Interior Lights

Mon Jan 16, 2006 1:11 pm

Just the other day I noticed that the dashboard lights have disappeared.

What could be the cause of it?

can't see nothing in the dark no more......

Don't know if I am doing 100 or 10 mph

Mon Jan 16, 2006 1:26 pm

Turn the side/headlight pull switch clockwise, it is also a dimmer for the dash lights....

Wed Jan 18, 2006 10:56 am

kam-325i wrote:Turn the side/headlight pull switch clockwise, it is also a dimmer for the dash lights....

Just tried that mate, but no luck

It seems that the lighting behind the centre console is not working also.

for example, the back lights behind the demister, heater controls. all gone.

whats going on??/

Wed Jan 18, 2006 3:09 pm

Pull out the rear ashtray, and extract the little lampholder that illuminates it.
Turn the sidelights on and earth the brown/white wire.
Does this make all the lights come on?

Thu Jan 19, 2006 9:38 am

Brianmoooore wrote:Pull out the rear ashtray, and extract the little lampholder that illuminates it.
Turn the sidelights on and earth the brown/white wire.
Does this make all the lights come on?

will give that ago tonight.

thanks in advance

Thu Jan 19, 2006 11:34 pm

no luck mate.

whats going on

Fri Jan 20, 2006 8:58 am

If your RH sidelamps are working OK, and you're sure you earthed the brown/white wire properly, then the fault can only be the lighting switch.

Fri Jan 20, 2006 12:51 pm

Could'nt it just be the fuse?

Fri Jan 20, 2006 6:38 pm

BeemaBoy wrote:Could'nt it just be the fuse?

Not if the RH sidelamps are working.

Fri Jan 20, 2006 6:45 pm

Next check I would do is to connect a piece of wire to 12V + (direct from battery or from cigar lighter socket), and connect this to the grey/red wire on the rear ashtray lamp. Either include a 10A fuse, or brush the wire against the grey/red carefully in case of big sparks.
This should light the panel lamps and they should be adjustable in brightness by turning the light switch.

Fri Jan 20, 2006 6:52 pm

brian how do u know all this stuff m8. ?

Fri Jan 20, 2006 7:09 pm

bigdek wrote:brian how do u know all this stuff m8. ?

Good wiring diagrams and a lot of messing around with E30s.

Sat Feb 04, 2006 4:25 pm

now i can only get the rev meter to light up, the speedo doesn't light up?

Sat Feb 04, 2006 8:55 pm

lifegoeson wrote:now i can only get the rev meter to light up, the speedo doesn't light up?

Haven't you missed a bit of this story? Thought you didn't have any lights anywhere.

Sun Feb 05, 2006 12:44 pm

Brianmoooore wrote:
lifegoeson wrote:now i can only get the rev meter to light up, the speedo doesn't light up?
Haven't you missed a bit of this story? Thought you didn't have any lights anywhere.

thanks to you i resolved the first issue,

Sun Feb 05, 2006 1:34 pm

lifegoeson wrote:
Brianmoooore wrote:
lifegoeson wrote:now i can only get the rev meter to light up, the speedo doesn't light up?
Haven't you missed a bit of this story? Thought you didn't have any lights anywhere.
thanks to you i resolved the first issue,

Well fill us all in then - what was it?
If one cluster light works and the other doesn't, it can only be a dud bulb or a crack in the solder/ tracks on the instrument PCB.
Don't fit higher wattage bulbs than specifi3ed, or the orange domes will melt.