Heater control lights....

[J!m]

Yeah, I noticed last night they stopped working. Here are my thoughts:

*BULB: maybe, but I would think there are three or so bulbs for that panel. They all went dead at the same time? I don't think so.

*FUSE: all the interior lights share a fuse, or the dimmer on the headlight switch could not controll the brrightness of all the lights. All the others work perfectly. I don't think so.

*WIRING: But why? I have not been in the dash for months. No reason for it. No new rattles or burnt wire smells.

So, anyone have this problem, and how was it solved? (before I tear my dash apart...)

[s1ddhartha]

There is only 1 bulb that lights up the three knobs for HVAC. Mine went out last winter, and all I had to do was replace that one bulb: P/N 61 13 8 353 797

When you pull out the switch panel, be careful not to damage the part that lights up. Mine got a hairline crack from being pushed.

[J!m]

Hard to believe there's only one bulb for that whole assembly. I'll tear it apart in a couple weeks and replace the bulb.

Thanks.

PS where exactly is this part that I'm going to crack?

[s1ddhartha]

If you look at the dial surrounds, there is
(1) for the blower power. it's 1,2,3,4
(2) for the temp. it's blue and red,
(3) for the location. it's window, driver or footwell.

These are made of transparent plastic, so that the light can shine through. When I was installing it back again, I made a mistake of pushing on this. They are fragile, hence their transparency. I'm not talking about fragile like a film, but they will be damaged, if you're not careful. Luckily (or unluckily) mine is not all that noticeable. So I'm not going to get a new one just yet.

It's pretty neat to see how one bulb lights up all three dials. It's just like how the light ring around the cig. lighter is lit: one light source with transparent body of plastic to transmit it through.

Have fun with it, and let me know how yours goes.

[J!m]

OK. Here's the RIGHT way to change this bulb. I learned by doing it every other way first....

1) using a small plastic something, perhaps the corner of a credit card, pop open the little radio mount screw covers. This is a small metric allen screw, maybe 2.5mm? They don't come completely out, they control a clamping mechinism, and just have to be loosesnd.

2) Pull the radio, and un-plug. (option: leave it out and replace with factory delete plate for weight savings when re-assembling)

3) look in the big radio hole, and see the back side of the heater controls

4) find bulb, about in the center, favoring the right side of center, and pull it out. It's black, in the white heater control assembly.

5) replace bulb with (as stated above) P/N 61 13 8 353 797.

This is not a 'normal' bulb, so you have to go to the dealer for it. expect to be $10.00 poorer when leaving. If you get the bulb first, you will easily see it for removal. I removed the entire climate control asembly, clock and A/C & defrost button assembly before I figured this out. Hanes manual is useless, as it oly shows (poorly) regular E36 cars interior. This is the information I was looking for, but at least it's here for the next guy...

[Storminmike]

I'd agree with the last comments as I've just replaced two (mine and the wifes Ti.

Looking through the opening left by the radio you will see two thin wires going to the back of the heater controls, dead centre and near to top. The wires are teminated with a small connector (which is a one way round fit). This connector pushes into the back of the bulb (the bulb is a glass and plastic socket) combo, you'll know what I mean when you buy one. The bulb is a push/snap fit into a hole in the heater control mechanism.

I'd gently ease the wires with it's plug out of the duff bulb. Pull the duff bulb out (towards the front of the car) by grabbing the plastic part of the bulb combo, it's a bit stiff due to it being a snap fit but it will come out. Reverse for putting it back in but note that the plug only goes into the bulb one particular way round.

;} Mike

[Storminmike]

Speaking of duff backlights. How do you replace the backlights behing the sidelight/headlight switch? The knob looks similair to the E30 but it doesn't seem that there is any way to get at it without sticking your hand up behind dash. I've tried that but I can't see anything and all I feel is a jungle of wires :cry:

[J!m]

Most likely the easiest way (believe it or not) will be to pull the cluster out, then feel around behind the switch for the bulb. You have to have magic shrinking and/or mega-flexy-stretching powers to get it from the bottom. Oh, yeah, and lighted and/or night vision enhanced finger tips. BUT with these powers, it will be EASY from the bottom...

My cluster is dead, so I'll have the dealer change the fog light bulb while he has the wheel and cluster out. I had the cluster in, but it has to be coded. I may have to borrow an M3 for a few minutes to code in that car, then install in my car. (pain in the @ss)

[Storminmike]

My god, all that to get at a poxy bulb :) The one behind the rear foglight is duff to so it will have to be cluster out. Can you just unscrew the cluster and draw it forward and are the bulbs the same as the heater type?

Cheers....England 4 Croatia 2

[ddiorio1313]

My hvac lightswent out about two years ago and I just punched that area and boom they came back on. I haven't had them do it since. I know that sounds barbaric but it is really what I did.