320i Dancing Gas Gauge

[MrLocken]

I just purchased a 1983 320i in pretty much mint condition with 32,000 original miles on it. Sadly it has an automatic trans but at $1800 I could not pass it up! One of the few problems with the car is the gas guage...it either reads empty or it's dancing around the 1/2 tank mark....even with a full tank. Is this a known problem in this model? Any help would be appreciated...I hate not knowing how much fuel I have!

[mmatsumotosr75]

Hey There!

You know what man, mine does the same thing!!! I don't exactly know the cause, but i'm thinking it has something to do with the gauge itself. I smack the top of the dashboard and most of the time it goes where it should... Weird!

[mmatsumotosr75]

Hey it's me again...

By the way, I have an 1981 320i 5 speed. Different, but identical problems.

[jeffreyb4me]

check the two small nuts on the back of the cluster. ones for the fuel gauge, the other's for the temp gauge. they loosen up or fall off and will cause these symptoms...................................jb.

[Bimmer9]

jeff, what cluster are you talking about here? where is it found? My 318i 1991 has been doing that for both, the temp and fuel, but it goes away after a while, but I will rather get it fix. thanks

[moefuggar]

Originally Posted by jeffreyb4me

check the two small nuts on the back of the cluster. ones for the fuel gauge, the other's for the temp gauge. they loosen up or fall off and will cause these symptoms...................................jb.

I'm about to try your fix, fuel and temp are eradic on my 81 320i, I recently bought it with 79k miles on it and my odometer just quit a few days ago right at about 80k, and am going to pull the cluster to replace the gear. Did you encounter any problems pulling the steering wheel? I guess the center BMW emblem needs to be pried out for access to the nut. What about the 4 horn buttons on the wheel itself, come across any problem with them when the wheel is pulled?

Thanks