W211 facelift Instrument Cluster dead - can it be replaced without recoding?

[Stocho]

W211 E320CDI facelift 2006 had turbo actuator problems several years ago and the actuator was repaired back then. It was a good repair as the car had excellent acceleration and excellent subjective feel to it after that repair. (On my other W211 it accelerates after actuator repair but ... subjectively there is just no such a kick when I floor the accelerator, especially from stationery, as there was in the past.) Unfortunately, about six months ago or so actuator problem reappeared: no kangarooing, just sometimes after starting the car there would be no turbo acceleration. It could always be "fixed" by restarting the car. I decided to buy an aftermarket actuator as a permanent fix.

Last week I removed old actuator to read the G number. A couple of days later a new actuator arrived and I fitted it. After fitting it I noticed the instrument cluster is dead. I tried removing the new actuator but still have the issue. The clock on the dashboard is frozen and the time it shows indicates that the problem was not caused by installation of the new actuator or removal of the old one as the frozen time does not coincide with the removal time or installation time. I think this was very unlucky coincidence and it resulted in me removing the newly installed actuator, checking whether this would fix the dashboard, and reinstalling it again. The car drives fine except that subjectively there is no longer that "kick" it had before. Code reader can not communicate with Instrument Cluster, many other modules of the car have error codes relating to not being able to communicate with the Instrument Cluster.

I removed the Instrument Cluster, kept it in the house so that any moisture it might have could have a chance to evaporate but it did not fix the problem.

Second hand instrument clusters are not that expensive on Ebay (and could be used for both diagnostics and potentially as a fix for the problem). Some sources on the internet state that these require recoding, others that they can just be swapped over, others state that even without recoding it will all work except for odometer. Did anyone try/know what happens if IC is replaced without recoding? Would just the odometer be blank or would there be some other loss of functionality? If mileage would not be shown, would gear selected and "C"/"S" mode indicator (that are shown on the same LCD display as the mileage) be still displayed?

 

[colinallcars]

W211 E320CDI facelift 2006 had turbo actuator problems several years ago and the actuator was repaired back then. It was a good repair as the car had excellent acceleration and excellent subjective feel to it after that repair. (On my other W211 it accelerates after actuator repair but ... subjectively there is just no such a kick when I floor the accelerator, especially from stationery, as there was in the past.) Unfortunately, about six months ago or so actuator problem reappeared: no kangarooing, just sometimes after starting the car there would be no turbo acceleration. It could always be "fixed" by restarting the car. I decided to buy an aftermarket actuator as a permanent fix.

Last week I removed old actuator to read the G number. A couple of days later a new actuator arrived and I fitted it. After fitting it I noticed the instrument cluster is dead. I tried removing the new actuator but still have the issue. The clock on the dashboard is frozen and the time it shows indicates that the problem was not caused by installation of the new actuator or removal of the old one as the frozen time does not coincide with the removal time or installation time. I think this was very unlucky coincidence and it resulted in me removing the newly installed actuator, checking whether this would fix the dashboard, and reinstalling it again. The car drives fine except that subjectively there is no longer that "kick" it had before. Code reader can not communicate with Instrument Cluster, many other modules of the car have error codes relating to not being able to communicate with the Instrument Cluster.

I removed the Instrument Cluster, kept it in the house so that any moisture it might have could have a chance to evaporate but it did not fix the problem.

Second hand instrument clusters are not that expensive on Ebay (and could be used for both diagnostics and potentially as a fix for the problem). Some sources on the internet state that these require recoding, others that they can just be swapped over, others state that even without recoding it will all work except for odometer. Did anyone try/know what happens if IC is replaced without recoding? Would just the odometer be blank or would there be some other loss of functionality? If mileage would not be shown, would gear selected and "C"/"S" mode indicator (that are shown on the same LCD display as the mileage) be still displayed?

Have you checked the fuses?

 

[Stocho]

Have you checked the fuses?

Both fuses 64 and 52 are 7.5A and pass continuity test. The first has supply even with ignition key out, the second, 52, has supply when ignition is on.

One option I am considering is testing with my other W211 car but slight fear what if faulty IC will damage my other car, or the other way around. Also would need to buy long T25 screwdriver as quite a hassle to remove IC with multibit tool even with an extension. Need slim and long screwdriver really.

