HVAC light bulb

[Supadave]

could I use l.e.d.'s?

[Dude]

Im re-wiring my track car and im snipping pretty much all the lights, most were just hanging in the harnes no connected to anything. Im also not running HVAC or the HVAC panel. Hopefully I wont regret it haha.

Good luck

[KSLB1]

Bumping a helpful thread...

I just replaced both HVAC bulbs tonight for the first time using this thread and have just a few things to add.

You can replace the bulb that illuminates the fan control and vent sliders without any tools or taking anything apart, as mentioned. The fan bulb is literally about an inch from the very bottom of the HVAC panel, and you can reach behind the panel and with you thumb and fore finger and pull the plug straight out. The plug itself pokes inside the "defog illustration" and pulls out at a 45 degree angle in the direction of the fan knob. You end up pulling "up" on it and it comes straight out. Just reach down by the ashtray and reach up behind the fan knob and it's right there.

If you're hands are small enough to pluck the little bastard out from under the fan knob you really only need to remove the radio (if so equipped) to access the other bulb. The temp control bulb is immediately visible upon radio removal, and plugs in on the back of the temp control itself.

There is no need to risk marring the panel behind the vent sliders, or remove any the knobs for that matter if done this way, and you sure as shit don't need to take the whole panel apart unless other repairs are needed...

I took the screws out behind the panel and wish I hadn't. The AC button popped loose while loosening the screws behind the sliders taking part of the panel with it. Now light leaks out under the Recurc button where the brittle plastic crumbled away and the button itself is no longer secure. Now I need a whole new radio/hvac panel.

Also, only one of my sliders lights up now that there is a bulb in there; light doesn't seem to pass through the bottom two optic cables. Has anyone ever repaired the optic cables before? I'm of the conclusion that the control until itself will likely need to be replaced to restore illumination to the slider knobs, but I'm curious what you dudes have to say if anything.

[TrentW]

I've got the same issue with the middle slider knob light on mine. Thought maybe the knob was just dirty so I cleaned it, but then realized there was no illumination from the end of the optic cable. I have a feeling those optic cables go bad after twenty some years of being moved back and forth.

[KSLB1]

I've got the same issue with the middle slider knob light on mine. Thought maybe the knob was just dirty so I cleaned it, but then realized there was no illumination from the end of the optic cable. I have a feeling those optic cables go bad after twenty some years of being moved back and forth.

Replacing the whole unit seems to be the only solution if one fancies seeing the sliders at night. It's surprisingly inexpensive from BMW though, given the optical cable and all. Especially when compared to the HVAC panel itself. (326.88... riiiight)

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=AF93&mospid=47305&btnr=64_0097&hg=64&fg=20