instrument cluster lights

[ItSnOtAn M]

whats up everyone...

i have a 92 e36 and one of the lights in my cluster blew out and i want to change it... i was reading in the chiltons book on how to take it off..... its simple.... bu tit said something about disarming the air bag.... do i have to go thru all that?? or should i just disconnect the battery??... what does the airbag have to do with the wiring harness behind the cluster?

and also, can i change the bulbs in the window switches without buying new switches???


thanks....

[turbotec]

here is a little write-up on how to do the bulbs in the switches.
http://nolimit.to/MYM3/interior_lighting.htm

[ICTBMW]

cluster removal-
1. take off 2 screws on the top
2. wiggle the cluster toward you, reach behind
3. undo 3 harnesses(2 on the left, 1 on the right) on the back, you have to unclip it first(very difficult, but be patient )
4. pull the cluster out right side first, it should come out even with the steering wheel attacted.
-3 mains bulb(green knobs) can be found at most automotive store 3w
- the others you have to go to the dealer to get it, its attached to the base(black)

window switches-
window switches need to be remove and REsolder new LED bulb, its not a regular bulb, it can be found at your local radio shack....

hth

[Reno]

my cluster have some burnt lights
anyone have DIY with pics?

or a pic of the led will help too

[vml]

Originally posted by Reno
my cluster have some burnt lights
anyone have DIY with pics?or a pic of the led will help too

DIY don't know of any link but you have to remove the steering wheel first and then the cluster. That's the reason you have to disconnect the airbag. I believe (not sure though) that it is deactivated by disconnecting the battery for 20 minutes. In some models it is possible to remove the cluster without removing the strg. wheel but I havent been able to do that in mine.
For the light they are not LED's but very small light bulbs as you can see here from the Bimmerzone.com website:

[clumpymold]

I just did this yesterday. Here's a link I used to help:

http://www.logun.org/gauges.htm

The link is how to install guages but you're not doing that. So ignore the last few parts.

Oh, another GREAT site for DIY links:

http://www.geocities.com/e36rulz/DIY.html

One of the hardest parts was actually getting the cluster to come free. I stuck a flathead screwdriver ("-") into the top of it and lightly pushed downward. It came free finally.

Then, you have to pull it as far forward as you can. There will be three plugs. To undo them, you have to pull the cover outward. See link. Once you have that done, the second hardest part is to actually get it free. You do NOT have to remove the steering wheel but it's a pain. Just keep trying. It'll work. They mentioned (in the link) that you can turn the steering wheel to remove it. But I was afraid to put the key in for fear of throwing some lights or something.

You can get it out, trust me. It's not THAT hard but it takes some wiggling and some luck.

Good luck! Email me if you need help:

clumpymold@sbcglobal.net

NOW....anyone know where to get these damn lights? I need a few of them as well. THANKS!!!

[ICTBMW]

bavauto has them....
the 3w and those black based ones.....

[ItSnOtAn M]

sorrry i couldnt get on to thank you guys before.... your info was great.... i changed the cluster lights with no problem... i used the 3w bulbs (194...sylvania..ii think)
duy325is said you need patients for the connectors in the back of the cluster, and i cant tell you how right he was.... but other than that it was fairly simple... thanks for all the info on everything.... swithches... everything....

[ICTBMW]

glad to see you didn't blow up anything in the proccess......


next time around you'll be a pro at it.......

[ItSnOtAn M]

thanks again...