A8L 2000 Ohio

Out of the blue wouldn't start; towed to dealership; bad instrument cluster; three weeks to get in from Germany and 2 grand to replace....any advice?

TwinCitiesS8

Can you say, "find a used one"? That is what I would attempt to do... Call Junk yards, Shokan etc..

DaveInSaltLake

<img src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f174/DavesData2/misc/A8Clusters.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket">

you're welcome.

diogeniS8

Yes but if you have an immobilizer buy the ECM the cluster and the keys from the same donor car. It may sound like too many things but it will still cost you less than having the dealer adapting the used cluster

A8L 2000 Ohio

I do have the immobilizer, are you saying just replacing the instrument cluster won't work?

diogeniS8

and we all know how dealers treat customers coming in for service with parts from a junkyard. So I think you are better off replacing everything together. I think it will cost you less too. The only draw back is that you can not program a used cluster to read the true milleage if the vehicle. ( I don't know if that matters to you)<ul><li><a href="http://www.ross-tech.com/vag-com/cars/Immo3-cluster-swapping.html">More info here</a></li></ul>

A8L 2000 Ohio

I found a used i/c (250 bucks)and an indy shop that will install for 75 bucks, they said they could program it to my car (all expect mileage) but if I understnad you correctly the key won't work because of dealer only immobilizer?

diogeniS8

"marry" the cluster that you will get from the junk yard to work wth your car. If they have the means of doing that then it shouldn't be a problem.

A8L 2000 Ohio

I'll let you know what they say.....I also have a tech buddy @ VW dealership who seems to think he could do this as well....I don't know of any Vdubs with an immobilizer so I'm suspect.

alextimmons

Just my 0.02. Tried getting some parts from them, email looked like a 3 year old wrote it, and they could seem to care less...