heater control bulbs?

[cro320]

just saw this photo:
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f290/ ... G_8142.jpg

and noticed working heater control bulbs, mine doesn't work.
How to change these without taking apart whole dash

[Brianmoooore]

One is easy to get at in a RH drive car with an analogue clock. Simply remove the clock from the front, and the bulb is immediately below it.
On a LH drive car you can probably get at it removing the radio and its cage.
The second bulb is level with the bottom of the fan control, but a little to the right, and with the back end of the bulb angled 45 degrees to the right.

[cro320]

Brian I removed the bulb and put new one, checked it and it works, but when inserted inside the dash lights are still dead.
I think I got it in the right hole...
here is a night shot:

[Brianmoooore]

First bulb is working; it's the second bulb at the bottom that's out.

[cro320]

this is really joke...I got working bulb in a correct hole who won't light up

bulb socket should be somewhere around here, right?


and this is the working just replaced bulb


where is the problem then?

[Brianmoooore]

Bulb fits in an angled hole (to the right at the back), exactly where your finger is. It illuminates the fan switch by a solid plastic light guide, and the three slider knobs by three seperate flexible fibre optic cables.
That's how it should work; only you can tell us why it doesn't!
Sure you're actually pushing it in the hole?

[patch]

At the risk of hijacking for which I apologise but should the aircon switch illuminate?

[Brianmoooore]

There are two bulbs inside the aircon switch.

[cro320]

Brian mate, I am 99% positive on getting it in the right hole, from experience
five times I was pushing it inside and removing and there is no other similar hole around, and yes it's 45 percent angled.
It does illuminate but it's even hardly visible...very very poor, other bulbs around light strong and normally
I don't get it

[beemerbird]

The lamp is dim before you try fitting it?

[Brianmoooore]

Something in the hole stopping the bulb going fully in and masking it?
Looks like you're going to have to take the panel off to have a closer look.
Remove radio, The switches along the top, heat knob (pulls off), and all three slider knobs (also pull off).
Two self tappers from underneath, directly below the two rotary knobs, and two small screws accessed through a couple of the switch holes at the top (1st and 3rd from the left on a RH drive car).
Prise off the panel behind the slider knobs, unscrew the four screws behind it, and pull the panel forwards and unplug the OBC.

[cro320]

The lamp is dim before you try fitting it?

no, lamp is fine, I put it in and take out and is still lighting up, but light is poooor vhen inserted inside dash

[beemerbird]

The lamp is dim before you try fitting it?

no, lamp is fine, I put it in and take out and is still lighting up, but light is poooor vhen inserted inside dash

[cro320]

thanks Brian will try something tomorow

What's funny beemerbird

[fingerman]

Good look in replacing the second bulb as it can be a bit fiddly - have patience as I didn't have much last week when I replaced my 2

Got there in the end and all is glowing nice - could only get one of the 2 screws to secure the panel back in as the other one was a pain

[fingerman]

just saw this photo:
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f290/ ... G_8142.jpg

and noticed working heater control bulbs, mine doesn't work.
How to change these without taking apart whole dash

On this pic the head light adjustment switch should be lit up

[Brianmoooore]

Nine bulbs light up the various controls, dials, etc., on an E30, apart from ones built into switches.

[cro320]

tried again and no sucess...still very poor light
then my brother tried these bulbs on his scooter and they don't produce strong light like factory ones
I bought these at gas station and they are no name, these ones from scooter are Osram made. Is it really possible that brand name ones can make stronger light?

[beemerbird]

Do you have the correct amp value? Manufacturer shouldn't make any difference, but the ampage could.

[beemerbird]

.... and it would be dim if the amp value was low

[fingerman]

Just get some new uns from the dealer, don't cost much

12v push in bulbs 63217167000

[cro320]

they are 1.2W 12V

[fingerman]

they are 1.2W 12V

Correct, missed the 1.2watts - correct part number tho

[Brianmoooore]

they are 1.2W 12V

Which is correct!
The dimmer control is turned up full, isn't it?
How does it compare in brightness with the rear ashtray bulb?

[cro320]

they are 1.2W 12V

Which is correct!
The dimmer control is turned up full, isn't it?
How does it compare in brightness with the rear ashtray bulb?

didn't compare them though but I remove the plastic cover which hides AC buttons space and light from bulb is visible and fibre optic is lighted, also tried to clean the bulb place and its clean already.
The dimmer switch is at full...
report tomorow when I get bulbs from stealers

[cro320]

tried no name, Philips and Osram bulbs. all the same thing, poor light.
so sadly I must give up

[Chase007]

they are 1.2W 12V

Which is correct!
The dimmer control is turned up full, isn't it?
How does it compare in brightness with the rear ashtray bulb?

So i take it these bulbs fit the ashtray front and back?

[cro320]

they are 1.2W 12V

Which is correct!
The dimmer control is turned up full, isn't it?
How does it compare in brightness with the rear ashtray bulb?

So i take it these bulbs fit the ashtray front and back?

correct

[cro320]

I removed slider buttons and checked for light under them and it works...how is possible that light is there and slider buttons don't light up?
http://img149.imagevenue.com/img.php?im ... loc=loc991

[beemerbird]

They look as if they are lit to me - difficult to say because it's a daylight picture.......

[cro320]

they are lighted mate, but when button inserted lit is hardly visible

[daimlerman]

they are lighted mate, but when button inserted lit is hardly visible

Accumilated muck and crap in the light guide?

[cro320]

they are lighted mate, but when button inserted lit is hardly visible

Accumilated muck and crap in the light guide?

cleaned them up. same thing mate

[beemerbird]

Could you try swapping the bulb from the other side into the dim side? Strangely it's sounding like the resistance is wrong on the side you're struggling with.

I'm only suggesting that bulb swap because both are similarly situated with simillar amounts of fascia in front..

[cro320]

I just take a shot in full dark..it does light up some but still poor...

http://img22.imagevenue.com/img.php?ima ... _955lo.JPG