 » Site Navigation | | | | » Recent Threads | | | |  | | View Poll Results: The bulbs behind the lighting switch escutcheons | | Both bulbs are working |     | 6 | 23.08% | | Only one bulb is working |    | 5 | 19.23% | | Neither bulb is working |    | 5 | 19.23% | | Didn't know there were any bulbs |    | 7 | 26.92% | | Not concerned if bulbs work or not |    | 1 | 3.85% | | Recently replaced bulbs myself |    | 4 | 15.38% | | Dealer recently replaced bulbs | | 0 | 0% |
 |  | |  10-03-2007, 07:10 PM | #1 | | Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Minehead, Somerset, UK Posts: 89 |  Light switches illumination
Just a poll on whether the little light bulbs which illuminate the escutcheons behind the lighting switches are still working ? see my post " Help please, lamp behind lighting switch" if you want to renew them ! http://www.318ti.org/forum/showthread.php?t=18200 sfj642  |  |  | | 10-03-2007, 08:31 PM | #2 | | Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Land of the Vikings Posts: 2,700 |
es - what- eons? sorry fella, your gonna have to draw me a picture,,  __________________ 
Vin Number decode and Retrofit Pdfs Available Free ! Just PM  | | | | | 10-03-2007, 10:58 PM | #3 | | Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Minehead, Somerset, UK Posts: 89 | Escutcheon - An ornamental or protective plate
Quote: Originally Posted by Mallard  es - what- eons? sorry fella, your gonna have to draw me a picture,, | Escutcheons - An ornamental or protective plate, as for a keyhole (or in our case - for a light bulb !). OK so I looked it up - but it is the little plates behind the light switches that should glow gently at night when you turn the ignition on. Yours do - don't they ? . . . . .  | | | | | 10-04-2007, 01:32 AM | #4 | | Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: LA, Bellflower, CA Posts: 3,613 |
i dont have an idea what u're talking about. what light behind switches? | | | | | 10-04-2007, 03:27 AM | #5 | | Moderator Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: SoCal318ti Posts: 1,574 |
Quote: Originally Posted by sfj642 Escutcheons - An ornamental or protective plate, as for a keyhole (or in our case - for a light bulb !). OK so I looked it up - but it is the little plates behind the light switches that should glow gently at night when you turn the ignition on. Yours do - don't they ? . . . . . | ???  | | | | | 10-04-2007, 11:03 AM | #6 | | Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Minehead, Somerset, UK Posts: 89 | what bulbs are these ? - the answer
Marv - the location of the two light switches on the dash should be shown by small bulbs mounted on the switches and shining through the translucent covers. The bulbs are not easy to get at and to be honest if they go out you probably won't miss them ! see http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...98&hg=61&fg=35 item 7 is the bulb; item 4 is the escutcheon (light switch covering!) have just checked and the US cars should have them as well as the euros | | | | | 10-04-2007, 11:07 AM | #7 | | Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Minehead, Somerset, UK Posts: 89 | I'll put you down as a "no" then
if you don't know what I am talking about then I think you will be a "didn't know there were any bulbs" ? - please fill in the poll when you have a moment ....... | | | | | 10-04-2007, 02:20 PM | #8 | | Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: asdfasdf Posts: 10,002 |
Mine all work on both window switches and in the sunroof switch | | | | | 10-04-2007, 04:41 PM | #9 | | Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: LA, Bellflower, CA Posts: 3,613 |
ahh.... i see.... yeah mine dont light up... lol. i dont even know how to even take it apart to replace it. | | | | | 10-04-2007, 08:39 PM | #10 | | Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Minehead, Somerset, UK Posts: 89 |
Marv, see http://www.318ti.org/forum/showthread.php?t=18200 which is where I put the instructions to replace the bulbs. Is it worth making a sticky of it ? - if so how do I do it ? | | | | | 10-04-2007, 08:43 PM | #11 | | Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Minehead, Somerset, UK Posts: 89 |
I'm not talking about the bulbs in the window switches, which seem to last forever, but the ones behind the two lighting pull switches on the dash. They are quite dim and you can only see them in the dark (if they are OK that is !) | | | | | 10-04-2007, 08:58 PM | #12 | | Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Land of the Vikings Posts: 2,700 |
is it neccassary to separate the insrument panel?
cant the switch be removed in situ? __________________
Vin Number decode and Retrofit Pdfs Available Free ! Just PM | | | | | 10-04-2007, 09:23 PM | #13 | | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Ferndale, MD Posts: 462 |
I had no clue there were bulbs there until my son put his finger through the switch. But no haven't replaced it yet. | | | | | 10-04-2007, 09:46 PM | #14 | | Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Minehead, Somerset, UK Posts: 89 |
I don't think so - unless you know better of course. There doesn't seem to be a really easy way to get at the bulbs without loosening the instrument surround.
You can try and put your hand up inside the dash from underneath but that only works for the switch nearest the drivers door. Even then you can't see what you are doing. The other light switch is masked completely by wiring and other bits & pieces so you can't get a hand up there.
Unless you know better of course ? | | | | | 10-04-2007, 11:21 PM | #15 | | Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Manassas, VA Posts: 4,129 |
Unscrew the two knobs, pop out the two panels (Escutcheons), whatever they are, and behind each panel is one torx/star screw. Remove those screws, and I think two torx/start screws just above the plastic face of the guages, then the black bezel will slide out. Extend the bezel as far forward as you can, then stick your hand in and remove the bulb socket from the retainer. At first I ordered just the replacement bulb. But then I couldn't get the bulb out of the socket to swap bulbs. I then ordered from BavAuto the bulb and socket as one. Very easy to do, just remove the items I mentioned. Quote: Originally Posted by sfj642 I don't think so - unless you know better of course. There doesn't seem to be a really easy way to get at the bulbs without loosening the instrument surround.
You can try and put your hand up inside the dash from underneath but that only works for the switch nearest the drivers door. Even then you can't see what you are doing. The other light switch is masked completely by wiring and other bits & pieces so you can't get a hand up there.
Unless you know better of course ? | __________________ 
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