Odd speedometer issue - 2013 135

[jzmundy]

Hi everyone,

A few weeks ago, I picked up a new 2013 135 (M-sport, DCT, etc. etc.). I absolutely love the car. Overall, it's a much more engaging and enjoyable driving experience than my previous E92 335. It reminds me a lot of my Z4, actually.

Unfortunately, over the past few days, I've noticed an odd speedometer problem. Occasionally, when driving and coming to a stop, the speedometer will drop below the zero mark and will consequently be about 3-4 mph lower than expected. After turning the car off and locking it, the gauges "reset" upon unlocking and the speedometer is perfectly aligned at zero (that is, until it sporadically drops below zero again).

Has anyone else experienced this issue? I've tried removing the negative battery terminal (overnight even), but the issue still exists. It's a little disconcerting that a car with less than 1k miles has such a weird (electrical?) issue.

Thanks!

Zach

[rking117]

no take it in to the dealer i think they can reset it to factory specs to solve ths issue.

[jzmundy]

Dealer is claiming this is "normal" and seems offended that I'd want to even bring it in. Can someone please verify that their car does not do this so I don't look like an idiot?

[agent00M]

I have a 2011 and mine has never done this.

[jkoral]

BMW's TSB on speedometer error is 2.4 mph + 10% as a maximum (to be considered within spec). Not +/-, only plus. There is a TSB on this.

It can never read lower than the actual speed, otherwise it's a violation of European regulation, ECE-R 39, which states indicated speed must never be lower than the true speed or higher by more than one-tenth of true speed plus four kilometers per hour.

Something is not right, take it to the dealer.

[jzmundy]

Originally Posted by jkoral

BMW's TSB on speedometer error is 2.4 mph + 10% as a maximum (to be considered within spec). Not +/-, only plus. There is a TSB on this.

It can never read lower than the actual speed, otherwise it's a violation of European regulation, ECE-R 39, which states indicated speed must never be lower than the true speed or higher by more than one-tenth of true speed plus four kilometers per hour.

Something is not right, take it to the dealer.

Wow, thanks for the info!

[bbbbmw]

Originally Posted by jkoral

BMW's TSB on speedometer error is 2.4 mph + 10% as a maximum (to be considered within spec). Not +/-, only plus. There is a TSB on this.

It can never read lower than the actual speed, otherwise it's a violation of European regulation, ECE-R 39, which states indicated speed must never be lower than the true speed or higher by more than one-tenth of true speed plus four kilometers per hour.

Something is not right, take it to the dealer.

This makes me nuts - my 1997 BMW had the same problem - it read 5 mph too high, at 70 mph. I got the same "normal limits" quote - meaning my speedo could read 12 mph too high, and BMW considers that acceptable. No other manufacturer in the industry thinks that's okay, but BMW makes their own rules.

My theory is they make only one speedo, and put it in all the cars. It's calibrated for the largest wheels they sell, and everyone else's speedo reads high.

[jzmundy]

Just wanted to follow up this thread now that the issue's been resolved.

After being practically laughed off the phone by the local dealer who insisted that this was normal operation, I took the car to Flow BMW in Winston-Salem (which is where I purchased the vehicle to begin with). After agreeing that this behavior was abnormal, they ordered and replaced the entire cluster. Problem solved!

[Wakka]

My 128i reads perfectly

[Dackelone]

All BMW(and other German manufactures) speedos will read high. ie: your actual speed will be LESS than what your speedo is reporting as the vehicle speed. You can have the M3 digital speedo coded into your BC display if you like. You can also have it report(show) true vehicle speed or that buffered +4% value that bme speedos show.

However... this NOT what the OP's problem is. The way I read it is that the speedo needle doesn't rest at "0" when coming to a stop, on the speedo gauge. Rather it rests bellow the "zero" mark on his instrument pannel. I think the only fix is a new speedo/instrument panel.

OP - you should post a few pics or even a video and show us what exactly your speedo problem is. And IF your dealer doesn't take you seriously - go find another dealer who will take better care of its customers.




M3 digital speedo( V = kph) coded into my 135i instrument cluster...


Here you can see how off the BMW speedo is. M3 digital speedo is deal on... true vehicle speedo 159 kph, speedo reports 104 mph or 168 kph, my TomTom(far right bottom of screen) reports vehicle speed of 159 kph in a 120 kph zone. Note: old TomTom maps bc that AUtobahn is now a "free" temp speed limit zone.

[jkoral]

Originally Posted by Dackelone

OP - you should post a few pics or even a video and show us what exactly your speedo problem is. And IF your dealer doesn't take you seriously - go find another dealer who will take better care of its customers.

See above, OP went to a different dealer and got a new cluster. Problem solved.

[jzmundy]

Before it was fixed, I was able to reproduce the issue pretty reliably. Under, uh...brisk...acceleration (above ~40% throttle, 1st or 2nd gear), the speedometer would jump wildly around, +/- 10-20 mph around the speed at which the jumping originally started. This resulted in the speedo reading too low and falling below the zero mark upon stopping.

Thanks for all the replies, folks!

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by jkoral

See above, OP went to a different dealer and got a new cluster. Problem solved.

Man, I don't know "how" I missed seeing that post! lol thanks. I think I need to get some sleep.

Glad the OP got his kombi/instrument panel replaced.