Instrument Cluster Problems again - EEP 2

[Bumpa]

Is there anyone out there who knows the true story about the EEP 2 error code with dead instruments (except for the speedo) and how to fix it? I have 3 issues with my 2002 Z3 2.2 Sport's pack.

1. Now the weather is colder the instruments never work on first start up (except the speedo), and the EEP 2 code appears. After 2 or 3 miles, if I switch off and remove the key and then restart, it will generally be OK, but not always. It seems to be getting worse.
   
2. The tamper dot is illuminated even though the MOT history going back to 2006 shows the recorded mileage to be correct.
3. The speedo over-reads by more than 10% right across the range.

I have had the cluster out and checked the part number with what is shown for my car (LK16956) on Real OEM and it is correct - 62116901519.

The coding plug has obviously been out before as the plastic carrier is broken. The plug has the part number 62118360472. According to Real OEM this is incorrect. It should be 62118361231.

I just don't know where to go from here. I contacted Cluster Repairs UK and was told that the car was so old they could do nothing to help. I am loathe to start buying secondhand parts only to find it is no better or even worse. A new coding plug of the correct part number can be obtained from Germany for about £150 and I would spend that if I knew it would sort it out.

Someone must know the answer!

 

[motco]

I had EEP_1 with the same other features of your problem. In short I bought a used cluster and fitted it - it worked. However the mileage was 80k too high and I couldn't accept that for obvious reasons. It turned out that the coding plug was the cause of the failure and also of the mileage discrepancy. A local mileage 'corrector' reset the miles reading to precisely where it should be with the s/h coding plug in my own cluster. The only remaining problem is the tamper dot, but as I have MOT records for years showing the mileage is correct, it is a minor irritation only. Nobody anywhere on the 'net seemed to have a definitive answer at the time (May 2016). Here is a https://www.zroadster.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=44266 to my thead on the Other Place. Good Luck and keep us advised of progress for others' benefit please, thanks.

 

[Bumpa]

Thanks for your reply. It's obvious that no-one knows for sure what the problem is. I'm researching places that can help. I'll report back in due course. These electronic gremlins are what kills older modern cars now. One place I phoned told me that my Z3 could be scrap as a result of this repair costing more than the car is worth. I don't think so !!!

However, the electronics was the one thing that almost made me not buy a Z3, and to be fair I have had some issues in the two years I have had the car. I have had to change both the motion sensors on the floor and the camshaft sensors, and now there is the instrument problem. I'm used to older cars. My MGB and Triumph don't give half so much trouble.

 

[Geoff Crispin]

What Triumph have you got ? Geoff

 

[Lee]

Have you looked at swapping over the cluster ?

The LCD face comes out so you can move it over to another cluster to keep your mileage correct, could be a good way to diagnose weather its the cluster or wiring.

 

[mrscalex]

I recently spoke with Cluster Repair. I didn't need it myself but it was one of the gaps in my knowledge and was curious.

I got a price from them for mileage adjustment on a replacement cluster. I believe they have a lot of experience in this area including BMWs of this vintage. That is a distinct difference from trying to repair an existing unit.

I hope to have a go at mileage adjustment myself at some point. But I need to go via DME reprogramming first (I can do EWSs) to gradually step up the required knowledge of the electronics.

If it was me I would speak to them and crack on with a replacement cluster/mileage adjustment rather than trying to track the problem down. I have a replacement cluster from a 2.2 of very similar build if you need it. In fact from memory the VIN number is almost identical.

They quoted £129 plus VAT in July for the service. Not cheap but okay bearing in mind the severity of your issue. This is the text of their full response.

"This is a service we offer. Cost of the service is £129 plus vat with the return carriage inc. Repair time is 1/3 working days. There are instructions to be followed on what we will need so you need to give us a call."

 

[motco]

To correct the mileage on my second hand coding plug cost £90 over and above the cluster with the plug in it. I would like to lose the tamper dot but the MoT record is solid so I'm not too worried.

 

[mrscalex]

To correct the mileage on my second hand coding plug cost £90 over and above the cluster with the plug in it. I would like to lose the tamper dot but the MoT record is solid so I'm not too worried.

Was that at Cluster Repair?

 

[Bumpa]

Its funny that Mr Scalex spoke to Cluster Repairs and they were helpful. When I rang them, first the guy misheard me and thought I was talkinjg about an X3, when I said no, its a Z3, he told me they could do nothing as the car was too old and they could no longer get parts. His advice was to go to BMW to see if I could get a new cluster, which would need recoding. I moaned that would cost an arm and a leg, he said many such cars are scrapped because to repair them would cost more than it was worth.

Thanks for the offer of a spare cluster, but before I read your message I had already sent off my cluster to another repairer who is certain he can fix it. We'll see. Watch this space.

To Geoff Crispin, I have a 1977 Dolomite 1850HL. I acquired it (for nowt) a couple of years ago from my brother-in-law after it had lain in his garage for 24 years, unloved and unused. It had very little corrosion (amazingly) so I have got it back on the road. It's a delight to drive, comfortable and with sufficient power to ensure it isn't a moving roadblock. But what really stands out is the superb visibility all round. Something modern cars distinctly lack. This summer I drove it 370 miles to the Silverstone Classic and back with no problems at all. It can keep up 70 - 80 mph on the motorway all day and did 34 mpg while doing it.

