2015 7" premium instrument cluster upgrade

[wirierplane2018]

First off, I know I am a few years late to the party! Secondly, I actually just purchased a 2015 2500 Big Horn diesel which now allows me to join the Diesel Ram family (coming from a Tundra) so I am trying to learn and discover as much as I can. I have been reading quite a few different forums and posts around upgrading the instrument cluster from the default 3.5" to the 7" premium one, but I had a few questions that I haven't been able to find the answers too.

Finding a used diesel one is not easy, but I found one for $1,200 from Infotainment (2013-2018 Ram 1500 Speedometer EVIC Instrument Panel Cluster), but I really don't want to spend that much if I don't have to. I have seen on some other forums and posts that you can get ones from junk yards for cheaper, like $300 to $500 (assuming you can find them), but the cluster would need to be programmed to match current information (i.e., odometer, hours, etc.).

I also found on one of the sites that you can download an app (alphaobd) and pair with an obdlink mx+ Bluetooth obd2 reader and make the changes yourself. The app and OBD reader together cost about $180 so even if I found a premium cluster for $500, I would still be saving almost 50% from say going through infotainment.

For those that have gone the route of junk yard searching, have you had any issues with it once it has been re-programmed and secondly, has anyone tried programming it themselves and how successful was it? For those that didn't go with a junk yard or someone selling on the forums, any good resources to pick one up?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Gordo2212]

Search on car-part. I just got a 2016 for $200 on there.

 

[wirierplane2018]

Awesome! Did you have the opinion to have it programmed when you bought it or did you pay someone to program it for you or did you do it yourself?

 

[Gordo2212]

Awesome! Did you have the opinion to have it programmed when you bought it or did you pay someone to program it for you or did you do it yourself?

I haven’t installed it yet but I’m doing it myself with alpha obd

I don’t think junkyards will do that for you

 

[wirierplane2018]

I haven’t installed it yet but I’m doing it myself with alpha obd

I don’t think junkyards will do that for you

That's awesome, I'm excited to hear how it goes for you! When do you plan on programming and installing it?

 

[buckeyexx]

You can purchase one from eBay and many of them will program the mileage and hours for you. Unless things have changed in the last couple of months. Diesels may be harder to find but I have seen them on there. I just went thru this with my 2015 gas truck. You just tell them the mileage you have now before they ship it to you. I’m surprised your big horn didn’t come with the premium cluster from the factory.

 

[Gordo2212]

That's awesome, I'm excited to hear how it goes for you! When do you plan on programming and installing it?

Hopefully this weekend. Waiting to get my truck back from dealer

 

[SitKneelBend]

First off, I know I am a few years late to the party! Secondly, I actually just purchased a 2015 2500 Big Horn diesel which now allows me to join the Diesel Ram family (coming from a Tundra) so I am trying to learn and discover as much as I can. I have been reading quite a few different forums and posts around upgrading the instrument cluster from the default 3.5" to the 7" premium one, but I had a few questions that I haven't been able to find the answers too.

Finding a used diesel one is not easy, but I found one for $1,200 from Infotainment (2013-2018 Ram 1500 Speedometer EVIC Instrument Panel Cluster), but I really don't want to spend that much if I don't have to. I have seen on some other forums and posts that you can get ones from junk yards for cheaper, like $300 to $500 (assuming you can find them), but the cluster would need to be programmed to match current information (i.e., odometer, hours, etc.).

I also found on one of the sites that you can download an app (alphaobd) and pair with an obdlink mx+ Bluetooth obd2 reader and make the changes yourself. The app and OBD reader together cost about $180 so even if I found a premium cluster for $500, I would still be saving almost 50% from say going through infotainment.

For those that have gone the route of junk yard searching, have you had any issues with it once it has been re-programmed and secondly, has anyone tried programming it themselves and how successful was it? For those that didn't go with a junk yard or someone selling on the forums, any good resources to pick one up?

Thanks in advance!

Do it yourself using the tools you just mentioned. The key to getting one from a salvage yard is to call them before infotainment does to get the cluster first. You can get 7" clusters for as little as $165 and I wouldn't spend more than $350 personally.

 

[wirierplane2018]

You can purchase one from eBay and many of them will program the mileage and hours for you. Unless things have changed in the last couple of months. Diesels may be harder to find but I have seen them on there. I just went thru this with my 2015 gas truck. You just tell them the mileage you have now before they ship it to you. I’m surprised your big horn didn’t come with the premium cluster from the factory.

Yeah, I was a little surprised as well, oh well! Thanks for info on watching ebay! Any sellers you have come across that you would recommend staying away from?

