[chrismuk]

I don’t know if it’s just me but I always feel that there is wasted space on the Speedo display.

I mean like under the date on mine there is what appears to be an inactive line which could display something, in between the mileage and the time there could be a display showing the current radio station or track and the left hand side under the Speedo itself just a big wasted area.

[fe7565]

Using BimmerCode (or Esys):

o “Instrument Cluster” KOMBI L7_BASIS or “Instrument Cluster” KOMBI L6 BO or “Instrument Cluster” KOMBI_CT_RD1 control unit

• Date in board computer
Enable/disable the display of the date in the board computer. Please toggle the displayed information in the board computer with the button in the turn signal lever until the specific display appears.
Values:
o Active
o Not active


Requirements:
o “Instrument Cluster” KOMBI L7_BASIS control unit
• Digital speed in board computer
Enable/disable the display of the digital speed in the board computer. Please toggle the displayed information in the board computer with the button in the turn signal lever until the specific display appears.
Values:
o Active
o Not active


Requirements:
o “Instrument Cluster” KOMBI L7_BASIS or “Instrument Cluster” KOMBI L6 BO or “Instrument Cluster” KOMBI_CT_RD1 control unit
• Empty menu item in board computer
Enable/disable the empty menu item in the board computer.
Values:
o Active
o Not active

[Qsilver7]

You have the basic instrument cluster and the only digital info you can have is in the small rectangular area from the lower center over to the right (you can see the digital display outline in your pic).

There is no display on the left side of your cluster…which is why nothing appears there. If you had the 6WA cluster…then digital info would appear across the entire bottom of the cluster from left to right…which includes the lower half of both the larger gauges (speedometer & tachometer).

The basic cluster has 4 anodized aluminum rings and the gauge info is analog and remains visible when the vehicle is shut down (see 1st two images below).
I’ve never owned a BMW with the basic cluster…so I don’t know if the phone list or radio station list is capable of appearing in the cluster’s display. When you go into settings, do you have a selection for various things to appear in the instrument cluster?

The 6WA cluster has a larger digital foot print and the display is BLANK when the vehicle is shut down. Upon powering up, the info for the cluster appears and the bottom half of the speedometer, tachometer, fuel, and oil temp gauges are filled in digitally (see the last two pics below). The 6WA cluster does show the phone or radio list in the section you questioned.

[richardodn]

Off topic here. For some reason, I saw the title "Wasted Speedo Space" and for some reason my brain went to the bathing suit. I thought to myself, "Poor guy," before I realized what the subject really was.

[chrismuk]

Originally Posted by richardodn

Off topic here. For some reason, I saw the title "Wasted Speedo Space" and for some reason my brain went to the bathing suit. I thought to myself, "Poor guy," before I realized what the subject really was.

Hahaha I mean yeah poor me but that’s a totally different forum discussion 😂

[thatgarrett]

Originally Posted by Qsilver7

You have the basic instrument cluster and the only digital info you can have is in the small rectangular area from the lower center over to the right (you can see the digital display outline in your pic).

There is no display on the left side of your cluster…which is why nothing appears there. If you had the 6WA cluster…then digital info would appear across the entire bottom of the cluster from left to right…which includes the lower half of both the larger gauges (speedometer & tachometer).

The basic cluster has 4 anodized aluminum rings and the gauge info is analog and remains visible when the vehicle is shut down (see 1st two images below).
I’ve never owned a BMW with the basic cluster…so I don’t know if the phone list or radio station list is capable of appearing in the cluster’s display. When you go into settings, do you have a selection for various things to appear in the instrument cluster?

The 6WA cluster has a larger digital foot print and the display is BLANK when the vehicle is shut down. Upon powering up, the info for the cluster appears and the bottom half of the speedometer, tachometer, fuel, and oil temp gauges are filled in digitally (see the last two pics below). The 6WA cluster does show the phone or radio list in the section you questioned.

That’s true for the F10 and the upmarket models but the OP does have the 6WA, the version for the f30. The base one is actually just a small square between the gauges as a display and the MPG has an analogue needle as well. Only upmarket cluster is the 6WB which is digital throughout (aside from a few small spaces).

For the OP- earlier prusction cars actually had the clock in the middle right above the odometer to fill out that space (and leave the right side blank during normal driving). It’s used more for the occasional message from check control or similar. The M models have a glowing M on the left side in the blank space. I do agree the 6WA is much nicer on the 5er and up like pictured above, and some have done swaps. For me though, with the HUD I don’t end up looking at my cluster enough to justify a swap

[eff32fl]

Originally Posted by chrismuk

Hahaha I mean yeah poor me but that’s a totally different forum discussion 😂

Indeed there are other forums for that type of problem 😂😂😂

[Qsilver7]

Originally Posted by thatgarrett

That’s true for the F10 and the upmarket models but the OP does have the 6WA, the version for the f30. The base one is actually just a small square between the gauges as a display and the MPG has an analogue needle as well. Only upmarket cluster is the 6WB which is digital throughout (aside from a few small spaces).

Thanks for the correction and eduction about the f30 cluster offerings. My apologies for any confusion.

[MidtownMike]

The funny thing is that the 6WB is probably cheaper to produce than the 6WA because it is display and software only, no moving parts. However BMW charged a hefty premium on it.