Stupid ruddy heater bulbs

[Robert T]

I have just spent the last hour battling with my heater bulbs. I first removed the (non-BMW) stereo, only to find that the cage was going to be a pain to get out, so then went in through the drivers side footwell - I thought I was doing a bit well when I immediately managed to find and remove the connector to the right-hand bulb - and indeed I was proved right shortly afterwards as the bulb refused to come out. So I then set about the Mike F technique and removed the stereo cage followed swiftly by the heater controls - at last I could see the back of it - but I still can't see for the life of me how the bulb is held in place. It will twist slightly, but shows no sign of coming out. I managed to replace the left-hand bulb with no trouble (when I finally found it on the bottom of the heater controls). If anyone has any insight on how to get the right-hand bulb out, I'd appreciate it - I've stopped for lunch before I go and do battle with it again.



Cheers R.

[Fender2004]

I'm sure when I did mine they just pulled out but they were quite stiff. I also used the Mike F method, which proved successful.

Hope this helps

[Robert T]

Thanks for that. In the end I unplugged the fan connector and poked the heater controls out of the side of the console into the footwell where I could get some leverage with the pliers and the little blighter came out with a bit of a tug. New one back in and reassembled. I have hopefully got a couple more photos that I can add to the KB thread now showing exactly where the bulbs are.

Cheers R.

[Fender2004]

Sounds a good idea about the photos, glad you were sucessfull in the end.

Gives you a nice sence of achievement when you succeed.

[Robert T]

I don't know about sense of satisfaction, but it's given me a sense of bruised knuckles and slashed wrists.

Glad to have got it done anyway.

Cheers R.

[Fender2004]

I always have cuts and bruises after doing a job on the car it's traditional

[chrisp_1]

I think this is one of those jobs where it just takes two attempts,... the first to realise it's not as easy as it appears working in such a small space, the break being spent thinking 'how the hell am I going to get that little buggar out' and the second attempt to find a way, ANYWAY to get the job done.

The satisfying part for me was noticing the missing clips, screws cap etc after previous incursions behind the trim panels and putting those right to finish the job - still got 2 x screws to do [still on order from BMW].

[c_w]

The easiest way is to undo the two screws on the driver's centre console side panel. Bend it back (it won't snap!) and you can access the rear of the heater dials.

However I notice that you have disconnected the cables on the heater dials? How is this done as I want to remove my heater dials from the console soon. Does the unit fit through the radio hole?

[Robert T]

If the bulb had come out easily, then the right-hand bulb could definitely have been changed by only going in through the drivers footwell, but there is no way I could have got in there to yank it out with the force it actually needed. You may be able to do the left-hand bulb that way, but as I couldn't even see the wires leading to it, I didn't know where to put my hand. Now I know where it is, next time, I might try it all through the footwell. TBH removing the stereo was not particularly difficult, other than the cage on mine fits by bending pieces of it outwards to lock it in place. You have a lot more room to work with the stereo out, as with a little jiggling even the BMW to ISO adaptor with come out through the cage.

I did not fully detach the heater controls, as the bowden cables look an absolute pig to remove. However with the fan switch connector removed, the controls would rotate so that the dials were facing downwards and the opposite way round to how they normally sit (i.e. direction control nearest you) and could be poked partially through into the footwell with the bowden cables still attached. This meant I could get to the bulb easily and get the pliers on it with enough force to pull it out. I seriously thought it had been superglued in, it took so much force to get it out! There is no way the controls can come out through the stereo aperture, as they are quite deep. Having said that, I didn't actually try after I removed the fan switch connector.

Cheers R.

[Trevsky]

Thanks for the suberb in depth tutorial. One of my bulbs needs replacing but reading that I don't know whether it has inspired me with confidence or put me off all together
Before I tackle the job do you know if the panel below the heater controls, on mine it houses the clock, the ASC button and four blanking plates, is easily removable? I was wondering if acceses to the left hand bulb might be gained through there??

[Robert T]

I updated the knowledgebase article with some clearer pics taken with my camera, rather than my phone.

The panels do not remove easily, and the footwell really is the easiest way in. With a good torch/lamp it should be quite easy provided yours isn't stuck like mine was.

For those going to Silverstone, it may be worth putting some tools in the car and we can have a bit of a fix it session. If you buy the bulbs now, we can have a go at fitting them.

Cheers R.

Sent from my HTC Desire using Tapatalk 2

[chrisp_1]

Thread revival,.....

Having just been in behind the heater dials for the second time in 5 months please follow the advice given by MIKE F and do yourself a favour - REPLACE BOTH BULBS AT THE SAME TIME

BTW, the same kind of bulb is used in the ashtray on the centre console, so if you find yourself needing in one in a hurry its easy to rob that one, build up the heather / stereo section to keep the car 100% driveable and replace the ashtray one later when you've visited BMW.

[Southernboy]

Best way in is from the right hand footwell as suggested...If the bulb holder isn't "frozen" and your hands aren't too big, it's quite easy...Some have used the Bent-nose pliers with good effect..I'd be a little concerned about damaging the holder / connector.
If you ever have the energy to remove the center console, best is to tape up all the wiring back there so that changing bulbs in future isn't hampered by the "spaghetti" which is the norm on older cars where the original tape has loosened and even fallen off.