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      11-28-2021, 10:08 PM   #1
rexmatt
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Digital Gauges

I've been looking at getting the 6WB gauge cluster for my '17 330e, but it is almost $2000! Does this not seem like an outrageous price to anyone else? Anyways, has anyone bought one second-hand for cheaper, or found an alternative that is cheaper?
Additionally, Has anyone put one in the 330e? I'm assuming that I'd then lose out on the ability to see charge/electric status in the Gauges? Thanks!
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      11-28-2021, 11:00 PM   #2
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I would pass. I have the 6WB in my car and it’s the one thing about the executive pkg I wish it didn’t have. I view it as just one more computerized feature to eventually fail. I haven’t had any big problems with mine yet, but I’ve only had my car since April and already once it has gone black on me. Fortunately it was very briefly. I’d much rather have the standard analog gauges.
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      11-28-2021, 11:36 PM   #3
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Was the 330E not able to be configured the with package/option at the time?

For me the 6WB cluster is cool to have but nothing worth replacing your 'regular' cluster for. It's nowhere near as refined as what you would find in a more premium car such as a W213 E-class.

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      11-28-2021, 11:56 PM   #4
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I would pass. I have the 6WB in my car and it's the one thing about the executive pkg I wish it didn't have. I view it as just one more computerized feature to eventually fail. I haven't had any big problems with mine yet, but I've only had my car since April and already once it has gone black on me. Fortunately it was very briefly. I'd much rather have the standard analog gauges.
Interesting. The 6WB was a factory option for you as a part of the executive package? I've never seen an F30 with the 6WB stock.
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      11-29-2021, 12:00 AM   #5
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Was the 330E not able to be configured the with package/option at the time?

For me the 6WB cluster is cool to have but nothing worth replacing your 'regular' cluster for. It's nowhere near as refined as what you would find in a more premium car such as a W213 E-class.

I do agree that it's not nearly as advanced technologically, but I think that it makes the interior look and feel more modern. I Just don't feel like it's worth $2000…
And as far as I know, it wasn't. I bought my car used, but I've never seen and F30 have it stock. Although, someone else replied, and from what I understand, it came with their car as a part of the executive package. Maybe they're just in a different market?
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      11-29-2021, 12:23 AM   #6
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Yes, there are plenty of F3x's with the 6WB stock. AFAIk, it was bundled within a package for some cars/years and for others as a standalone option.



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      11-29-2021, 12:25 AM   #7
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Yes, there are plenty of F3x's with the 6WB stock. AFAIk, it was bundled within a package for some cars/years and for others as a standalone option.
Interesting! It's so weird that I've never seen one with it. I've been around lots of them.
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      11-29-2021, 12:26 AM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rexmatt View Post
Interesting. The 6WB was a factory option for you as a part of the executive package? I've never seen an F30 with the 6WB stock.
It’s fairly common on 2018 M Sport 340i’s. Quite a few of them were equipped with the executive pkg.
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      11-29-2021, 12:29 AM   #9
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Originally Posted by tturedraider View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by rexmatt View Post
Interesting. The 6WB was a factory option for you as a part of the executive package? I've never seen an F30 with the 6WB stock.
It’s fairly common on 2018 M Sport 340i’s. Quite a few of them were equipped with the executive pkg.
Good to know. I guess that would make sense in terms of trying to modernize the top-trim towards the end of production.
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      11-29-2021, 04:07 AM   #10
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In my country a lot of new f32 came with the 6wb cluster.
Even the 420i
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      11-29-2021, 04:57 AM   #11
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Interesting how opinions deviate.

Having a digital cluster on a modern, premium vehicle was a must-have for me and I refused to buy an F3x (or a BMW in general) with that old, orange-needled analogue cluster from the 90s!

Whilst the 6WB functionality is nowhere close to what the competitors (Audi, MB, even some budget manufacturers like Peugeot) offer, it gives the cockpit a completely different look! For me (!) it is totally worth it and if I didn't have it, it would be the first thing on my list to retrofit.

This said, many people have done it and the topic has been extensively discussed. Check out the 6WB threads in this section:

https://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/fo...429&order=desc
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      11-29-2021, 06:13 AM   #12
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I have the digital cluster on my car combined with HUD, and it is indeed a bit limited in functionality. Also, it has a bluish hue to it (backlight bleeding).

Pretty sure that it's cheaper to produce than analogue cluster (no moving parts) and in the near future we will see it on all the cheap brands too. By that time it's likely that premium brands will sell analogue clusters as an upgrade, maybe in collaboration with luxury watch manufacturers (TAGHeuer premium mechanical cluster!!!!).

Would not bother if I were you. Extended analogue cluster looks better.
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      11-29-2021, 07:17 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MidtownMike View Post
I have the digital cluster on my car combined with HUD, and it is indeed a bit limited in functionality. Also, it has a bluish hue to it (backlight bleeding).

