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RE: Intermittant Speedo

Hi Ian.  I had the same problem with my '87 535is.  I'm not sure what your '84 318 
uses but my 535 uses the ceramic bullet-style fuses in a fuse box on the driver's 
side front fender well.  The main fuse in-line to the instrument cluster (OBC and 
radio too) was loose due to the fuse contacts being flared open.  Remove the fuse, 
push the contacts closer and reseat the fuse carefully.  I suggest a small zip tie 
around the two fuse contacts to keep this from happening again.  BTW, another 
Digest member suggested a fuse kit from a company called IPD at 800-444-6473.  The 
kit has an assortment of Buss fuses that have a traditional glass body with metal 
contacts on the ends (pointed like the bullet fuses).  They were an exact fit and 
are a great improvement over the easily corroded exposed contacts BMW used.  Total 
cost for the kit:  $15.95 with shipping.  I only need two more 25amp fuses to 
finish off the whole panel.

Scott Buchanan
'87 535is

Ian Milne wrote:

Help!  The VDO speedometer in my '84 318 (150Mm) has begun to fail
intermittantly.  When cold (below 32 DegF) the unit works properly. As the
interior of the car warms, the speedo and fuel economy functions quit and
the needle dives to zero.  If I am on the road for an extended period, and
the car interior gets toasty, the speedo will sometimes start to operate
again; often jumping between zero and the correct speed a few times.