OBC Illumination

[NH325CAB]

My first post so be gentle!!!

...continuing the illumination topic, can anyone suggest a way of making the OBC brighter. The last few months have resulted in the OBC display becoming virtually non existant!

Anyone know any reasons for this or have any suggestions as to how to rectify the situ??

Cheers

Nick

[Cloggy Saint]

Hi Nick, welcome to the zone. It sounds as if your backlight bulbs have blown. On the top right side of the obc unit there is a white plastic insert that holds the bulbs. you can pull this out with some thin pliers. The dealer sells a complete replacement for about 20 quid, but most people prefer soldering in new bulbs, which costs pence. Hope this helps

[NH325CAB]

Is there more than one bulb, cos sometimes its ok then fades out again.... or i guess it could just be a dodgy solder job?

[Cloggy Saint]

There's either 2 or 3 bulbs, can't remember for sure.

[Herrity]

How does the OBC come out ? Do you remove the trim all around the heater switches etc. ?

[NH325CAB]

i think you have to remove the radio and a couple of the switches above it and then remove the centre consol a bit so you can slid the obc out to extrat the bulb holder

[Cloggy Saint]

That's the way i do it, but if your hands are small enough you can reach through the stereo opening and also into the dash next to the glovebox to undo the screws.

[Herrity]

There's screws ! Thats where im going wrong I imagined it'd pop out like the switches do but maybe I dreamt that in a dirty bmw dream !

[NH325CAB]

will give it a try when i get a free moment. Where can these little 6v bulbs be bought from? Halfords do 'em etc?

[Cloggy Saint]

Maplins is a good bet for the bulbs.

Herrity, the 6 button obc just pulls out from the front, but the 13 button is a completely different beast!

[NH325CAB]

hang on, i've just found out that the bulbs work in series, so doesn't that mean that f one goes they both go, and therefore wouldn't that mean that it either works, or it doesn't? ie i cert shouldn't be able to see the display v faintly, which i can?

Nick

[Herrity]

I knew one of them pulled out ye trust me to have the awkward one then with 13 buttons ! Completely off topic here but does anybody know would the better mirror with the map reading lights fit any car is there any wires already there anywhere ?

[Cloggy Saint]

I think the wiring should be there already but if not you can tap into other power sources. Do a search on the zone, this topic has been covered quite a lot.

[Brianmoooore]

I knew one of them pulled out ye trust me to have the awkward one then with 13 buttons ! Completely off topic here but does anybody know would the better mirror with the map reading lights fit any car is there any wires already there anywhere ?

Maplight mirror has its own loom that goes down the windscreen pillar to the accessories socket, but it can be hooked up to the check panel supply, the existing interior lights, or the sunroof motor supply.

[Brianmoooore]

will give it a try when i get a free moment. Where can these little 6v bulbs be bought from? Halfords do 'em etc?

Little FIVE VOLT bulbs. Farnell, CPC, Maplins should have something suitable, or you can go for a LED conversion.
Probably only one bulb blown, but it is important to change both.

[Brianmoooore]

hang on, i've just found out that the bulbs work in series, so doesn't that mean that f one goes they both go, and therefore wouldn't that mean that it either works, or it doesn't? ie i cert shouldn't be able to see the display v faintly, which i can?

Nick

You can just about read the display with the bulbs blown.

[Nelly]

Map light mirror doesn't fit into a convertible with out some heavy modding!!! and the loom is not always in other models - i had to use the power sorce from the interior light in my Uncles IS!!!!!!!!

As for the fadding OBC - it aint anything to do with the dash light fad controled by turning the head light pull switch is it???? - just a thought.

Neil.

[Brianmoooore]

Map light mirror doesn't fit into a convertible with out some heavy modding!!! and the loom is not always in other models - i had to use the power sorce from the interior light in my Uncles IS!!!!!!!!

As for the fadding OBC - it aint anything to do with the dash light fad controled by turning the head light pull switch is it???? - just a thought.

Neil.

Didn't notice it was a cab we're talking about!
Loom is never fitted as OE if the mirror isn't.
Dash light fader controls the illumination for the OBC buttons, but not for the display.