originally Posted by jailonacs99

I have a third party extended warranty so I need to call them before I take it to the dealer to get checked out.

But I think I've found a replicable trigger point. It's happened to me twice in exactly the same part of my drive home; when I'm exiting a long tunnel onto the surface streets. It seems to happen then when the interior lighting is switching from night to day mode. Mini-surge or something?

Just in case anybody has a similar issue and wonder what this looks like, attaching a short gif of the moment the gauges reset themselves. I'll try to get the specific TSB number when I get it fixed.

https://gifyu.com/image/3J4r

[G4BR13L]

That’s messed up. Looks like power gets cut off

From the docs:

“The passenger's side power distribution box supplies the instrument cluster with terminal 30B. The front electronic module (FEM) supplies the instrument cluster with terminal 30.”

And there is an instrument cluster self test described here:

https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/f...luster/YBF6u5s

Operating voltage
The operating voltage range is from 9 to 16 Volts. At a voltage below 7.5 Volts, undervoltage is detected. At a voltage above 16 Volts, no analogue inputs are evaluated.

There should be a fault code (931D) when undervoltage or overvoltage is detected.

[jailonacs99]

It's certainly odd, and finicky in when it happens. After two years this is the first time I've seen it, and I think it's because the specific tunnel system I'm rolling through since I moved is just enough of open/closed/open in short succession to trigger whatever overload is happening. Because of that it's consistently replicable if I take the same route.

Perfect storm though. I was planning to install an LCI climate control unit and get that programmed to match 2016+ models, but now I need to wait until I get the software update that fixes this.