Interior Lighting

[EurotrashDew]

Got a few interior lighting Q's Im just curious about.

1. Does the OBC computer have lighting? My display is lit, but I am unable to see what button I am pushing at night.

2. My OBC display on the cluster, it only comes on during a warning (ie Temp, Low Coolant, etc.) Is this normal ops or should something be displayed there at all times?

3. Temp control wheel between the dash vents, lighted or not?


Thanks in advance

[Itsnotme1988]

1) yes

2) push in your turn signal stalk to cycle the OBC info on the dash

3) not too sure, mine aren't...

[MacR]

[QUOTE=EurotrashDew;11106640]Got a few interior lighting Q's Im just curious about.

1. Does the OBC computer have lighting? My display is lit, but I am unable to see what button I am pushing at night.

Yep, there are 3 bulbs in the OBC, two for each side of the screen and one below to light the buttons

2. My OBC display on the cluster, it only comes on during a warning (ie Temp, Low Coolant, etc.) Is this normal ops or should something be displayed there at all times?

Press the B/C feature (pressing IN on the turn signal lever. In like... towards the wheel)

3. Temp control wheel between the dash vents, lighted or not?

Mine are, some aren't.

Thanks in advance

[4500 RPM]

[
3. Temp control wheel between the dash vents, lighted or not?

Mine are, some aren't.


Really?

I don't think mine are...

[EurotrashDew]

Gracias amigos...

Just wanted to check before I start pulling apart the dash.

Cheers

[MacR]

Gracias amigos...

Just wanted to check before I start pulling apart the dash.

Cheers

I believe yours should be. I think 94+ were lit between the vents.

Don't quote me on that year though.

[Qsilver7]

1. Don Gale has a great write up on how to change the bulbs in the OBC. He also gives the correct bulb numbers to purchase because the BMW ETK has the WRONG ones listed. The write up is for his e32...but the e32 & e34 share the same OBC: http://www.nmia.com/~dgnrg/page_36.htm

2. The display on the instrument cluster is actually the CCD (check control display)...and IT is what has first priority over that display. The Priority 1, 2, and 3 warnings get precedence...but as a secondary feature, you can program all or some of the OBC features to show up in the CCD...but if you have any PRIORITY warnings...they will remove any OBC features off the display.

(when you see the word MID (in the pic/instructions below) think of it as OBC for the e34/e32 application...these instructions are from my e38 owners manual...but the remote OBC features are programmed the same way) :)

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/7/web/739000-739999/739005_112_full.jpg

3. You can tell if the ctr dash thumbwheel is lit or not by the way the warm/cool indicators look.

The older models are lit and have transluscent openings for light to shine thru. On (I believe) 1993-up models...the thumbwheel has painted indicators...thus are NOT illuminated.

Here's a pic of my NON illuminated ctr thumbwheel with painted on dots and warm/cool indicators:
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/7/web/739000-739999/739005_29_full.jpg

[MacR]

On (I believe) 1993-up models...the thumbwheel has painted indicators...thus are NOT illuminated.

Incorrect, my late build 94 is lit, and I remember someone with a 95 replacing the bulb recently. Maybe a 540 thing?

[attack eagle]

Really?

I don't think mine are...
mine WAS for about the first 6 months I owned it... Still no luck finding a bulb for it in real oem and I'm not gonna pull it out until I know I can get a bulb

[Qsilver7]

Incorrect, my late build 94 is lit, and I remember someone with a 95 replacing the bulb recently. Maybe a 540 thing?

Sounds like that could be the case...everyone so far that has mentioned they have lit thumbwheels are pre 93 or have the V8. :)

But regardless of model year...you still can tell by looking at how the center vent is designed...if it has painted on "dots", then it's not illuminated...if there's a white transluscent "dot" that allows light to shine thru...then it's illuminated. Plus, the original poster is from Europe, so that opens a whole 'nother can of worms as to if it's illuminated or not. :D

[EurotrashDew]

Mac (or others with the lit thumbwheel) Are your temp indications painted as well?

Again, thanks for the great info and pix

[attack eagle]

no, mine does NOT look like the picture posted above.

[EurotrashDew]

no, mine does NOT look like the picture posted above.

thanks... one less thing I will dig into.