Greg111 13 Report post Posted January 26, 2010 (edited) Been meaning to pull the cluster out of the e34 for a while now, fitted a stereo a while ago and noticed that night the three main cluster bulbs had blown. (Don't no why, had the battery disconnected). Anyway have pulled it out and apart and thought I'd take some photos of the inner workings, bit more technical than you think huh. Edited January 26, 2010 by Greg. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Simon* Report post Posted January 26, 2010 That reminds me I have one cluster and a couple of OBC bulbs to change too. Got some in a box ... somewhere .... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Greg111 13 Report post Posted January 26, 2010 Ha my OBC ones are really really faint. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Simon* Report post Posted January 26, 2010 Yeah mine are invisible by day and very faint at night They're fiddly to swap but not really difficult from what I remember. Think I need a clever tool to slide into each side of factory headunit to release it though Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Driftit 2078 Report post Posted January 26, 2010 Make sure you name the photos correctly. Like E34 Dash Cluster or something. Photos like that are so hard to find in a quick google. Was looking for some the other day for the E39. I did read a thread on how to convert your standard bulbs to LED's a little while back. And they still worked on the dimmer switch which was awesome. It was for an E30 though. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Simon* Report post Posted January 26, 2010 That might be handy. Dig the link bro! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
antil33t 90 Report post Posted January 26, 2010 The only issue with LED'ing the dash clusters is the LED's have a much skinnier light beam than that of a regular bulb. a regular bulb throws light everywhere, when an LED may only throw a 30 degree arc out directly infront of it. HOWEVER - LED's are getting better and better all the time Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Greg111 13 Report post Posted January 26, 2010 Just reattached photos, my photobucket broke Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Greg111 13 Report post Posted January 27, 2010 Oh and it's never a good sign when you notice the Check Engine light bulb is absent. However i believe it may be down to the AFM running at factory specs due to being unplugged because it was faulty. I've since fitted a new one so will put a new bulb back in and see what happens. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JFry 1 Report post Posted January 27, 2010 Might have come without one, mine doesn't have one (bulb is missing, but still has the place for it, if that makes sense?). From the little I know it mostly monitors emissions and such, and generally an american thing? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
_ethrty-Andy_ 2132 Report post Posted January 27, 2010 I did read a thread on how to convert your standard bulbs to LED's a little while back. And they still worked on the dimmer switch which was awesome. It was for an E30 though. LEDs are usually on or off, they dim over the course of a few 10ths of a volt so thats interesting! i wonder how they did it The only issue with LED'ing the dash clusters is the LED's have a much skinnier light beam than that of a regular bulb. a regular bulb throws light everywhere, when an LED may only throw a 30 degree arc out directly infront of it. HOWEVER - LED's are getting better and better all the time ^^ truth Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Greg111 13 Report post Posted January 27, 2010 Might have come without one, mine doesn't have one (bulb is missing, but still has the place for it, if that makes sense?). From the little I know it mostly monitors emissions and such, and generally an american thing?Doubt that, haven't heard of a vehicle that doesn't have a check light of some kind. There are signs of the cluster being removed previously so whether the this person decided they didn't want to see the light anymore i don't know, will find out tomorrow. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JFry 1 Report post Posted January 27, 2010 Doubt that, haven't heard of a vehicle that doesn't have a check light of some kind. There are signs of the cluster being removed previously so whether the this person decided they didn't want to see the light anymore i don't know, will find out tomorrow. Yeah, could be me dreaming. Mine had been pulled out too, brake pad bulb was missing, might have been taken out at the same time. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Greg111 13 Report post Posted January 27, 2010 Out of sight out of mind huh. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Greg111 13 Report post Posted January 28, 2010 Ok, turns out the reason the bulbs weren't going was because the stereo was earthed????? Disconnected the earth and the cluster lights came on. Stereo still worked too The only thing i can think of is the original amp is earthing both components? Oh and got a couple of warning bulbs from JG. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites