Rear Passenger Lights

[kiwi]

Hi all,

Am currently on a bulb changing spree. I have been trying very carefully to remove the interior lights above the rear doors but without any success. Is there a secret or a trick to this?

Regards,
Kiwi

[xmexclusive]

Hi Kiwi

Pretty sure that you cannot take the lamp to bits without removing the whole handle assembly. Have some somewhere that I removed a few months ago so if you need to be certain I will look one out and check. Not likely to go to the unit again before Christmas, sorry.
If you want to remove the whole assembly then open out the handle and you will see a plastic cover at each end near the pivot points. Flip the covers open with a knife point and you will see the screw at each end that holds the assembly in place. As I recall the bulb is screwed into the back of the lamp holder.

Regards

XMexc

[kiwi]

Hi Xmexc,

Thanks for the info - it was a piece of cake on the dead V6 I practiced on. The 2.0 has a sunroof and is slightly different. Whereas the handle and liight assembly on the V6 mounts straight onto the headlining, in the 2.0 the handle and light assembly sits in a moulding which is recessed into the headlining. The actual handle is the same but after removing the screws and handlle I just can't get the moulding and light assembly to come out. It looks like the edge of the moulding sits under the edge of the trim above the door.

I'm reluctant to try and force it in case I damage the trim or headlining.

Any thoughts?

Regards,
Kiwi

[xmexclusive]

Hi Kiwi

As I was scrapping the car I will have removed the door surround trim first. As I recall the handle/light assembly/backing then just dropped out when unscrewed. Have just had a look inside the V6 and see your problem. I think the plastic trim piece despite its number of legs can be released enough by taking out one screw in the end over the rear window. The trim piece over the rear window just clips in place. Once removed you can see the screw for the side trim. I can remember that the front end of the side trim slots into the door column trim but do not think you will need to release that end to get the light out. If this still does not allow you to get at the light email me and I will find a removed trim piece and check how the other two ends are fixed.

Regards

XMexc

[kiwi]

Cheers, thanks XMexc,

Will tackle over the next few days.

Regards,
kiwi

[noz]

Hi kiwi,

Hopefully this 'How to..' file will explain all.

Merry Christmas

noz

[kiwi]

Hi Noz,

Thanks for the info. The problem I have though is that the car has a sunroof and a slighlty lower headlining than my other XM sans sunroof. The handle and light assembly sits in a plastic recess in the headlining. I've removed the screws but can't get the handle and lamp assembly out of the headlining. It seems to be anchored under the plastic trim. I'm being ultra cautious because the interior is immaculate and I don't want to damage anything.

Thoughts?

Out of interest, my dash lights are on whenever the ignition is on, is this normal?

Regards,
Kiwi

This post has been edited by kiwi on December 28, 2006 11:10 am

[noz]

Hi Kiwi,

Could you photograph the offending item and post it here?

Depends on what you mean by dash lights. On mine the row of warning lights (Low water, Overheat, Charging, Fluid Level etc etc) come on with the igntion. As does the ABS light and the oil level illumination. The lights which illuminate the tacho and the speedo do not come on with the ignition however.

Cheers

noz

[kiwi]

Hi Noz,

It is the panel illumination that comes on with the ignition. The warning lights are all fine but the dash illumination is always on when the ignition is on.

Regards,
Kiwi