 

[wirierplane2018]

Do it yourself using the tools you just mentioned. The key to getting one from a salvage yard is to call them before infotainment does to get the cluster first. You can get 7" clusters for as little as $165 and I wouldn't spend more than $350 personally.

Awesome! Sounds like a need to make a few calls around my area to see what I can find!

 

[wirierplane2018]

I have heard that if I get a premium evic from a 2013 the tpms won't work for my 2015. Has anyone heard or experienced this? Would it be best to get off of specifically a 2015 or would a 2014 or 2016 work with the tpms on the '15?

 

[buckeyexx]

Yeah, I was a little surprised as well, oh well! Thanks for info on watching ebay! Any sellers you have come across that you would recommend staying away from?

I don’t know of any to stay away from personally. I just found one that programmed the mileage and had mostly good feedback.

 

[buckeyexx]

I have heard that if I get a premium evic from a 2013 the tpms won't work for my 2015. Has anyone heard or experienced this? Would it be best to get off of specifically a 2015 or would a 2014 or 2016 work with the tpms on the '15?

I may be wrong but I think it won’t work if you had a 2013 and put a 2015 evic in then it won’t read the tpms. Has to do with the way the pcm communicates with the tpms system. I’m sure someone will chime in and say for sure. I just bought one from the same year so I never had a thought it wouldn’t work. I’m happy I did it for sure because of the customization and better lay out all around.

 

[Athlium]

I just got mine after looking on car-part.com. Found an 7in Cluster from a 2016 longhorn from an auto salvage in FL. was Quoted $165+$50 freight and I jumped right on it. Took a week shipped to WA and then another 20 minutes for me to uninstall old, install new, program with Alfa and get all the goodness.

 

[buckeyexx]

DODGE RAM 1500 3.0 7" DISPLAY EVIC INSTRUMENT GAUGE CLUSTER ECO-DIESEL PROGRAMED | eBay

100% fully plug & play! Splash logo upon start-up will vary. Most 1500 will show "Ram 1500" or a simple "Ram Logo.". Installation is EASY! Simply remove bezel (4 torx screws) and then remove (2) 7mm bolts holding in cluster, unplug and remove!

www.ebay.com

The diesels seem to be more expensive then the gas ones. I guess because of availability. Also I think the 3.0 and 6.7 will be the same

 

[SitKneelBend]

Awesome! Sounds like a need to make a few calls around my area to see what I can find!

Car-part.com and LKQ online can search nationally. Many salvage yards ship parts now.

 

[GTyankee]

get a 2014 or newer EVIC, if it comes out of a Heavy Duty Ram, 2013 evics i believe are completely different

I have no clue if an EVIC out of a eco-diesel will work
I don't think it will, different transmissions

 

[Justin33]

Do it yourself using the tools you just mentioned. The key to getting one from a salvage yard is to call them before infotainment does to get the cluster first. You can get 7" clusters for as little as $165 and I wouldn't spend more than $350 personally.

How do you do it yourself? I have Alfa and maybe I should be doing this.

 

[SitKneelBend]

I have heard that if I get a premium evic from a 2013 the tpms won't work for my 2015. Has anyone heard or experienced this? Would it be best to get off of specifically a 2015 or would a 2014 or 2016 work with the tpms on the '15?

How do you do it yourself? I have Alfa and maybe I should be doing this.

How To: 13-14 premium cluster upgrade

Just like the title says Tools needed: 1 towel or similar T20 torx bit 9/32 or 7mm socket Ratchet First cover the top of your steering column with a towl to prevent scratches. Trust me the cluster is a tight fit for install and removal and you will scratch it if you don't...

www.ramforum.com

 

[yomanne]

Awesome! Sounds like a need to make a few calls around my area to see what I can find!

A couple months ago I upgraded the 3.5" cluster in my recently acquired 2014 Ram 1500. I bought a Premium 7" cluster on Ebay from the "Instrument Cluster Store". Very happy with their service and the quality of the panel. Prices range all over the place, but unless you are really lucky, it's more of "you get what you pay for". Some of the lower priced panels have lots of blemishes and scratches on the screen or broken mounting tabs. I paid $407 for a panel out of a 2018 Ram 2500/3500 with over 100,000 miles on it. It's not uncommon to see prices over $800. Just be patient until the right one comes along.

The panel is incredibly easy to swap out and also easy to program if you have alphaobd. I updated the odometer reading (my truck only had 63,300 miles) and the hour readings. Just remember to connect to the "Instrument Panel" module instead of the "Body Computer" module where most all of the other settings and adjustments are done. You can also change the "start up" screen so it matches your vehicle. I changed mine to "RAM 1500" but there are over 20 different startup screens to choose from - again, using alphaobd to make the selection. There are numerous youtube videos explaining how to do the panel swap and programming.