OBC bulb replacement

[Funky Bottoms]

Does anyone know where i can find the write up for replaceing the bulb on the OBC?

[LikeCDoos]

take the OBC out, pull the small white slide tab out (also known as the "backlight"). There is also a bulb that lights up the buttons...push, turn, then pull out and also repalce.

[e9nine]

This is one of the most documented procedures for e30s :D Even google has links to it...anywhoo

1)Remove radio
2)Pop out the hazard/rear defroster switches
3)Remove two #1 phillips screws above and inside the openings for the switches.
4)Remove two phillips screws underneath the center panel with a stubby screwdriver. I found this to be easier after removing the center console.
5)The panel should be loose; you only need to pull it out a little. You don`t have to disconnect the heater controls.
6)Remove the glove compartment and the panel to the left of the glove compartment.
7)From behind, loosen the two left side phillips screws holding the OBC to the back of the panel.
8)With the panel pulled out, reach in from the side and remove the right side screws, using needle nose pliers.
9)Now, the OBC can be pushed into the panel enough to access the bulb holder on the right side; it`s white. Grab it with some needle nose pliers and slide it out.
The bulb holder has a little circuit board with two 5 volt bulbs, wired in series. One burned out bulb will cause it to stop working. I bought the $22 replacement bulb holder; it lasted 3 months. Then I took the two remaining good bulbs and soldered them in one holder; it lasted 3 weeks. I researched and found some sources for bulbs. They average $0.65 each. One example is Eiko #713. Right now, I have bulbs in my OBC from Radio Shack. They have lasted since November 1998 and are still working. They were in a package of 3 (one red, one yellow, one green) for $1.49, if I remember correctly. I scratched the color off the bulbs before installing them. The Radio Shack catalog number is 272-1098. Cheap, but it works.
John
88 ///M3 Cinnabar

[Funky Bottoms]

koolaid thanks guys

[Tangent]

I did this a few months ago and I have no idea why ayone would have you remove the glove compartment. Once you have the panel loose enough to pull the whole thing including OBC out far enough to see the white bulb holder, just trim the black plastic that's blocking access to the white part and slide the bulb holder out. I found some good cheap bulbs at a local electronics supply warehouse and soldered them in for a total parts cost of about 80 cents.

[arnoldgtr]

Because I don't think it's a good idea to weaken the plastic panel by cutting part of it away.
Actually, you don't have to remove the glove box. Just unfasten the straps and let it drop. That allows enough room to remove the left panel.
It takes maybe 10 minutes more to do it that way, as opposed to cutting on the radio/heater panel.

[E30 Wagen]

anybody else have bad luck with the LCD replacement bulbs from the stealership, the complete replacement without simply soldering new bulbs into existing mount? Also, the button backlight bulb, where can that be purchased besides the dealer?

yeah, old thread