How to remove the speedometer cable and changing it??

[felix_666]

I'm over searching, ive searched for ages with no luck - must be because its such an easy task.... hmmm

Its one of a few parts i cannot seem to remove. I tried pulling it through the hole in the firewall but it isn't big enough, so i figured it must pull apart at the shaft end. This has to be easier than it seems.

Also if i change the speedo from MPH to KM/H do i simply change the dial??

cheers

[Mike Self]

cable and housing. And BTW changing the cable won't change the speedo from mph to kph or vice-versa. That's done with the speedometer/ odometer unit itself.

To remove the cable, you must disconnect it from the gearbox (one 10mm bolt, IIRC)--plug the hole where the cable goes with a rag so dirt won't fall into your gearbox while the cable's missing. Then remove the instrument cluster and disconnect the cable from the speedo head. There's also a clip under the body that holds the cable in place that you must unclip the cable from.

Finally remove it from inside the car by pulling the rubber grommet loose from the firewall and removing the cable/sheath/grommet assy. Installing the new one is the reverse of removal, but cover the gearbox end with some tinfoil or plastic wrap so you won't jam dirt up in the cable as you feed it down under the car and eventually into the gearbox.

Is your cable broken or merely noisy? If the latter, you should be able to lubricate it with purpose made "speedo cable lube" or with a product like "LockEze"--a powdered graphite suspended in a solvent. To lubricate, disconnect both ends as above, then squirt the lube in the top end 'till it runs out the bottom. Reconnect and you're done.

cheers

mike

[ought2]

Mike, I've been told that you don't have to remove the entire instrument cluster, that you can reach back and access the knurled nut. Is it a big job to remove the cluster? Also, my car had a 5 speed installed by the PO, but the speedo cable wasn't changed according to him. It reads 10 mph optimistic with an occasional "twitch". Is a different cable in order? Sorry to hijack the post, but I figured it's all related.

[Guest Anonymous]

Removal of the instrument cluster is very straightforward. The most difficult part is removing the cardboard shrouding under the dash so that you dont ruin it. Per numerous posts, all that remains are two knurled nuts, unplugging the electrical connection and unscrewing the speedometer cable collar from the speedometer.

Do yourself a favor and find a picture of the back of the instrument cluster. It will be self explanatory.

Question for Mike and others:

I can understand why the cable shroud and the cable itself should be replaced together (as one complete assembly) because of wear patterns. But I heard an 02'er claim you could just remove the flexible driving cable and replace it with cut-to-fit "universal" square cable commonly available at retail parts stores. Maybe that was true a long time ago, but it seems that maybe once could just grab the flex drive from a similar unit and give it a try.

FWIW, I had a noisy cable and pulled it out by a few inches. Squirted it with ATF and a little graphite or Moly powder. Speedo has worked ever since (3 years) although the odometer is kaput.

[gregp553]

On the subject of hijacking a thread (since the answers have been given) I have about a 2 foot length of speedo cable that runs from the trans to a box at the base of the firewall. Is that the remnants of a cruise control system?

[BillWilliams]

because you also removed the gear.

You must remove the gear from the cable before it will pass through the hole in the firewall.

The cable stays in the gear with small M6 bolt I believe.

Someone check me on this.

[Mike Self]

I've never had much success with the "crimp it yourself" replacement inner speedo cables. Anyway, IIRC at least one end of an '02 cable is a paddle-shaped fitting, not a square drive.

When you install a 5 speed in a car that previously had a 4 speed, the original speedo cable is too short to reach the 5 speed's speedo drive. You must use the cable from an '02 automatic or a Bavaria. Of course if it was an automatic-to-5 speed conversion, you'll have the right cable to begin with.

As for the two piece cable--they're found in 75 and 76 cars. Interposed between the two cables is small counter box that tracks mileage and tells you every 30k miles to service the EGR--the "SERVICE EGR" sign lights up in the "FASTEN SEAT BELT" lamp housing atop the dash. When converting to a 5 speed you can either replace the two cables and gearbox with an automatic or Bavaria cable, or the lower stick shift cable with one from an automatic.

cheers

mike

[ingraham]

from the smaller cable to pull the rest of the cable through the firewall.

[ingraham]

under normal circumstances, nor does a 5-speed conversion. Speedos are notoriously innaccurate. What size are your tires, and what is your final drive ratio?

[felix_666]

ok, i'm not sure if i understand, in the first picture is the end of the speedo cable which does not fit through the firewall (its bigger than the hole), so i took off the o-ring and as i expected this made no difference.

Bill: where is that screw located??

this is the view from inside the car, there is no way its going to fit without any alterations. (sorry about the pic size)

cheers

[ingraham]

The screw holds the tranny end of the cable and tranny speedo gear in the tranny. In your second photo, the large piece that won't go through the firewall hole is the speedo gear, which you have removed from the tranny (and you removed the O-ring from the outside of it). It is a separate piece from the cable. You need to pull the tranny gear off the cable. It seems stuck, and it's being held together by the friction of a smaller O-ring you can't see, because it's inside the gear. Dunno if this helps, but the speedo gear is Item 10 here: http://www.bmwmobiletradition-online.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=2213&mospid=47140&btnr=23_0770&hg=23&fg=15

[felix_666]

thanks mate, that was really clear and in laymen terms, it helped plenty. cheers

[zabdor]

I am having a similar issue and what ingraham posted sounds like a potential fix, but if item 10 from  http://www.bmwmobile...770&hg=23&fg=15 comes off, is the cable held in there purely by friction? 

[kaztheie]

Any suggestions on how to remove the broken end of the cable when the end broke in the transmission?  Nothing to grab hold of, a clean break leaving about 1/4" in the square hole so I can't put the new cable in.  * Kaz *

[Buckeye]

These links should help you out.

 

 

http://www.bmwmobiletradition-online.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=2215&mospid=47140&btnr=23_0770&hg=23&fg=15