Dashboard lights on E34

[Vikram Palicherla]

Hi,

Can anyone help me with the instrument cluster lights. The speedometer
needle light has gone dead, and the speedometer,and tachometer lights are
very dim. The rest of the lights are fine. How easy/difficult is it to
change/replace these lights?

Thanks for your help

Vikram
93 525i

[Ray Eng]

I did this fix a few years back on my 535i... again, BMW in
in its engineering wisdom(NOT sarcasm), designed the
climate control unit as one whole unit....
So believe it or not the whole fascia which includes the
3 sliding controls and 3 knobs controlling fan and temperature
is all "one unit"....You have to be cautious not to damage your dash..
Anyways the whole climate control unit slides out like a stereo....
some tips
- take out your ashtray.....so you can get your hands in and behind
the climate control module, carefully move it around the clips will
give way but be carefull not to force anything and break the clips.

* careful not to break the slider control wires....

- once the unit slides out you need to remove the case, if I
remember correctly....from here on its easy as the light bulbs
which are obviously behind, are easily replaced....

If you get stuck then mail me directly....

Chris

Conrad Flowers wrote in message <648eup$e...@camel21.mindspring.com>...
>Chris, You made this sound so simple, I just wondered if you could
>describe how to get to the lights that make the fan speed control, and
>the knobs that control the temp lightup. (1990 535)
>
>Thanks
>Conrad
>
>"Chris" <tl...@intergate.bc.ca> wrote:
>
>
>>Vikram Palicherla wrote in message <645s4k$f...@nnrp1.farm.idt.net>...

>>>Simple fix
>>unscrew the two screws in the instrument cluster using philips head
>>screwdriver...look above the instument cluster just above
>>the plastic glass shield which protects the gauges....
>
>>- pull out instrument cluster (it comes out in one unit)...
>>- unplug wire harnesses from the cluster...
>>- you will see the different light bulbs in the back of the cluster....
>>- replace the bulbs
>>- reinstall...
>>- takes 10 minutes...
>
>>CF
>
>
>
>

[Chris]

Conrad

I sent this from my friends system so dont mail me at
ray...@ibm.net if you need additonal help my email is cf...@intergate.bc.ca

TTYL

Chris

Ray Eng wrote in message <648ub6$43c$1...@carrera.intergate.bc.ca>...

[Chris]

[Conrad Flowers]

Chris, You made this sound so simple, I just wondered if you could
describe how to get to the lights that make the fan speed control, and
the knobs that control the temp lightup. (1990 535)

Thanks
Conrad

[Brett Anderson]

Pop out the triple switch on the left of the heater controls, behind it is
a catch that locks the heater controls into the dash, pop the left side
out, remove the radio and reach in through its hole to unclip the heater
cables, do not try to force the heater controls out far enough to do this
or you will break a cable end, and you do not want to have to replace one
of these cables. Once the cables are off, unplug the harness and remove the
control panel. Now you have to open it up, there are some small screws in
the back, remove these and open the unit, you will find a single bulb
inside for the dials.

--

Brett Anderson

BMW and ASE master technician

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Conrad Flowers <con...@mindspring.com> wrote in article
<648eup$e...@camel21.mindspring.com>...

[SteveP6]

Guys,
A comment and a question ....

The folks at Robert Bentley keep threatening to actually *complete* their
E34 manual and release it ... last time I checked (a month ago?) they said end
of the year. If you'd like to call and help persuade them, the number is
800-423-4595 or www.rb.com.

Question ... the display to my OB computer ('89 525) has some areas of
amber/orange backlighting which obscure the digits - the black masking paint
on the inside has a 1/8 to 1/4 inch "speck" which has fallen away so that the
display always shows amber/orange. If I remove the OBC, can I get to this to
repair it or is this painted mask inside a *sealed* display element?

Motor well,
Steve
'89 E34
'87 635Csi previously
'85 325e previously
BMW Questions?? READ THE FAQ!! at http://cbsgi1.bu.edu/bmw/bmw.html