bulb spaces in the check panel

[slinky2000]

I had the check control panel off today to fix my sunroof and got it working woohoo! anyway I noticed there was a bulb in the center of the back of the check control panel and a bulb in on of the spaces at the side. I swapped them over and my check panel now lights up on start up, nice

but what are the other spaces behind the black square on the panel? do they serve a purpose?

[Simon]

They are for cars destined for other countries, I believe one is coolant warning light, another is the seatbelt warning light, 1 more I can't remember, and the 4th was probably a spare.

[slinky2000]

I was putting the panel up to a light to see if I could see a symbol shining through but it was like it was solid with nothing to light up if you get me

[Simon]

Yeah, it won't have them unless it was actually sent to the countries that needed them.

[slinky2000]

good stuff

thanks

[Chris-W]

Another is for the Airbag light.

[Simon]

Ah, it just came to me, the other was for airbags!

[Chris-W]

I can delete it if you'd like the glory?

[Simon]

I was going to do it myself, but then remembered I may need some parts from you in the future and thought better of it!

[SPADGE]

This is what one with a seatbelt warning light looks like

[slinky2000]

ah ok, so you could see the symbol whitout the light on anyway.

was the seatbelt one an extra or something? I think most e30's have none, right?

[Simon]

You'll probably find that in some places it may have been law to have a seatbelt light fitted to the car.

[The_Stig]

i know that the seat belt light was on American E30's

[ed325i]

I have one with the seat belt light that I got from a American e30.

[Brianmoooore]

The coolant overheat light would be the useful one!
There's a position for a bulb in the instrument cluster behind the red segment of the temperature gauge which is also obviously intended for an overheat light, but I've never seen any reference to it.

[slinky2000]

yea that would be a handy one!

[Simon]

Come on then Brian, get one converted, and write a guide for the zone!

[Nelly]

Second that ^^

[Brianmoooore]

although the temp gauge has provision for a light, it doesn't have a translucent section, like the fuel gauge has, to allow the light to be seen. I think the overheat sensor is a two terminal thermostatic switch that screws in place of one of the blank plugs on the water outlet elbow.
Should be available from a dealer.

Question: In markets where the seat belt warning light is compulsory, do four pot cars have the 'check' panel?

[Simon]

Question: In markets where the seat belt warning light is compulsory, do four pot cars have the 'check' panel?

Good question, I suspect one of our US members would have to answer that one.