obc bulb & speddo question

[Danny06]

What type of bulb(s) do i need for the light bar on my 13 button obc, and were can they be got?

Also is it hander to change it to the same as wots in or the bulb's?

A link as to how to go about changing it would be hand also.

What would be wrong that my speddo is not working but the rest of the clocks are? could it be to do with the sender unit on the diff as just replaced the diff recently.

[Paul325ITouring]

Quary motors should have the replacment you need, it pulls out of the side of the obc. You will need to got the hole thing out the dash, or you may be lucky and , get the area which pulls out . If you take out your cd player , you should see it there , if not there is two screws there for the obc, there you will have to drop, the glove box down, and side panel to get to the other two screws then the hole obc will come out. Good luck

[Danny06]

Any one from N.Ireland did this before and where and what bulb did they use?

[Danny06]

Also what would be wrong that my speddo is not working but the rest of the clocks are? could it be to do with the sender unit on the diff as just replaced the diff recently.

[Brianmoooore]

Bulbs I use are SC00337, 5 volt, 0.63 lumens from CPC Farnell. £2-32 for five.
RS Components can probably supply them as well.
Speedo problem will almost certainly be diff wire/plug related. The usual cure is to replace the last 300mm of the wire complete with plug.

[Danny06]

gonna sound stupid but is there a certain type of wire i should use and can you buy the plug new from bmw?

[Brianmoooore]

I'm fairly sure that BMW do a repair section for the speedo cable, but most of us skinflint types use a headlamp plug and length of wire from a scrapper.

[Danny06]

could i use the sender unit from a scrapper also or could it end up being the same?

[Brianmoooore]

could i use the sender unit from a scrapper also or could it end up being the same?

No. The vibration from the axle causes changes in the physical properties of the copper in the wire, making it brittle. To return it to its flexible state, it needs to be heated up to red heat and gradually cooled - difficult when it's covered in PVC insulation.

[Danny06]

so a headlamp plug will do same job? wots the number for it brian?

[Danny06]

Jacked the car up today and as brian said it is the diff sender unit thats wrong with the speedo so need to sorce a new one

[Brianmoooore]

That looks more like a coding plug than the light bar!
Someone used your diff sender as a handy jacking point??

[Danny06]

ok then what should the light bar look like? do i need to screw the 2 screws out either side of the obc?

[Brianmoooore]

End of the light bar is white, and is against the radio side of the OBC. You could get it out just by removing the radio cage, IF it wasn't partly hidden behind a bit of the plastic mounting frame.
You need to take the OBC out, I'm afraid.

[Danny06]

well i have part of the center part out so getting the obc out should not be so hard. Will get back to you again Brain thanks.

[Neil_uk7]

If you're changing the bulbs on the light bar I would go this route:
http://forums.eurocca.net/showthread.php?t=16507

I couldn't source any bulbs for mine so used LEDs instead - a couple of 5v red ones I think. Hope this helps.

[Brianmoooore]

If you're changing the bulbs on the light bar I would go this route:
http://forums.eurocca.net/showthread.php?t=16507

I couldn't source any bulbs for mine so used LEDs instead - a couple of 5v red ones I think. Hope this helps.

A pointless modification, IMO, unless you do another mod to keep to LEDs on all the time for the clock function. LEDs are too directional, you loose the dimming function with he road lights and the specified bulbs have a rated life that should be sufficient to see most E30s to that great scrapyard in the sky.

[Danny06]

Is there anywere online i could get them replacement bulb's for the backlight and the other buld?

[Brianmoooore]

Bulbs I use are SC00337, 5 volt, 0.63 lumens from CPC Farnell. £2-32 for five.
RS Components can probably supply them as well.

Watch out for small order post and packing charges!

[Danny06]

Cheer's brian did think they were an online supplier thats why i asked.