 

[Geoff Crispin]

Its funny that Mr Scalex spoke to Cluster Repairs and they were helpful. When I rang them, first the guy misheard me and thought I was talkinjg about an X3, when I said no, its a Z3, he told me they could do nothing as the car was too old and they could no longer get parts. His advice was to go to BMW to see if I could get a new cluster, which would need recoding. I moaned that would cost an arm and a leg, he said many such cars are scrapped because to repair them would cost more than it was worth.

Thanks for the offer of a spare cluster, but before I read your message I had already sent off my cluster to another repairer who is certain he can fix it. We'll see. Watch this space.

To Geoff Crispin, I have a 1977 Dolomite 1850HL. I acquired it (for nowt) a couple of years ago from my brother-in-law after it had lain in his garage for 24 years, unloved and unused. It had very little corrosion (amazingly) so I have got it back on the road. It's a delight to drive, comfortable and with sufficient power to ensure it isn't a moving roadblock. But what really stands out is the superb visibility all round. Something modern cars distinctly lack. This summer I drove it 370 miles to the Silverstone Classic and back with no problems at all. It can keep up 70 - 80 mph on the motorway all day and did 34 mpg while doing it.
View attachment 121329

Hi thanks for the Triumph info was hoping that it was a TR which I had uptill 2/3?years ago

 

[mrscalex]

It was only a brief exchange with Cluster Repair by email. I can't pretend I know enough to recommend them or guarantee they could do they work properly. But the email told me what I wanted to know at that time.

Please share the guys you sent the cluster to if you are happy with the repair.

 

[motco]

Was that at Cluster Repair?

No, it was a chap from Hazlemere, near Beaconsfield. Got his name from a Google search.

 

[mrscalex]

No, it was a chap from Hazlemere, near Beaconsfield. Got his name from a Google search.

Shame about the tamper dot. If I get into this I'll have to find out how to get rid of that otherwise it won't feel like I've mastered it.

 

[Althulas]

I have another option to help https://totaltronics.com/ I have a problem with my cluster being just visible even after replacing bulbs and temp gauge showing red and dials barley working. They are confident they can fix any problems. Might be worth a call nothing to loose.

 

[colb]

From what I have read on the EEP faults it can display EEP on its own or EEP 1 or EEP 2, faults either with dry joints on the circuit board within the pod or chaffed loom where it passes over some sharp edges behind the pod. The coding plug in the back of the pod can also go bad. Seems people get hold of a used pod and change over the coding plug to see if that removes the fault, in doing that the mileage is taken from the coding plug being installed hence the display shows the mileage and will always show the higher mileage if they dont match with what is already in the ecu, it will set the tamper dot.
If you put a replacement pod in the car then I think you should try the coding plug from your old pod by changing them over, that way if the plug is ok the correct mileage will be read and will display without the tamper dot. If the plug is at fault then you should still get the EEP display. Try the replacement with the plug it came to and see if that gets rid of the EEP display, if it manages it then and if the pod has higher mileage than yours it will display the higher mileage with tamper dot.
Still looking for how to reset and restore to correct mileage, have seen people mention BMW Scanner 1.4 software may do it, I must have a look in depth as I have this software as well as INPA.
Only had one occassion a few years back where turning on ignition I had no instruments, checked out all the connections and the loom behind but didn't find any fault, it all came back on its own and it has not happened since. Whilst in there I did put some foam around the loom where it passes over the sharp edge.

 

[motco]

I went through all the possible combinations of plug and cluster separately and/or together and found that it was the plug in my case. Despite 'correcting' the mileage to within a mile of the original figure, the dot stuck. I gather that it is stored in at least three places including the light switch and the key. It always defaults to the highest figure from all sources and over-writes to that value so I suppose that unless all memories are reset there will be a discrepancy. There is a tolerance of several tens of miles apparently but mine was 80,000 miles too high after the swap. I still have the second hand cluster as evidence that the repair took place.

 

[mrscalex]

I went through all the possible combinations of plug and cluster separately and/or together and found that it was the plug in my case. Despite 'correcting' the mileage to within a mile of the original figure, the dot stuck. I gather that it is stored in at least three places including the light switch and the key. It always defaults to the highest figure from all sources and over-writes to that value so I suppose that unless all memories are reset there will be a discrepancy. There is a tolerance of several tens of miles apparently but mine was 80,000 miles too high after the swap. I still have the second hand cluster as evidence that the repair took place.

It does get stored in some funny places including the key. Although every key I've looked at has the wrong mileage and the car doesn't seem to care.

I suspect there is 1 'gold' reference mileage the car compares to the dash. But I don't know where that.

 

[motco]

Some say that it's the headlight switch, but that is pure anecdote.

 

[colb]

Very much doubt the headlight switch has anything to do with an eep fault unless some electrikery is leaking from the headlight warning light inside the pod causing something to short out, close exam of the circuit board and connections might reveal something amiss but not to do with the mileage and dot problem.

 

[Sean d]

I cant Imagine the headlight switch had anything to do with storing mileage, they often fail and get swapped out