Instrument cluster gear position indicator bulb replacement and size/tpe????

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blockerb
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Joined: Apr 28, 2011 9:58 AM

Instrument cluster gear position indicator bulb replacement and size/tpe????

Post by blockerb »

general question. I have a 1986 528e automatic. The "Park" indicator bulb in the instrument cluster has gone out. All the others work fine. Is this a removable/replaceable bulb? If so what size? I'm thinking a 12v, 1.2w mini/wedge type bulb but the specs on realoem.com don't say.
Mike W.
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Re: Instrument cluster gear position indicator bulb replacement and size/tpe????

Post by Mike W. »

IIRC and Realoem seems to back me up, it's a bar (mini PC board) with all the gear indicator lights soldered onto it. #5 in the diagram. I don't think the bulbs are available individually, at least not from BMW.

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Blue Shadow
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Re: Instrument cluster gear position indicator bulb replacement and size/tpe????

Post by Blue Shadow »

The bulbs are soldered in and are available from any gear position indicator cluster that is not in use. Generally all the bulbs except P and D will be fairly fresh and worth swapping. I've done this for someone's cluster. It is a little fiddly but not that hard if you are careful and know how to solder.

Gonna be a lot cheaper than buying a new indicator cluster.
Aldo525
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Re: Instrument cluster gear position indicator bulb replacement and size/tpe????

Post by Aldo525 »

blockerb wrote: Nov 27, 2023 10:38 AM general question. I have a 1986 528e automatic. The "Park" indicator bulb in the instrument cluster has gone out. All the others work fine. Is this a removable/replaceable bulb? If so what size? I'm thinking a 12v, 1.2w mini/wedge type bulb but the specs on realoem.com don't say.
When I bought my automatic euro 525i the entire gear indicator was not working and when I took it apart I saw that the D shift had a 12v 1.2 w mini bulb soldered on (like #15 in Mike's diagram) and it works perfectly.. ...the mini bulb costs cents
Blue Shadow
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Re: Instrument cluster gear position indicator bulb replacement and size/tpe????

Post by Blue Shadow »

Aldo525 wrote: Nov 27, 2023 1:11 PM 12v 1.2 w mini bulb soldered on (like #15 in Mike's diagram)
#15 is a 3W bulb and will not fit but a 12V1.2W might fit just fine.
Aldo525
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Re: Instrument cluster gear position indicator bulb replacement and size/tpe????

Post by Aldo525 »

Blue Shadow wrote: Nov 27, 2023 11:15 PM
Aldo525 wrote: Nov 27, 2023 1:11 PM 12v 1.2 w mini bulb soldered on (like #15 in Mike's diagram)
#15 is a 3W bulb and will not fit but a 12V1.2W might fit just fine.
You are right, my mistake....I mean the small bulbs like the ones used on "park brake", "fog lights", "ABS", etc....12V 1,2W. This kind of mini bulb is just a little more longer than the original used in the plate but fits perfectly.

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Shawn D.
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Re: Instrument cluster gear position indicator bulb replacement and size/tpe????

Post by Shawn D. »

blockerb wrote: Nov 27, 2023 10:38 AM general question.
Quite specific question. :lol:
blockerb
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Re: Instrument cluster gear position indicator bulb replacement and size/tpe????

Post by blockerb »

Shawn D. wrote: Nov 28, 2023 6:48 AM
blockerb wrote: Nov 27, 2023 10:38 AM general question.
Quite specific question. :lol:
hah. true. I guess general in the sense that was just wanting to know if it was replaceable. AS with all things on this board, things get really specific really quick. :laugh:
shallam
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Re: Instrument cluster gear position indicator bulb replacement and size/tpe????

Post by shallam »

I replaced the burned out lights in my gear indicator board by soldering in these: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B074S ... =UTF8&th=1

After 2 years and 6,000 miles, they are working fine. I replaced all of the bulbs on the board with these since I was already in there.
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