In this blog we’re taking a look at the 6WB digital cluster from BMW. I’m going to cover what it is, what it’s like to drive with, some things I don’t like about it, as well as an overview of the installation for those of you planning to do this retrofit at home.

Affiliate Links:
6WB digital cluster https://geni.us/vv6yL
6WB digital cluster + coding session https://geni.us/biprtU
Race display steering wheel https://geni.us/iw2H
Kies WiFi adapter https://geni.us/NNFcv0c
Bimmergeeks Protool license https://geni.us/nxsNdN
3 way fiber optic cable https://ebay.to/3ItRJ3T

What is it?

6WB was the option code for BMW’s digital gauge cluster that was offered during the final years of the F30 3 Series production cycle. To clarify, this is a Genuine BMW part manufactured by Bosch.

If you follow my channel closely, you know I’ve been critical of digital gauges in the past, but I think my main complaint is when manufacturers simply slap a television on the dashboard and call it “luxury” or “high-tech.” What I like about the 6WB cluster is that the screen is still molded into circular bezels, and it retains the design of analog gauges that we know and love, even if in a skeuomorphic way.

Even though I’m a fan of analog gauges and mechanical watches, the design of the stock 3 Series cluster, especially the base version that I had was not my favorite. For being an analog cluster, the gauges themselves are very two-dimensional, plus the tiny calculator screen at the bottom of the base gauges always reminded me that my car wasn’t well optioned. Setting aside the digital aspect and going purely on design, I prefer the cleaner look of the 6WB cluster.

A standout feature of the 6WB cluster is that the entire interface changes to reflect the drive mode you’re in. By default, you are in Comfort Mode when you start the car. This mode most closely resembles the stock gauges. A nice detail is that as you accelerate, the numerals for the speedometer and tachometer swell up as the needle passes by. It’s a small detail that’s satisfying to watch.

In Sport Mode, the interface changes to red and you’ve got a huge numeric readout for your speed. I find that this mode has the best legibility by far, which is a good thing since it’s the mode that many of us tend to be in the most.

Switch the car to Eco Pro mode and the interface turns blue and your tachometer is replaced with an Efficient Dynamics meter. This is my least favorite mode aesthetically because the blue color doesn’t match anything else in the car, and it’s the hardest on the eyes at night.

Driving Impressions

Behind the wheel, the 6WB has surprisingly good legibility in most lighting scenarios. All of the modes offer good contrast and the plastic lens does a decent job deflecting glare.

There are rare situations in the evening when the sun is shining directly over my shoulder and the screen becomes washed out. At night time in Comfort Mode, the white text changes to the traditional red/orange BMW color to minimize eye strain.

As far as resolution, and without knowing the exact specs, it appears to be exactly the same is the iDrive screen, and from the driving position it is perfectly acceptable. If you want an idea of how the 6WB will look, simply look at your iDrive gauges.

Sport Mode is my favorite aesthetically. It looks radically different than the analog gauges it replaces and having the current gear displayed in huge bold numbers is helpful.

By default, the 6WB will only show your current gear selection with the transmission in manual mode. But with coding, you can enable the current gear to be displayed in full auto as well. Even in automatic mode, it’s helpful to know what gear you’re in, especially when merging onto the highway or overtaking. An xHP transmission tune will unlock this feature as well.

What I Don’t Like

The 6WB cluster is not without its quirks, and because this thing is SO expensive, I have to be critical and hold it to a higher standard so you guys can see exactly what you’re buying.

At night, the screen has a blue-ish glow

First of all, this is not a cutting edge IPS display like you might find on a new flagship smartphone. This is a standard edge-lit LCD panel. It’s most obvious when you’re driving at night because the black parts of the display are never quite black. They always have a blue-ish glow that reminds you that you are in fact looking at a screen.

Close up of analog oil temperature gauge

Another thing that becomes obvious at night is that the fuel and oil temperature gauges aren’t actually part of the display at all. They are analog gauges designed to look like part of the screen. The needles have a flat design and they’re encased behind a plastic window that gives the illusion that it’s all one piece. But again, at night time you’ll notice that these analog gauges don’t have the glow that the display portion does. It’s hard to tell from the driver’s seat, but if you get up close and shine a light on it just right, you’ll see what I’m talking about.

Speaking of the oil temperature gauge, on the stock cluster, there were numeric values so you could actually read what the engine temperature was. On the 6WB cluster, all you know is that the needle is somewhere in between hot and cold. From what I’ve observed, the needle will point dead center when the engine reaches its operating temperature of ~230 F (110 C) on the B58 engine.

The center portion of the cluster is blank most of the time

My number one complaint of the 6WB cluster though, is the blank space between the two gauges. If you have service due, it will display a reminder here when you start the car. And if you have a factory installed navigation system, you can opt to display turn by turn directions here. But most of the time, that space is just blank. To me, it’s a huge missed opportunity by BMW. There are so many useful parameters that could have been displayed there.

