The BMW KOMBI module: what is it? The module that manages the instrument cluster is the BMW KOMBI control unit.
Ohiobikes
105,000 miles on a 2006 E90 325i automatic with two wheels. Everything was perfect up until the battery died after I left the car idle for a few weeks. (Don’t all BMW tales begin in this manner?)
After being fully charged, the car starts, runs, and drives smoothly, but the instrument cluster is dark and the instruments are at their zero positions. After a ding, the speedometer, tachometer, fuel gauge, and temperature gauge swing to the proper positions, all the warning lights turn on, and then the instrument cluster is dark once more. This repeats with the exact same timing every single time: it is dark for a certain number of seconds, the gauges are operational for the same couple of seconds, and the lights remain on for the same length of time. Whether the car is moving or not doesn’t alter the pattern.
Additional problems Subsequently the battery was depleted (and has since been completely replaced), I’ve noticed that turn signals are inoperative up until the point at which the gauges are illuminated, after which they stop working. The Kombi module and instrument cluster are not under the control of the BC stalk or turn signal stalk. A scan using the BavTech tool reveals no contact with the Kombi module, unless I’m lucky and try it during the instruments’ brief window of apparent correct operation (a few seconds).
When the headlights are turned on, the instrument back lighting, HVAC controls, and radio controls do not turn on right away; instead, they all turn on around 5 minutes later. The radio and HVAC both have LCD displays that are always operational. When I start the car, the radio settings sometimes reset to the initial preset and the level is considerably lower than it was when I shut the car off (for example, if the bass was set to 3, it resets to zero the next time I start the car). The car’s outside and interior lighting appears to operate without any issues.
I’ve come across forums about instrument coding that explain resemblant actions of the instrument cluster and offer the advice that “daten files” need to be modified. Both the local BMW dealer’s service writer and I am clueless about what those are.
The problem is caused by the instrument cluster; if you swap it out for another e90, the problem persists. To Dashboard Instrument Cluster Co in Hallandale Beach, Florida, I submitted the cluster. There were no hardware problems found after they tested it.
This started after a power outage, which speaks to a software issue with the instrument cluster itself in my opinion. It also follows the instrument cluster in other automobiles. Any suggestions on how to fix this? I appreciate it.
I forgot to mention that the DME passed all functional tests performed by SIA Electronics in Tilden, Illinois.
Instrument clusters for BMW (KOMBI)
In today’s BMW vehicles, the instrument cluster (often referred to as the “kombi”) stores mileage and VIN information in its EEPROM. A tool that can read cluster EEPROM and update information like vin and mileage in EEPROM is essential because these values cannot be changed by programming or coding on a car.
Hexprog can reduce the mileage to the desired value by editing the cluster EEPROM on a bench. We currently support widely-used EEPROMs such the M35080, 160D0WQ, and 080D0WQ.