[Skyhigh]

That is really not true or rather only partially true. Why do you think the fuel and temperature gauges even on the 6WB are actually physical, mechanical!? It all has to do with reliability figures, targets and certification! Of course the price WE as end-customers pay is far from the development and manufacturing cost, BUT you can be sure the cost for developing and manufacturing of the 6WB, also due to the certification efforts, is a lot higher then of an ali-express instrument cluster.... and the driver is the reliability and quality assurance!

The beloved analog instrument clusters with the 80s look are also all digital inside.... just because there is an arrow that moves doesn't make them more reliable. Nothing lasts forever.

[thatgarrett]

I know plenty of people with older GM’s that have busted analogue gauges. On e39’s, the nicer gauge with the larger pixel display would frewently fail and have to be repaired, which wasn’t a case on the base cluster that I had with the smaller display.

All that to say- it’s hard to make sweeping statements about the reliability of a kind of technology. I’ve also heard of 6WA clusters failing and leading to parasitic drain on the f3X for what it’s worth. The 6WB doesn’t appear to have an abnormally high failure rate so that wouldn’t be my primary consideration.

My consideration, however, would be the fact that the 6WB doesn’t offer any real increase in functionality, especially since I already have 6WA and HUD. I’ve been in cars with the 6WB and while it looks cool during the day, not a fan of having a screen like that for the cluster at night. It can dim a decent bit but isn’t an OLED or anything so the black part of the screen is still bright. I usually turn my CID screen off at night to improve night visibility so having a cluster with another screen shining in my face isn’t attractive. The gauges to me are better for night driving and look just fine, I for one like the amber glow, if you’ve been in an older car with a gauge cluster or even older BMW I think that the F30 cluster had crisp and modern backlighting and isn’t just some dimly lit old cluster.

It’s really a style preference, it’s only a bad choice if you don’t like it

[Tatanka1961]

I guess it's just a matter of personal preference where you want to spend your money and whether you think it's useful. Personally I have the 6WA and although I find the all digital cluster cool, I actually like the 'analog' dials. I would rather spend my money on other enhancements, like a larger head unit, which adds more functionality.

[Skyhigh]

Originally Posted by Tatanka1961

I guess it's just a matter of personal preference where you want to spend your money and whether you think it's useful. Personally I have the 6WA and although I find the all digital cluster cool, I actually like the 'analog' dials. I would rather spend my money on other enhancements, like a larger head unit, which adds more functionality.

No, no, no.... a larger head unit means more pixels and more pixels means more that can fail! Don't you cringe by the thought? (Just being sarcastic)

Clearly everything is a matter of personal preference. To me it is the procurement price which dictates whether I would opt for it. I had a few "must-haves" on my list when selecting a car and since it was almost 2020, a digital instrument cluster was definitely one of them as I was not looking to buy a car built in the 80s. I do not regret that decision for a second. My Audi on the other hand doesn't have a Virtual Cockpit, but it was built before that time, so I'm fine with it as is.

[MidtownMike]

Originally Posted by Skyhigh

No, no, no.... a larger head unit means more pixels and more pixels means more that can fail! Don't you cringe by the thought? (Just being sarcastic)

Clearly everything is a matter of personal preference. To me it is the procurement price which dictates whether I would opt for it. I had a few "must-haves" on my list when selecting a car and since it was almost 2020, a digital instrument cluster was definitely one of them as I was not looking to buy a car built in the 80s. I do not regret that decision for a second. My Audi on the other hand doesn't have a Virtual Cockpit, but it was built before that time, so I'm fine with it as is.

Yo mate so a luxury watch in 2024 should always be a digital smartwatch and not a handmade mechanical watch because it ain't the 1980s? Skyhigh what you been smokin' on?
I bet at some point the highest spec option on luxury cars will again be mechanical gauges, but fully integrated with a big fat digital background dial. Probably a collaboration with TAG Heuer, Hublot, Glashütte, Breitling or the likes.
Fully digital is by far the cheapest option for the manufacturer, and someday when all the cheapest cars use it, the premium cars will move away from it again.

By the way... This is coming from a 6WB owner.
Just imagine all the eye candy of a digital panel with real beautifully crafted mechanical indicators sliding over it and interacting with the digital background.

[Skyhigh]

You can certainly have a luxury, vintage 2024 watch if you are into it. It would still be vintage though (English people call old things "traditional").
But to be clear - I do hate Tesla's cheap tablet solution... I am very much into Audi's Virtual Cockpit concept though, combined with "traditional" physical buttons......
6WB is far from it, but the closest we can get in the F series (excluding ali-express options).
To each their own. That's why we have options.

P.s. You are from the Netherlands but asking me what I've been smoking? ) Good one

[Djphonics]

Originally Posted by Skyhigh

You do realise that one is a fuel gauge, the other a range gauge, right? Not the same thing at all….

The 'range gauge' is based on the fuel level. I suppose you are correct, but I still see this as a redundancy.

[tturedraider]

Originally Posted by Skyhigh

That is really not true or rather only partially true. Why do you think the fuel and temperature gauges even on the 6WB are actually physical, mechanical!? It all has to do with reliability figures, targets and certification!

The fuel and temperature gauges on the 6WB are not physical or mechanical. They are both digital/virtual.

