OBC

[zagorkaman]

Any tips gratefully accepted.
My obc is very faded and does not work very well...ie i got half a tank of fuel and its telling me i got 49kms of fuel, can't seem to set time and date either...all a bit annoying when you have no clock......help anybody

[Morat]

It sounds like the bulb/bulbs have gone on the illumination bar behind the screen. The good news is that these bulbs are penny parts. The not so great news is that it can be a bit of a fiddle to get the OBC out to replace it.

[Morat]

Here's a start:
http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... crewdriver

[Brianmoooore]

The good news is that these bulbs are penny parts.

What Morat means is the the bulbs themselves are pennies from non BMW sources. The bulbs, soldered in place on a circuit board, are many hundreds of pennies from BMW.

[zagorkaman]

Thanks for the help so far guys.........just one more thing, can the obc be replaced by the standard clock...i like clocks!!! and if so is there any demand for not lit 2nd hand obc units

[Brianmoooore]

Clock connector (part of the main dash loom) will still be in there, hanging loose behind the OBC.
There's a good demand for second hand OBC units, complete with all their wiring looms and accessories. Just remove it all, and clip in an analogue clock.

[zagorkaman]

Thanks guys......not sure what to do now

[johnt0709]

keep the obc - all you have to do is replace the bulbs albeit they are soldered in.

My plan would be

1. Buy the bulbs
2. Line up someone competent to solder new bulbs in.
3. Take the obc out and at the side you will see a white plastic tag - grab this with pliers and pull out - thats your 'lighting board' out
4. Run car without the obc whilst someone solders in your bulbs.
5. Reinsert the lighting board, build up and bobs your aunty.

See if that cures it. Shouldnt cost much. Either that or get on the bay for one. but remember to swap over your coding plug, which is particular to your engine size.

[eltel]

about 3 years ago i bought the white bar with the 2 soldered bulbs direct from cotswold bmw in hereford and fitted them my self.. i paid somewhere in the region of £30-£40 if my memory serves me correctly.. i certainly would not have paid anymore!!

all i had to do was remove the obc (radio out + 4 small grub hex screws) slide out the old bulb rail and slide the new one in..simples!!

will check if i still have the reciept but def paid no more than £40

[zagorkaman]

thanks again for the help....if its 40 bucks and that simple thats the option for me.....i cant butter toast let alone solder on some fiddly little bulbs

Ty