analog clock

[amibuggnu]

Gday All

Another Aussie 6 here. I'm glad I found this forum and its great to hear (read) what you've all got to say.

I have a '78 633csi, which I've owned since '93, great car. Sounds bad, being that old, but I assure you its in very good, well-looked after condition!!

However, the bulb in the analog clock went kaput the other night. Can anyone give me some clues on how to get the unit out and replace the bulb?

6ers this old aren't very common down under and its very hard to get decent interior parts, and I'd hate to break the clock.

[dm635]

welcome to the board.i cant help you with the clock issue,but i think it would be safe to say that it is only a bulb.
there are others here that have the analog clock and should be able to descibe how to replace.

[amibuggnu]

Cool, thanks dm65

appreciate the support.

[Ol'6erGuy]

First off, welcome to the board!!:wave Getting to that small little bulb is not very easy. The pictures are from a LHD model, I don't know if everything is reversed on the RHD ones. First, between the instrument cluster and heat controls, is a small panel, pry it off very carefully. there are two screws there holding one side of the heat unit in (see pic. one). The other side is held in place by two plastic pop-in tits (be careful, they break easilly). You now should be able to pull the unit out a small distance. The bulb for the clock is directly behing 'eleven'. If you can not get your hand in, over the vent to it (see pic two), you will need to get more clearance. You may have to separate the two control rods. This is done by rotating them until you see a hole on one. Take a small screw driver and push in on the tab while pulling the other half off (see pic three).
I have had this whole unit out, it's time consuming but can be done with patience. Good luck.

[amibuggnu]

Thank you Ol'6erGuy

That is excellent advice and the photos you've provided will really help.

Pic 1 appears to be the same layout as the unit in my car, so I'm thinking the RHD and LHD layouts are the same, apart from the actual shape of the entire dashboard itself (ie. steering, gauges to the right, glovebox to the left in a RHD).

I will let you know how I go.

One thing I have wondered in the past about RHD v LHD is to do with the curve of the vented grill component directly below the heater controls, above the ashtray. In my car the dash &, cockpit is all curved towards the right (as per RHD) but this vented grill component kindof curves to the left (ie. the rounded bump shape of the grill protrudes at the right side and curves back towards the left). It still looks fine in my car and it doesn't look out of place, but I just realised one day that it's styling is probably designed for the LHD interior and it should probably be shaped in the other direction! Given that our clock/heater control assemblies appear to be the same, perhaps this component is also the same, and the only difference between RHD & LHD vehicles is the shape of the dashboard itself.

Again, thank you for your advice.

[dm635]

bill was the guy i thought of when i read your post.i'm glad he chimed in with his insight.he'll give you the best advice money can buy.that's supposed to be a joke(lol).

[amibuggnu]

Well good advice is hard to find, so it looks like i'm in the right place!

Don't suppose you can tell me what sort of globe it is/what size? It'd be good if I had the right globe with me when I get all this apart..

[Ol'6erGuy]

You've gotta love digital cameras. I got home from work and saw your post, grabbed the camera and out to the project I went. You may be able to get these from your dealer, tell them they are for your instrument lighting. Bavarian Autosport (bavauto.com) sells them. They are called a mini bulb, their part #2721, $1.95 US each. This is what all your instrument lighting uses. Warning lights are several different types. Good luck. Bill

[amibuggnu]

Good Onya Bill! (say it with an Australian accent)

Thank you, I really appreciate that. That's not the sort of bulb I was picturing in my mind, so I'm really lucky you were able to clarify for me.

Definitely gotta love these 21st century digital cameras, and internet forums too!

Perhaps someone out there can read palms too, give us an insight into your future, coming into wealth, etc...!

Regards,

Ellis.

[Ol'6erGuy]

Thanks, I hope they would say coming into wealth, I need the retirement!!! Feel free to ask what ever about these pre '82 cars. I have had most of mine in pieces at one time or another. Not to be patting myself on the back, but check out 'A Boy and His Six', I'll bump it for you. Bill

[amibuggnu]

Gday mate,

Thanks for posting the story thread. I'm actually at work at the moment, so I'll wait till I get home so I can give it the attention it deserves (from the first entry I can see this is a story I want to read properly and thoroughly, and not just sneak looks when I get the chance).

Regards,

Ellis.

[amibuggnu]

Gday Bill

Can you help me? I've ordered a replacement (used) right-hand side window rubber moulding from that zoomzoomzooming guy on ebay. He's been very helpful and responsive on the emails. Its driver's side for me, passenger side in US (the US passenger side stuff is usually pretty good for my needs coz it tends to have had less wear and tear).

It hasn't arrived yet and I won't get onto it right away, so there's absolutely no hurry, but have you got tips, advice, photos to help me get it done? As you know, there's lots of chrome moulding to work around too, and I don't wanna stuff that up!

Any advice appreciated. Should I start a new thread?

Regards,

Ellis.

[Ol'6erGuy]

I haven't dug that far in to the body work on these cars. I really don't have any idea on how to replace the seal.
As far as starting a new thread goes, that is probably the best way to find help. Bill

[640CSi]

Not that hard, just remove the chrome at the bottom and start from the corner near the mirror, and work your way around with a screwdriver. The upper part is tricky to get into its place, but once you get it started it goes in well. The bottom section is a no brainer as it just slips over the sheet metal spine.

[amibuggnu]

Cool, thanks very much. The rubber seal doesn't require any sealant? Are there clips moulded into the rubber piece to secure it in place? (obviously when it arrives I'll have a better idea...)

[amibuggnu]

Gday Fellas
Thank you both for your advice. The previous couple of weekends have been very productive.

Successfully replaced the clock bulb, behind the heater unit, with the tips and guidance of Ol'6erGuy. It was just where you said it would be, right behind the 'eleven'. Getting the unit out was quite straightforward in the end, but your photos definitely helped me know what I was doing. Did a couple of the instrument cluster lights too, couldn't replace them all coz I broke two new bulbs while I was at it, the tiny plastic bayonet holders were so damn tight!

The new window rubber moulding arrived late last week, it features very little wear and tear and its much better than the one I had (a credit and genuine thank you to zoomzoomzooming guy on ebay, excellent service & very helpful). It was a struggle and-a-half to get into place correctly, a very strenuous exercise. Thank you for your tips 640CSi, I searched advice on various forums, ended up pushing and prying it in to place rather than sliding it along from the mirror. I had to trim off sections of the rubber underneath where the mirror end of the new moulding meets up with the trim on the door frame, and the window required adjusting after I'd finished which has really improved the overall fit of the door and seal. Its a much tighter, firmer fit requiring a more thorough 'slam' of the door, as the new seal is thicker and stronger than the one I removed, but with the window properly aligned it has definitely ended up a great fit. The power window does struggle a bit to get to the very top when the door is closed, but as its a much more snug fit it should improve over time as the rubber adjusts to the fitting.

The last three weeks have also seen 4 new tyres, new front shocks, new brake pads & master cylinder, new battery, new headlight globes, the radio went kaput one day so I had to fix that, and of course a tune. Needless to say the car is loving it, my hip pocket not so much.

And then last week I drive a bloke home from work, he gets in the car, slams the door with all of his might and rips the interior armrest connector bracket away from the door, successfully breaking it for me. Not happy. I know it wasn't intentional, but inside I'm fuming! So now I'm on the hunt for interior armrest bits - this ferngreen color, from way way back in the '70s, isn't too easy to get hold of. But it should be okay, I've got a plan...