Expert: Josh Fields - 2/9/2006

Question
Hi Josh, greetings from the UK. Not sure whether you can help me on a 1998 523SE. When I use the car a lot, particularly in cold weather, the digital display in the main instrument cowling giving the mileage, trip mileage outside temperature etc fades unevenly, with some digits disappearing altogether. Once the weather warms up, or if I don't use the car for a while, the display returns. Would you know if there is any fix for this other than replacing the entire cluster which I'm told will cost on the region of 1000 dollars

Many thanks

Mark

Answer
Mark
 Although we never got the 523 here in the states, it should use the same type of display (check control center).  These use a LCD (liquid crystal display) and like most LCD's .... they dont like cold weather.  I'm not sure why yours is malfuntioning like that.  I dont think there is any thing you can do for it, although I've heard that the heater core's leak coolant behind this and it might have some sort of vapor contamination.  Make sure you dont smell antifreeze/coolant inside the cabin.  Your best bet is probably to replace it.
 Hope this helps some..
 Josh