Hi all,
I have a problem with my 2011 1.8 TSI instrument cluster, a fairly common problem I'm told. The rev counter needle and the two leds either side aren't working, I've tried replacing one (very fiddly) but it's still not working, so must be another issue. I've seen replacement clusters on eBay for around the £60 mark but I've also read that you can't just switch the units without some recoding, is that correct?

I'm struggling to find someone local to Gateshead who will refurbish the existing unit and sending it away will mean I'm without a car for a week.

Has anyone else had this problem? I thought I could just put up with it but as I'm driving more now with the lights on, it's very off putting (and I like things to work!)

Thanks

2 hours ago, r1opa said:

I've seen replacement clusters on eBay for around the £60 mark but I've also read that you can't just switch the units without some recoding, is that correct?

It is more complicated than that. The immobiliser code needs to be obtained from the old cluster and written to the new cluster for the car to start. This can't be done via VCDS. An EEPROM reader is required to read the data from the old cluster and to transfer to a new cluster. I had to travel from Leeds to Norfolk to get mine done.

It is easier and cheaper to just get it refurbished.

Kev.

14 minutes ago, tetley said:

It is more complicated than that. The immobiliser code needs to be obtained from the old cluster and written to the new cluster for the car to start. This can't be done via VCDS. An EEPROM reader is required to read the data from the old cluster and to transfer to a new cluster. I had to travel from Leeds to Norfolk to get mine done.

It is easier and cheaper to just get it refurbished.

Kev.

Great, thanks Kev. I suspected that would be the case.

I got mine done by a place called cartronix https://cartronix.co.uk/

Not affiliated in any way, they just happened to be local and turned it around the same day.

1 minute ago, chrisund123 said:

I got mine done by a place called cartronix https://cartronix.co.uk/

Not affiliated in any way, they just happened to be local and turned it around the same day.

Thanks, they are on my list but quoting 4/5 days with postage - understandable.

Ideally I'd find someone locally but might just have to bite the bullet and send it off.

Can you Change only the Broken parts? Without Immo Chip

47 minutes ago, Cairus said:

Can you Change only the Broken parts? Without Immo Chip

I was thinking about that but it's probably not worth the risk to buy a used unit and switch bits over. Probably just going to have to be without the car for a week. Thanks though

I have the Tools die Change Immo but Austria is "far" away 😅