E9 Clock - Advice Needed

Mal CSL 3.0

Mal CSL 3.0

Well-Known Member
Site Donor
Messages
543
Reaction score
234
Location
Sydney, Australia
just discovered that my clock loses about 15 minutes every 24 hours (annoying). Can anyone tell me if the E9 dash clocks are repairable? or would I have to buy a new one? Does anyone know if anyone sells repo E9 clocks or if any original ones are for sale anywhere?

Many thanks
 
Hello Mal, German EBay has a refurbished clock for sale for €100. (+-). NMNA! Go to EBay.de and put in BMW E9 and scroll thru the pages. (I believe page 2-4). Of course it might make sense to send it to a local 'instruments repair' shop. Make sure to have the plastic 'glass' polished as it tends to get scratched/ dull over the years.
By the way, if you would like a pair of wind split decals, send me an email (Keshav at gmx dot de) and I'll tell you/ pics about them. They are exactly as when the splits were sold new. Keshav
 
Keshav said:
Hello Mal, German EBay has a refurbished clock for sale for €100. (+-). NMNA! Go to EBay.de and put in BMW E9 and scroll thru the pages. (I believe page 2-4). Of course it might make sense to send it to a local 'instruments repair' shop. Make sure to have the plastic 'glass' polished as it tends to get scratched/ dull over the years.
By the way, if you would like a pair of wind split decals, send me an email (Keshav at gmx dot de) and I'll tell you/ pics about them. They are exactly as when the splits were sold new. Keshav
Click to expand...
FBS moment, Fuzzy Bran Syndrome. What are wind splits? Steve
 
image.jpeg
Steve, Those are the rubber fins mounted on the front fenders, common to some CSL's. See the added pic of my car and you'll notice them right away, on top of the fenders with the elusive parts decal. Keshav
 
One stunning car! The dark color shows that special decal as well as the chrome. You are very fortunate, thanks for sharing. What a treat!
 
I'm blushing! Don't we love compliments, specially from E9 qualified ladies! Thank you very much. If you come to Frankfurt, you may drive it! Keshav (that's only for Coupelady and not you guys out there)
 
OK, back to clocks.

I'm guessing that Mal CSL 3.0 has the older-style, spring clock (in contrast with the later, crystal-timed electric clock). The spring clocks make a "cla-clunk" every few minutes, as a solenoid re-winds their spring. Yes, there are threads on how to revive spring clocks, but these generally have to do with clocks that are dead; not ones that just run slow.

My own coupe has a crystal clock (even though it is an early car - a prior owner must have fitted a later clock), so I know nothing about the spring clocks. Most spring clocks have a "slow-fast" adjustment - might it be as easy as playing with that? Or an auto instrument shop might be able to clean and lubricate the clock, which could get it to run faster.
 
OK, back to clocks.

I'm guessing that Mal CSL 3.0 has the older-style, spring clock (in contrast with the later, crystal-timed electric clock). The spring clocks make a "cla-clunk" every few minutes, as a solenoid re-winds their spring. Crystal clocks have lettering on their faces that reads: "Quartz Zeit". While there are threads on how to revive spring clocks, I think these have to do with clocks that are dead; not ones that just run slow.

My own coupe has a crystal clock (even though it is an early car - a prior owner must have fitted a later clock), so I don't know much about the spring clocks. However, many spring clocks have a "slow-fast" adjustment - is that present on an early e9 clock? Alternatively, an auto instrument shop might be able to clean and lubricate the clock, which could get it to run faster.

Mal CSL 3.0 said:
Does anyone know if anyone sells repo E9 clocks or if any original ones are for sale anywhere?
Click to expand...

An instrument shop might be able to transplant later clock "guts" into your e9 clock housing. You would definitely want them to retain the original hands.

Original ones for sale? ebay could be a source. If I were doing this, I'd hold out for a crystal-timed clock - BMW made the change from spring --> crystal for a reason.
 
Last edited:
There are around 5-6 guys advertising in Hemmings Motor News that do classic automotive clock repair. One of the services offered is to put modern mechanics/electrics into your clock but still keeping the original look. Hemmings can be googled and you would look under services offered and then see a clock repair section.
 
Speaking of blushing, thanks for the offer and the compliments. Hopping on a plane.............
 
Thanks everyone. I will try to find an auto instrument repair shop in Sydney. By the way I found this older clock thread. Some of the solutions are absolutely hilarious so I might even consider some of these options...
Thread from March 6th 2016 "Slow Clock???"

Also Kershaw I already have some wind splitters on my car :)

image.jpeg
 
Oh you mean the Alpina decals and stripes? Or the small decal on the black rubber. Actually can you send a better photo as it is too small to see. Also were these on origional CSL cars?

Actually I need a black CSL stripe decal for my front valance if you sell that also?
 
Back to clocks...

I've repaired a couple of the electro/mechanical style clocks for the 2002Tii cars... sounds very similar to the tick, tick, tick, tick...CLUNK operation described above.

There "should be" an adjustment on the back of the clock to increase/decrease running speed. (I'm reading old threads here that some clocks don't have the adjustment screw)

If you open the clock up for cleaning or inspection, be mindful NOT to spray the clock works with oil, WD40, etc... These tiny mechanisms are a wonderful piece of engineering, but are delicate. I very lightly cleaned mine with electronics solvent on a very pointie, modeler's Q-tip. Canned air works very well in this application as well for lightly blasting away debris Remove buildup at the axles and plates separating the gears. After cleaning, use clock oil only sparingly at those places. Also clean the contacts of the internal switch.

post-38825-0-59575300-1394825460.jpg




My repairs have run now for a couple years with only minor losses/gains in time.

Again... this was for a Tii clock and the Coupe clocks may be different....

Sounds like you can simply access the back of yours and adjust accordingly.

Good luck!

Ed Z
 
Ed, you da man. In over 15 years of looking at CS threads I must have read all the clock posts, numbering in hundreds. No one ever posted a close up pic like you did. Thanks very much.

'cept I have a non-op quartz clock. But I have another, which works when out of the car...

All I can remember about the quartz clocks is to check the power transistor for proper one-way continuity using a multimeter. If it's dead it can be replaced and supposedly the rest of the innards are longer lasting. I may someday find out, but for now my big hands are better employed doing other things.
 
I wish I could claim ownership of that picture, Charlie, but I snagged it from a thread on 2002FAQ...

There is a fusable link in these mechanical clocks that, when things get old, and gummed up, will pull too much resistance and the solder joint will fail, saving the rest of the device. It's a delicate solder operation, but not too bad. Gotta clean the works to insure smooth operation, prior re-soldering that link, though.

Hope you can solve the quartz clock conundrum... I'm afraid I'm not much help in that corner.

Ed

( I like your signature tag-line and agree wholeheartedly)
 
Mal CSL 3.0 said:
just discovered that my clock loses about 15 minutes every 24 hours (annoying). Can anyone tell me if the E9 dash clocks are repairable? or would I have to buy a new one? Does anyone know if anyone sells repo E9 clocks or if any original ones are for sale anywhere?

Many thanks
Click to expand...
I think there is an adjustment on the back
 
image.jpeg
Thanks for the clarification DeQ. To Mal 3O CSL and anyone else interested in ONLY the wind split DECAL!
This is what they look like. That is INFACT the exact part# the wind split decal as found on brand new NLA splits. And not wanting to hijack this thread on clocks, I'm also quite sure that on the old clocks, there is an adjust screw on the back. Whether it's can compensate 20mins per day, must be tried. Finally, there are so many shops that can fix that minor problem.......
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top