[MidtownMike]

Originally Posted by Skyhigh

You can certainly have a luxury, vintage 2024 watch if you are into it. It would still be vintage though (English people call old things "traditional").
But to be clear - I do hate Tesla's cheap tablet solution... I am very much into Audi's Virtual Cockpit concept though, combined with "traditional" physical buttons......
6WB is far from it, but the closest we can get in the F series (excluding ali-express options).
To each their own. That's why we have options.

P.s. You are from the Netherlands but asking me what I've been smoking? ) Good one

Yo bro, so a Ferrari 12 Cilindri is what you call "vintage"? All the newest fastest cars are electrical... Personally I think handmade mechanical watches fall into the same category as handmade V12 engines. They're a tour de force, an exercise in detail, skill and craft. Something beautiful and tangible. I think a Garmin is a great watch and it definitely has its use, but it will not be able to equal the elegance and refinement of a Patek Philippe, Blancpain, Rolex. Combining the best of both worlds in the instrument panel would be the ultimate dashboard for me, but to each their own.

I been smoking that hydroponic green for years when I was young, but it was making me lazy. I now exchanged that for addictions to the gym and ladies under 25 y/o.

[Skyhigh]

Originally Posted by Djphonics

The 'range gauge' is based on the fuel level. I suppose you are correct, but I still see this as a redundancy.

Of course it is based on fuel, the same way fuel consumption is based on speed/rpms. But you may have 300 km or 800 km range on exactly the same fuel level. Saying they are the same thing is simply wrong.

Originally Posted by tturedraider

The fuel and temperature gauges on the 6WB are not physical or mechanical. They are both digital/virtual.

How about you point a flash-light at the 6WB whilst it is off and let me know what you see 🙂 you’ll be surprised

Look closely… do you see needles, or are those dead pixels

[MidtownMike]

Originally Posted by Skyhigh

Of course it is based on fuel, the same way fuel consumption is based on speed/rpms. But you may have 300 km or 800 km range on exactly the same fuel level. Saying they are the same thing is simply wrong.



How about you point a flash-light at the 6WB whilst it is off and let me know what you see 🙂 you’ll be surprised

Look closely… do you see needles, or are those dead pixels

It's actually a flat 2 dimensional disk with an icon of a needle on it. I never understood why they chose that option instead of a more dynamic digital indicator that's more in line with the rest of the display. This is the worst of both worlds.

[Skyhigh]

The mechanical/analogue part is in order to guarantee reliability and reach MTBF target. Even if the display itself fails, one would still have fuel and temperature gauges. Same philosophy as in aviation - analogue stand-by instruments in addition to glass cockpit.

[MidtownMike]

Originally Posted by Skyhigh

The mechanical/analogue part is in order to guarantee reliability and reach MTBF target. Even if the display itself fails, one would still have fuel and temperature gauges. Same philosophy as in aviation - analogue stand-by instruments in addition to glass cockpit.

Yet the speedometer, the most crucial part of the instrument panel, is fully digital?
Most people can live without a fuel or temp gauge, or even a rev-o-meter but not having a speedometer....
You must be sky high, cuz you not makin' any sense!

[Skyhigh]

The idea is not for you to just drive with half-broken instrument cluster and avoid speeding tickets. The idea is to, if the display fails due to electrical or cascade failures for example, safely (and slowly) reach the next possible stop or workshop, without your engine overheating and catching fire or running out of fuel on the way.

[MidtownMike]

Originally Posted by Skyhigh

The idea is not for you to just drive with half-broken instrument cluster and avoid speeding tickets. The idea is to, if the display fails due to electrical or cascade failures for example, safely (and slowly) reach the next possible stop or workshop, without your engine overheating and catching fire or running out of fuel on the way.

If you run out of fuel before the next exit, it serves you right for being a broke ass beeyotch.
E90 didn't even have a temp gauge, so apparently it's not THAT important to BMW.

[Skyhigh]

It surely had a temperature threshold-reach warning. Every car, including a Lada from the 70s has that.

[MidtownMike]

Originally Posted by Skyhigh

It surely had a temperature threshold-reach warning. Every car, including a Lada from the 70s has that.

A threshold reach warning light is not the same as a gauge.

[gosa]

If you have the 6wb, is there a way to code it so that the sport display is always on? I like the way it looks a lot, definitely more modern. Just a question

[MidtownMike]

Originally Posted by gosa

If you have the 6wb, is there a way to code it so that the sport display is always on? I like the way it looks a lot, definitely more modern. Just a question

Do you mean that the dials always show Sports graphics, even in comfort and eco pro mode? I don't think so.
Or do you mean the sports display that shows power and torque on the center console display? Because that has nothing to do with the type of instrument cluster you have.

[gosa]

I’m saying, I like how they look in sports mode. I have the 6wb, I was just wondering if it could be coded to always look like that. Sorry for the confusion

[eff32fl]

Originally Posted by gosa

If you have the 6wb, is there a way to code it so that the sport display is always on? I like the way it looks a lot, definitely more modern. Just a question

Personally I always roll in sport/+ mode. Problem solved. I didn't buy a B58 to roll in Eco or Comfort mode!

[paimon.soror]

So after having my 6WB for a few years, changing it from the 6WA extended .. its still a hard toss up for me. While I like the full digital - its just not as impressive as you would want it to be for the price it costs today brand new.

the refresh rate on the screen isnt' as good, so there is a very slight lag on the tach. Not that it is noticable, but if you are a techy - you def see it.

there is also just so much unused space that it looks funky (especially if you have HUD since the middle of the dash serves no purpose at that point) - if you dont have HUD, that is where your nav displays.