Dash and OBC lights?

[Widge]

On the touring I have recently aquired, the dash lights behind the heater controls etc are out, is there one bulb for all of them? Also the OBC back light has gone out, during the day I can see the OBC works, so id there a common ground or bulb for then all? I have checked all the fuses.
Cheers

[orangecurry]

re the OBC - do you mean the display is out, or the buttons are not illuminating?
the latter is just an ordinary bulb like the heater controls
the former is a bit fiddly....

[Widge]

Um, the display is not lighting up orange, I can only see the numbers in daylight if I look really hard. The timer and limit buttons are lighting up red, but I can't remember are the rest of the buttons supposed to light up orange at night? I have just had a thought, do you think it could be the headlight switch? I seem to remember Brian saying somthing about the solder breaking on the dimmer or somthing, cos that would put them all out wouldn't it? If it was just the OBC or the heater , but as it's both it makes me suspicious that its not just bulbs.

[orangecurry]

display is totally different from everything else ever

you have to get the OBC out, then slide out the white 'light bar' from the side, and replace one or both of the tiny bulbs....... and you have to solder them in....

fun?

oh yeah

[Widge]

Yeah but doesn't the display dim with all the other lights?

[orangecurry]

it does go dim if the lights are on, but not so dim so that you can only just read it

[Widge]

No but what I mean is, if the head light switch dimmer was broken could it cause all of the dash lights to go off? OBC included?

[NH325CAB]

No,

The OBC light is totally separate from the rest of the dash lights. It does not dim. Its either on or its blown a bulb.

One of my bulbs blew a couple of weeks back and i got a couple from maplins for less than a pound. You need two as they work in series so best replace both.

You need to take the obc out by removing the stereo and switches above the stereo. you can then feel two screws behind the centre console holding the obc in place. Undoing them will allow you to push it bacjk enough to slide the white bulb holder tray out and voila!

It was abuot a 40 mins job as its quite fiddley!

[Widge]

Cheers mate, got any part numbers for maplins?
Any ideas why the rest of the dash isn't lighting up?

[NH325CAB]

I think the part is:

http://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?Tab ... 5&doy=24m2

They are very very small bulbs on wires (12v i think). I took the actual bulb holder in and got them to find the right ones.

You need solder them in though which is the only slight hassle.

Not sure why the rest have gone.... must be other bulbs gone i guess, but not needed to do my dash ones yet.

[orangecurry]

it DOES go dim when you put the lights on, but not so dim as to be difficult to read

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.

[orangecurry]

No but what I mean is, if the head light switch dimmer was broken could it cause all of the dash lights to go off? OBC included?

you first said just the heater controls and OBC lights were out- are ALL the dash lights out? If so it could be the switch

[Widge]

No sorry, that's a good point, when I said dash I ment the middle bit, not the speedo pod which still works, so you are right, somthing must have blown the bulbs, it can't be the dimmer switch. Sorry to confuse things

[NH325CAB]

you haven't changed a stereo recently have you? That can cause it

[Widge]

Well yes, but the lights were out first! but I bought the car with out radio so I bet the guy who took the last one out fused them.

Where are the lights for the heater pannel?

[NH325CAB]

try this:

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do ... g=64&fg=20

[Widge]

Ahh ha number 27!

Cheers