 

[Chrishazle]

When the instrument cluster on my S204 went dead, local MB trained mechanic found it had somehow lost its coding/programming, and he was able to quickly re-code and re program it. He had Star/Xentry access as he was able to update the DSR after servicing the car.

 

[Alps]

you can get it repaired, if you replace with a used one you have to reset it to zero then use MB STAR to code it to your car and it will pick the milage up. if you don't zero it out it will stay with the milage that it had when it was taken out the other car and won't match your ecu

 

[Smiley]

My cluster died completely when the battery was on its last legs - a charge of the battery (and then a change of battery) fixed it.

 

[Stocho]

On the internet plenty of stories how it comes back to life just on its own (I think even happened to me on another W211), how disconnecting main battery and/or auxiliary/just removing IC and putting it back/connecting power to pins 1 and 4-6 etc cures the problem. So it is quite funky.
I even tried air iron repair: https://www.you tube.com/watch?v=VJmLgMY_7yk

None of this helped in my case, so as the next step of diagnostics I swapped with my other W211. Part numbers are quite different but it still works. The only thing not working is odometer and even things displayed next to mileage: gear selected and C/S mode are displayed.

Code reader (iCarsoft) shows the following current errors:
930E Synchronization of the DTC memory can not be ensured
912B Invalid drive authorization data
9202 Control units A1 (Instrument cluster) and (or) N73 (EIS[EZS]) control unit) were replaced.

So now thinking whether to send existing IC for repair or just to buy second had part on ebay.

Even if i repair could I still have odometer issues (on both cars) as I have driven several miles and intend to drive more with IC from another car? Is the idea behind this odometer issue is to store mileage in both ECU and IC and not to show mileage if they are inconsistent?

If I get second hand IC from Ebay is the odometer issue something an MB independent specialist with Star will be easily able to fix next time I take it for a service/repair?

 

[m80]

On the internet plenty of stories how it comes back to life just on its own (I think even happened to me on another W211), how disconnecting main battery and/or auxiliary/just removing IC and putting it back/connecting power to pins 1 and 4-6 etc cures the problem. So it is quite funky.
I even tried air iron repair: https://www.you tube.com/watch?v=VJmLgMY_7yk

None of this helped in my case, so as the next step of diagnostics I swapped with my other W211. Part numbers are quite different but it still works. The only thing not working is odometer and even things displayed next to mileage: gear selected and C/S mode are displayed.

Code reader (iCarsoft) shows the following current errors:
930E Synchronization of the DTC memory can not be ensured
912B Invalid drive authorization data
9202 Control units A1 (Instrument cluster) and (or) N73 (EIS[EZS]) control unit) were replaced.

So now thinking whether to send existing IC for repair or just to buy second had part on ebay.

Even if i repair could I still have odometer issues (on both cars) as I have driven several miles and intend to drive more with IC from another car? Is the idea behind this odometer issue is to store mileage in both ECU and IC and not to show mileage if they are inconsistent?

If I get second hand IC from Ebay is the odometer issue something an MB independent specialist with Star will be easily able to fix next time I take it for a service/repair?

You might consider buying a 2nd hand unit, circa £50 off ebay.
1st attempt would be for an Indie to try and 'flash' the original,
if that fails fit the 2nd hand unit and try to 'flash' that.

It less likely to involve a return visit and you might have a 2nd hand unit to sell on later.

 

[Stocho]

Was told by my specialist (who are very competent) that Star is not sufficient to fix the odometer issue (not displaying mileage) when second hand IC is installed.

Anyway as the car does not have much value left (and hence not caring about value depreciating due to no odometer read on MOT etc that might seem dodgy to potential buyers) went ahead and bought second hand IC.

Installed second hand IC and as expected odometer is not showing. But also I can not set the clock! The menu for setting Date/Time just does not appear on IC.

After some internet browsing and internet searching I now suspect that the clock issue is not related to "drive authorization" odometer issue. It appears on W211 with command Time is set via GPS (possibly with correction via command). So I now suspect that my second hand IC is from a car with command and hence does not have Date/Time menu enabled. So is there now no way now to set clock other than switching off power from IC and putting it back on around 12:00?

 

[Alps]

read my post above, you need to find someone who can reset the milage to zero , any milage correction person should be able to do this . once you do this STAR can them code this to your car. basically milage on any replacement cluster has to be below 100 miles .

 

[mersum1es]

Virginized IC will draw all mielages in Initialization. If SDS can still connect IC module, all option setup can be copied too.