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Thread: Light up gauge cluster that is disconnected from car

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2018
    Location
    Santa Cruz, California
    Posts
    1
    My Cars
    1997 BMW 328i vert

    Light up gauge cluster that is disconnected from car

    Hello there, I recently had a collision with my 328i and I'm afraid it's been totaled.
    I have been parting out the car the last few days and just took out the gauge cluster
    and I thought a really neat idea would be to put the gauge cluster on a shelf and
    have it be illuminated at night with its amber lights.

    I've been reading the electric diagrams and it has been tricky to read. This is kind of
    a weird question but I was wondering if anyone has ever done something like this?
    I am trying to connect a 12V power plug into the gauge cluster and simply light up
    the amber backlights so I can use it as a night light

    If you have done anything remotely similar I would love to have a chat/ ask for advice
    as I am currently having trouble reading the diagrams on this page:
    http://wedophones.com/Manuals/BMW/19...g%20Manual.pdf

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Location
    sunnyvale CA
    Posts
    1,589
    My Cars
    325is
    For just the instrument lights just pop off a bulb and use a ohm meter to find the 2 contacts for + - 12 V.

    The real desk top trick would be to install a key switch to light up all the dash indicators and a push button for dash test mode. A working Clock would be nice too.

    But then you can sell it for $50


  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Japan
    Posts
    54,655
    My Cars
    11/88 E32 750iL+98 E36M3
    Based on this info from a German forum is on the white plug pin 2, Instrumentenbeleuchtung Klemme 58g, wire color grey/red and blue plug pin 3 = terminal 31 = ground for instrument lights
    all pins described for white plug, blue plug, black plug, plus the wire colors, translate that https://www.motor-talk.de/attachment...n_Belegung.jpg

    Here someone has the same idea and he made it
    ich habe mir günstig ein Kombiinstrument aus einem älteren E36 besorgt, das statt Drehzahlmesser noch eine Uhr hat. Möchte dieses als beleuchtete Uhr im Wohnzimmer betreiben. Die Instrumentenbeleuchtung habe ich hinbekommen: Anschluss an Netzteil mit Output DC 12V: Weißer Stecker: Pin 2 (Klemme 58g) und blauer Stecker: Pin 3 (KLemme 31(Masse für Kontrollleuchten)).
    He got an older cluster which has instead of the RPM meter a clock. He wanted to use this as living room clock. Instrument ilumination works: connection on a power supply unit with 12V output, white plug pin 2, terminal 58g and blue plug pin 3 = terminal 31 ground for control lights
    https://e36-talk.com/forum/index.php...wohnzimmeruhr/
    Shogun tricks and tips for the E32 series are HERE!

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