HVAC control lighting

[jrwilliams]

Most of the bulbs that light up the center area of the dash around the heating and cooling control knobs are out. I am wondering before I just start undoing things, how does one get access to them?

Also, would love to know what kind of bulbs to purchase in advance of the project so I can get it back together quickly.

As always, thanks in advance.

John
1979 528i

[Lenny D.]

Smaller hands are helpful...

I get to them from the A/C register in the dash center. I have an '80 and unscrew/lift out the entire vent system. There is a lot going on up there, but the center lighting is only two miniature bulbs (just like the gauge cluster) I forget the number but readily available at auto. big boxes. And they just 'live' in sockets that sort of 'stay' in holes left and right of the clock, nearer the top of the dash. Hard to describe, but you'll know it when you get to them. Most of the time they work loose and don't really illuminate anything, folks just don't know why and put up with darkness.
Wish I could be of more help.

[Blaise]

<table><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/p ... site"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Seuz ... _00234.jpg" height="299" width="400"></a></td></tr><tr><td>From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/1030509870 ... bsite">E12 dash bulbs</a></td></tr></table>

<table><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/S ... site"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-LdoG ... _00233.jpg" height="299" width="400"></a></td></tr><tr><td>From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/1030509870 ... bsite">E12 dash bulbs</a></td></tr></table>

[Luis A.]

FWIW, you can find those bulbs at your FLAPS. They are rated at 14V instead of 12V so the wattage is listed as 1.4 W instead of 1.2 W.