Centre air vent temp control - illuminated?

[Paul_540i]

Was wondering if the thumbwheel for the temperature control on the centre vents is supposed to be illuminated? Or at least the red and blue dots. Mine aren't and I seen a webpage for the E32 stating that there's a bulb for illumination, so maybe the E34 should have this too?

[Gooch]

I have a 1994 525 that isn't lit. If the dots look look like they are translucent then you may have a bulb. Mine are solid. I'm not sure what years are illuminated.

[Brian C.]

An excellent description (http://www.nmia.com/~dgnrg/page_37.htm) of the R&R of the bulbs from Don Gale's great web pages.

Hope this helps.......

Brian C.

[Qsilver7]

Was wondering if the thumbwheel for the temperature control on the centre vents is supposed to be illuminated? Or at least the red and blue dots. Mine aren't and I seen a webpage for the E32 stating that there's a bulb for illumination, so maybe the E34 should have this too?
I can pretty much say that they aren't illuminated because you say you have red & blue dots painted on the thumbwheel. The BMWs with the illuminated thumbwheel have a white transluscent marking on the thumbwheel.

Yours probably looks like the one in the pic below...and center vents with thumbwheels like it are NOT illuminated:
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/7/web/739000-739999/739005_29_full.jpg

[Paul_540i]

Thanks guys, it seems the E34 missed out on this feature :( which is a PITA, as I often accidentally move the vents when trying to locate the thumbwheel by feel in the dark.

Might install a few orange LEDs on the rear-view mirror ("mood lighting" as fitted to newer models) and aim them towards the thumbwheel and OBC buttons to make up for the lack of backlighting on these items.

[Dan in NZ]

My center vent temperature thumbwheel is illuminated... But it's different to the one in that pic. My red and blue dots above and below the wheel light up, but the wheel itself has no markings at all.

[shogun]

as I often accidentally move the vents when trying to locate the thumbwheel by feel in the dark.

Is that so complicated? Just up and down ;)

[Kalevera]

it's just one of the only things that the earlier cars had that the later models didn't.

[Paul in NZ]

and the narrow grill of course...just how e 34's are supposed to be :p
this is how the illuminated dots/thunbwheel looks
http://www.bimmer.info/bmw/kiwi535/Picture%202a.jpg

[Mobius]

..and lit up on a 1993 535i:
http://home.comcast.net/~rjchristie2/SA/535i/2913m.jpg

[Paul_540i]

Hmm cheapskates must have removed it on later cars to save a few pence! Not bad for a £40,000 car :eek:

Are your OBC buttons illuminated too? On mine only the display is illuminated which is another slightly annoying issue.

[Paul in NZ]

yep illuminated like mobius's,but i dont have the illuminated gear knob...yet

[Paul_540i]

Wonder if my OBC is supposed to be illuminated then, or if they removed that from later cars too :rolleyes:

[Qsilver7]

Wonder if my OBC is supposed to be illuminated then, or if they removed that from later cars too :rolleyes:
Your OBC is supposed to have 3 or 4 bulbs behind it to illuminate the display and buttons. There should be lots of info in the archives that shows how to remove and replace the bulbs. There is one caveat...the ETK parts cd gives the wrong bulb part number for the "expanded" OBC (the one that has RANGE, AVG MPG, AVG MPH, DIST, ARRV, ETC....). The ETK gives the part number for a 6.5volt bulb...these burn out within a few months of using them. The OBC requires a 12v bulb which is indicated in the other "limited" OBC or clock that's in the diagram. You need to order bulb #7 (its a 12v bulb) in the following diagram: http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=HE52&mospid=47384&prod=19950300&btnr=62_0290&hg=62&fg=05&hl=43

Don Gales web site has a great write up on how to remove the OBC to change the bulbs (even thought his is an e32): Don Gales OBC removal instructions to change bulbs (http://www.nmia.com/~dgnrg/page_36.htm)

[Mobius]

yep illuminated like mobius's,but i dont have the illuminated gear knob...yetMaybe this will make you buy it faster.. Little less hot cold, little more shift knob:
http://home.comcast.net/~rjchristie2/SA/535i/2914m.JPG

I seriously get lost driving people's cars at night now - I'm so used to seeing the lit knob in my peripheral vision that I get all confused when I don't see it and can't find the shifter.

[Paul_540i]

OK thanks for that! I guess the bulbs must be gone. It will be most useful to have them illuminated at night. Will have a go at changing them, I think one of the display bulbs is probably gone anyway as it's a little darker on the left side than the right.