Rear Window Switches

[shogun]

Did you switch on the light?
Not sure, but I assume you have to switch on the light so that also the switches are on? Never checked that.
The bulbs are rather small. You have to cut the legs.

[Bill R.]

sept 88 production 535, i've taken many apart and resoldered new bulbs in them, the originals are incandescent and burn out. I've replaced them with the original style and i've replaced them with led's. I've taken apart at least 15 of them and they all had lights. Here's the original 9/88 ones

Here's what the bulbs look like that you have to solder the leads on.

Here's one with the led bulb and a resistor, i found out later that you can get led's with the resistor built in , much easier and more compact.

This stuff all seems so ancient to me since we've gone over it many times in the years past....

Can we get a definitive answer on this one please. Not that I don't believe you Shogun/Dragon it's just that we've already discovered that BMW lit and unlit things at will (slush box gear selector status on console for one). I've been on the OEM site and couldn't see a light in the exploded diagram for the rear window switches (for my car 89/525i). This is despite the script on the switches being opague as with the fronts. Has anyone with an early 525i had the switch apart?

[Bill R.]

a amber grain of wheat bulb when using an incandescent. I got them from a toy train hobby shop.

Did you switch on the light?
Not sure, but I assume you have to switch on the light so that also the switches are on? Never checked that.
The bulbs are rather small. You have to cut the legs.

[wingman]

well take the switch apart and have a look - BMW dont do replacement bulbs because the switches arent user servicable, ie you cant just plug a bulb in, they are fixed in some way and require skill to change

I don't attack my car and pull it apart just in case. They never seem to go back together the same again. This is why I asked before I did something that I shouldn't have. Cheers for the photos and advice guys.

[wingman]

So there's the answer! I've just taken my switches out. There must be an easy way but I had a nightmare with them. I will try to get some incandescant bulbs from an electronics store or as Bill R did at a hobby store. I'll see how I go. By the way. They are lit...