Are all trip computers backlit?

[Jay 535i]

My buttons don't light up. Should they? If so, how do I fix it?

[gale]

There should be 3 bulbs depending on vintage. Here's a link for replacing them. Make sure you get the right bulbs, the ETK is in error & calls for older e28 6V bulbs which will burn out in an E32/e34:

http://www.nmia.com/~dgnrg/page_36.htm

[dacoyote]

Gale Beat me to it...

[dacoyote]

There should be 3 bulbs depending on vintage. Here's a link for replacing them. Make sure you get the right bulbs, the ETK is in error & calls for older e28 6V bulbs which will burn out in an E32/e34:

http://www.nmia.com/~dgnrg/page_36.htm

Darn... 3 minutes...

[romus]

yes buttons are backlit. There are 3 small bulbs. Two on each side and one on top of the OBC unit if im not mistaken. You have to take the radio out first, leave it hanging by the wires temporarily. In the corner of the radio opening you have a little lever. Pull/push on that to release the OBC from the centre console. Replace the bulbs and you'll have backlight :)

[romus]

oops, i had this page open for some time now (im at work) and didnt refresh to see if anyone replied already. sorry

[uscharalph]

My buttons don't light up. Should they? If so, how do I fix it?
Make sure you get the right bulbs. There's a problem with the part numbers. The wrong bulbs come with the green bases. The correct ones have black bases.

[Jay 535i]

Make sure you get the right bulbs. There's a problem with the part numbers. The wrong bulbs come with the green bases. The correct ones have black bases.

Where do I get them? Dealer?

Is it unusual for all three bulbs to go out? Mine've never worked.

Thanks a lot everyone.

[shogun]

Is the OBC working at all on your car?
If not, is the anti theft alarm working?
If not maybe the fuse is gone.
Use a flashlight and hold it from an angle to the OBC. If you see the indication on the OBC, then it works. If you see nothing, check the fuse. There is a special fuse under the rear seat. I once showed a pic of that.

[Jay 535i]

Is the OBC working at all on your car?
If not, is the anti theft alarm working?
If not maybe the fuse is gone.
Use a flashlight and hold it from an angle to the OBC. If you see the indication on the OBC, then it works. If you see nothing, check the fuse. There is a special fuse under the rear seat. I once showed a pic of that.

The OBC works fine. It's just that the button labels don't light up.

[romus]

i dont know if its unusual but once i came back to my car after shopping and display was out when turning the car on. Buttons were lit for another couple days that then that went out too. Changed them, and no probs since.

[romus]

yeh that's your bulbs...then you dont have to get 3 either. Only two i think, but double check that, not sure if 1 or 2 go to light the display area, but i think it's one. Then you should need 2 for the buttons.

[uscharalph]

yeh that's your bulbs...then you dont have to get 3 either. Only two i think, but double check that, not sure if 1 or 2 go to light the display area, but i think it's one. Then you should need 2 for the buttons.
Why not just replace all three now and you know they're all good for a good while.

[Bimminator]

My buttons don't light up. Should they? If so, how do I fix it?
Does the liquid quartz display light up? I replaced mine a year ago, had to get the bulbs from the stealer, $3 each I think. I couldn't get the whole OBC unit to come out. The push pull lever would only pop the unit out about 1.5 inches, I was able to pop the front face of the unit off the OBC and get at the bulbs that way. Nothing broke and it all clicked back together. Just thought I would pass that along incase your unit would not come all the way out.

Good luck, not a big job.

Shawn

[romus]

hehe thats what i did, but not necessarily what he has to do :)

btw, here they are $6 a piece.

[Jay 535i]

Does the liquid quartz display light up? I replaced mine a year ago, had to get the bulbs from the stealer, $3 each I think. I couldn't get the whole OBC unit to come out. The push pull lever would only pop the unit out about 1.5 inches, I was able to pop the front face of the unit off the OBC and get at the bulbs that way. Nothing broke and it all clicked back together. Just thought I would pass that along incase your unit would not come all the way out.

Good luck, not a big job.

Shawn

Thanks for the tip.

Yup, the LCD works, which is why I managed to go all this time without realizing there was something wrong with it. 'Course, 12 identical, illegible buttons at night does make operating the thing interesting.