Z3 HVAC bulb replacement

The following pics show where I'm at.
Will order the back plate for clearer pics. Have the front piece to show how it comes apart.
The bulbs are part of the bulb socket. More to come.

I just replaced both those in the black car last month.

Able to access them through the radio opening (less trouble than removing the console, but still a pain).

The left side of my heat/ac control panel light is out. I pulled the radio and using a mirror found one bulb E 106 (its sort of in the middle) I think I see E105 way down under the flap control but how do I get e105 out? I guess they twist out but I can barely touch the bottom one. No one said working inside consoles was easy but this has me stopped. HELP

Originally posted by bob lindquist
The left side of my heat/ac control panel light is out. I pulled the radio and using a mirror found one bulb E 106 (its sort of in the middle) I think I see E105 way down under the flap control but how do I get e105 out? I guess they twist out but I can barely touch the bottom one. No one said working inside consoles was easy but this has me stopped. HELP

On the lower left and right side of the radio opening there are screws that hold the HVAC unit in place. Once you have the screws out, there are two tabs at the top of the HVAC assembly. Pull up on these and it releases the HVAC unit. This might help.

Originally posted by bob lindquist
The left side of my heat/ac control panel light is out. I pulled the radio and using a mirror found one bulb E 106 (its sort of in the middle) I think I see E105 way down under the flap control but how do I get e105 out? I guess they twist out but I can barely touch the bottom one. No one said working inside consoles was easy but this has me stopped. HELP

What is it with that left bulb?
Same one went out in my 99!

You're halfway there...
Pull the knobs off the HVAC control and then push on all three (3) stems evenly to "pop" the control loose from the console.
Keep one hand behind the control to catch it when the clips disengage from the console.
Now you can get the whole control up to the radio opening to remove that stubborn bulb/holder.
When I put mine back together, the hardest part (but not insurmountable) was getting all the HVAC control mounting tabs lined up; TIP- start with the tabs at the bottom first and insert them all evenly. Make sure the bulbs (you are changing them both, right?) illuminate before putting the knobs back on.

Let me know if I can be of more help...

Thanks, I guess I should stop training this mouse to use its paws. I haven't made much progress. It just keeps finding cheeze doodle crumbs under the seat from my trip to homecomming.

Received the backplate today. Comes with lamps and the blower switch.
Lamps are sure tight in place. Had to use long nose to get them out. Not sure how you would do this with it in the dash.

I'm quick at this one now. Thanks Ron and Randy.

Loosen two radio screws, pull out radio, pop off radio connector, off with antenna, out comes radio, flip two clips on heat/ac panel (I don't have any screws), flip panel, grab bulbs with needle nose (they are tight) in goes new bulbs, done!

My 99 didn't have screws either.
Not sure about the 01, but I'll let you know in a couple of years...

Just invent a different shaped arm coming off the heater control that would somehow, miraculously result in an even transition from cold to hot!

Originally posted by Adam12Hicks
Just invent a different shaped arm coming off the heater control that would somehow, miraculously result in an even transition from cold to hot!

Not going to happen. Connect to:
http://bimmerfest.com/forums/showthr...threadid=17020

Someone had fun designing that nautilus shape track.

this is one of the most helpful threads i have read. great job!

My left bulb is out too?

I think it's gonna stay out a while longer too... interior stuff just puts me up the wall. I'd drop the bulb in there and it would, oh, I can't even think about it...

Originally Posted by count_schemula

I'd drop the bulb in there and it would, oh, I can't even think about it...

i did that...fun digging it out . at least i didn't have to pull the console again.

definitely change both bulbs while you're in there....

Great reference for HVAC bulb replacement.

Yeah - this a great reference thread - those pic's of the back of the HVAC are invaluable when you go to change the bulbs for the first time - which I did a couple of weeks back (had been doing some console work and had it completely out, got it all back together (sans stereo) to find the back bulb had now gone out, so using this thread I was able to pull the back bulb by feel through the stereo aperture and replace it - although it was very hard to get enough leverage on to it).

Thanks Ron.

So, I had this thread printed out as I went out to the Roady this evening to check the bulbs. The ones on the passenger side are giving me issues: fan control light out (seemingly permanently) and oil temp light comes on with a frim "jiggle" from the heal of my palm a couple of times. Everything was going great until I tried to disconnect the head unit connector. I pulled the little guard thingy up, but it didn't want to come all the way up, judging by the channels on the side. Couldn't easily detach the cable connections with it like that, either. What am I doing wrong? With the head unit hanging out of the opening buy the taught loom, I was unable to do much at all, other than verify the fan control light was in fact connected, but the bulb seemingly burned out.

Other than that issue, this thread has been invaluable, prompting me to attempt something I normally wouldn't want to, for fear of screwing up something minor that costs money to repair.

Originally Posted by RSPDiver

So, I had this thread printed out as I went out to the Roady this evening to check the bulbs. The ones on the passenger side are giving me issues: fan control light out (seemingly permanently) and oil temp light comes on with a frim "jiggle" from the heal of my palm a couple of times. Everything was going great until I tried to disconnect the head unit connector. I pulled the little guard thingy up, but it didn't want to come all the way up, judging by the channels on the side. Couldn't easily detach the cable connections with it like that, either. What am I doing wrong?

You're probably not doing anything wrong. It sounds like you see the nubs in the guide channels, and see that they're not to the end of the channels. i.e. you've figured it out, it just needs to go further. If it's the first time, it's snug and takes some effort. It'll seem easier an ingenious the next time you muck with it.

My head units have been in/out so many times that I've forgotten if there was any trick to relieving pressure the first few times. Maybe someone that's only done it once or twice can offer up a trick. Mine comes off pretty easily these days.

here maybe this will help get a idea how it works
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/att...chmentid=46024


as the latch is raised it kinda pulls itself away from the radio, then it should just come straight off the back, as you put it back on as you slide the latch back down it pulls the connector back tight against the radio

Yeah, that makes sense. I was pulling on it up to my comfort level of fitting integrity (didn't want to break a potentially non-replacable part) but perhaps I should finesse it some more. It did seem that pulling it more would do just that, since the channels are angled to facilitate an automated connector removal, as you guys indicate.

Oh, and thanks for the feedback!

No prob. see here http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...adio+connector

read post number 2 but not number 3

Ah, good info. Sorry Max, I can't count well and read right through to post #3!

Originally Posted by Ron Stygar

Not going to happen. Connect to:
http://bimmerfest.com/forums/showthr...threadid=17020

From the pictures in this thread and the diagrams in the Ron Stygar quote, I cannot figure out how my temperature control knob is acting like an on/off switch. With the AC running, just a slight twist of the temp knob makes hot air come out.

moving the temp. control opens the blend door to allow heat from the heater core into the ducting, hot air will always over take cold air