In Sport Mode it would have been so cool to have something like G-force or boost. In Eco Pro they could have had something like live tire pressure. And I’m just a bozo YouTuber from Michigan coming up with these ideas. Surely a software engineer at BMW could have found ways to make this more useful.

Perhaps they didn’t want it to be better than the F80 M3 cluster. Or maybe since it came so late in the production cycle, it just wasn’t worth the effort. But I wish BMW had taken the opportunity to add features, rather than just creating a digital version of their analog gauges.

Installation

The 6WB connects to the headunit with a fiber optic cable

Most F30 3 Series came with one of two gauge clusters, either the base analog cluster, or the 6WA extended cluster. Take note of which one your car came with because the installation is completely different depending on which cluster you’re starting with.

For the majority who will be coming from a 6WA cluster, the installation is more straightforward because the wiring is already there. You are simply taking your old cluster out, disconnecting the wiring harness and fiber optic cable, and installing the 6WB cluster in its place. Kies Motorsports has a video showing how to code it using ProTool, and again, the coding process is simpler going from 6WA to 6WB. Watch their video here.

For those who are new to BMW who might be unfamiliar with coding, your car has a digital registry of all of the parts that are installed, and when you change any of the major electronic devices like the cluster for example, you need to tell the car that it’s been changed in order for it to work correctly, or at all.

Three way fiber optic cable connects the 6WB and headunit to the car’s fiber optic loop

If you’re coming from the base analog cluster to the 6WB like I did, the install is a little more involved, but not impossible. After removing the cluster from the dashboard, you’ll need to remove the climate control faceplate and remove your headunit, both of which are held in with T-20 Torx screws. Then look at the wiring harness on the back. If you have an open fiber optic port on your headunit, you will need to buy a two way fiber optic cable that has two male ends.

Remove the climate control faceplate and headunit to reach the harness

If your harness already has a green cable plugged in to the fiber optic port like mine did, you will need to buy a three way fiber optic cable with one female and two male ends. The male ends will plug into the 6WB cluster and the headunit, and the green cable that was already in the car will plug into the female end. The fiber optic cables are somewhat delicate, so be careful feeding it through the dash.

Also, the one I ordered had this plastic sleeve on both of the male ends. You’ll need to use a pick tool to remove it from the end that will plug in to the headunit. As far as coding going from the base cluster to the 6WB, there are a few more steps but it all can be done within the BimmerGeeks ProTool app.

Before you purchase

If you’re thinking about buying a 6WB cluster, there are a couple things to know. There are two versions of the 6WB cluster, one for cars with heads up display (HUD) and one for cars without. If you order from Kies Motorsports, for ease of compatibility, they only sell the heads up display version. There’s no price difference, and it will still work for non heads up display cars like mine. It’s just easier logistically for them to sell the most compatible version. So if you don’t have heads up display, the blue port on the back of the 6WB cluster won’t be used.

For those who don’t feel comfortable with the coding aspect, Kies Motorsports offers the cluster with a coding session with BimmerTech, where after you install it in the car, BimmerTech will code it for you remotely. It adds $300 to the purchase price, but it could save you some time and frustration if you’re not familiar with BMW coding.

As a security feature, the 6WB cluster locks to your cars VIN after it’s been coded and flashed. The idea is if someone steals it, they won’t be able to install it in their car. But that means you have to be careful if you purchase a used one. There are some companies who can reset, or “virginize” the cluster, and you might see some for sale on eBay where the seller notes that it has been virginized. But to avoid potential headaches, and for ease of installation, I’d recommend buying a brand new one that’s never been installed in another car.

Should you buy it?

There’s no doubt that the 6WB cluster freshens up the F30 interior and makes the car feel 5 years newer. If you love gadgets and want a more modern feeling car, this is for you. Maybe you’ve been jonesing for a newer G20 3 Series but don’t have $45,000 to spend on a new car, this could be a nice upgrade to hold you over.

That being said, you have to understand that this retrofit is almost purely aesthetic. Aside from the novelty of the digital interface, you aren’t really gaining features or functionality here. If you have some money to spend and you’re looking for an interior upgrade, I’d honestly recommend the race display steering wheel over the 6BW cluster. It’s only a little more expensive, but it feels like you’re getting a lot more for your money.

*Genuine BMW* Race Display steering wheel

The wheel has craftsmanship, the alcantara is a luxurious texture. The display adds features like G-force and quarter mile time to name a few. Plus the shift lights really do add excitement to the driving experience. Oh, and it’s also a Genuine BMW part. If I had to choose between the two, I would go for the steering wheel first.

BUY your 6wb cluster here

Watch my video review of the 6WB cluster here:

This blog contains affiliate links. If you purchase a product through my custom link, I’ll earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Win! Huge thank you to Kies Motorsports for sending me this cluster!