Pretty sure that it's cheaper to produce than analogue cluster (no moving parts) and in the near future we will see it on all the cheap brands too. By that time it's likely that premium brands will sell analogue clusters as an upgrade, maybe in collaboration with luxury watch manufacturers (TAGHeuer premium mechanical cluster!!!!).

Would not bother if I were you. Extended analogue cluster looks better.
6WA and 6WB cost about the same to replace from BMW. I replaced my 6WA with the 6WB this past summer and i think it's much more modern looking, the car came out in 2013 and a digital gauge cluster is a nice way to hide its age a little bit.

I find it surprising when people say they prefer analog gauges, I understand when it's really well done, analogues with interesting/colorful gauge faces or other cool sweeping features, the F30 6WA is as mundane and boring as it gets… I've had a few people compliment my digital gauge cluster since I got it, Id love to find a person who got into a 6WA F30 and thought, "wow cool gauge cluster"
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      11-29-2021, 07:31 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by toxik View Post
6WA and 6WB cost about the same to replace from BMW [...]
Yes, maybe BMW charges the customers the same, but I am sure that they make more profit on the digital cluster. All it basically is is a laptop screen, and not a very good one. Think of all the different parts and assembly needed to produce the (extended) analogue cluster, and on top of that also includes colour display.
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      11-29-2021, 10:19 AM   #15
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Don't underestimate non-recurring cost and qualification/certification cost!
Digital clusters have a significantly higher NRC element due to the reliability requirements and testing that both the hardware and software within must adhere to and be shown compliant with!

General rule - never assume the price of a system is a sum of the prices of its individual components sold separately. That's never the case. And never underestimate the price of high-integrity software and hardware, even if to you as a user it is "just a display".

(Engineer's two cents)
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      11-29-2021, 10:50 AM   #16
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While that may be true, I would prefer my Bimmer with the mechanical cluster / display combo anytime. For me, analogue mechanical equals timeless. Digital equals doo doo.

It's like a mechanical timepiece watch vs a digital one...

"In 1972, Hamilton introduced the world's first commercial electronic digital wristwatch. It retailed for the pricey sum of $2,100, which amounts to over $12,000 today. However, by the end of the 1970s, digital watches would regularly retail for under $10 a piece. In the 1980s, they could be found in cereal boxes as cheap giveaways [...]"

I would not be surprised if in the future a premium car can be recognized by physical gauges, where cheap cars have all digital displays. Just my 2 cents...

All a matter of taste of course, can't argue that.

Last edited by MidtownMike; 11-29-2021 at 11:02 AM..
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      11-29-2021, 11:08 AM   #17
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You sound like you are old enough for a MB and soon ready for an Aston Martin or a Jag
There is a product for everyone
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      11-29-2021, 11:28 AM   #18
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Quote:
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You sound like you are old enough for a MB and soon ready for an Aston Martin or a Jag
There is a product for everyone
You sound like you are young enough to buy into front wheel drive BMW's with digital displays and without Hofmeister kinks.

Actually when I bought my car, I really saw my digital cluster as a plus. It was only after driving it for a couple of months that I started to realize that the added value was minimal with BMW's software, and that the "flatness" or 2-dimensionality as well as the backlight bleeding turned out to be a bit annoying.

BMW could have done so much better. It just doesn't look that attractive and the graphics are quite basic. Also, the customization options could be unlimited with a digital display but BMW chose not to make it customizable.

Maybe I'll change my mind if I come across a better implementation of the concept.
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      11-29-2021, 11:37 PM   #19
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Originally Posted by tturedraider View Post
I would pass. I have the 6WB in my car and it's the one thing about the executive pkg I wish it didn't have. I view it as just one more computerized feature to eventually fail. I haven't had any big problems with mine yet, but I've only had my car since April and already once it has gone black on me. Fortunately it was very briefly. I'd much rather have the standard analog gauges.
That being said, I'm only half joking about an offer here. I'd send you my analogue for your digital, and an additional $500.
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      12-04-2021, 09:36 PM   #20
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Interesting. I have a 330e and I believe you lose some features like seeing the electrical range if you get the 6wb. Pretty sure only the 530e has the correct coding for it. Could be wrong tho. Lmk if you go thru with it!
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      12-06-2021, 08:50 AM   #21
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I ordered my 440i with it. It was a standalone option, but maybe it was added to a package later.

It was $350, so I can't believe how much it costs to have it added afterwards.

Old thread with more details: https://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1388286
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      12-06-2021, 08:54 AM   #22
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Interesting. I have a 330e and I believe you lose some features like seeing the electrical range if you get the 6wb. Pretty sure only the 530e has the correct coding for it. Could be wrong tho. Lmk if you go thru with it!
Will do
Hopefully if I do, I can find a way to use the 530e coding. Not being able to see electric stats would be disappointing.
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