Dash Bulbs

Has anybody jotted down the citroen part number for dash bulbs for Mk2's??? It's the ones for the main beam and dip beam that have blown, but I was going to do the whole lot while I was in there.

The dealer reckons two different types were fitted?

I dont want to take the dash apart twice, just to remove a bulb to then take it into the parts dept to get a match. Rather do it in a oner.

The only ones I have come across with all my XMs have been the small capless variety. The only difference being that the ones in the dot matrix display are soldered in to the holders, but I think you can replace them with standard holders and lamps. Do make sure that when you refit the holders that they have rotated far enough to make connection with the printed circuit. You will probably have difficulty getting the lamps out of the holders wthout breaking them and lacerating your fingers, a simple solution is to find a piece of plastic sleeving that will just slide over the bulbs, you will then be able to grip them and pull.

Peter.N.

Hi all,

While changing the bulbs behind the heater controls on my S1 2.0sei, I noticed that the bulbs are on whenever the ignition is on - independent of the lights. Is this normal?

Regards,
Kiwi

Hi Kiwi, Peter and All

Have never come across soldered dash bulbs in looking at/taking to bits some couple of dozen XM's both MK1 and Mk2. The bulb holders sometimes have lost their tension to make good contact with the pcb and perhaps someone decided to cure this by soldering. I have come across at least two different types of bulb holder in the dash but both take the same type/size of bulb. One has a long back end and the other a very short one. I have never worked out whether this is to position the bulb element further forward or because the back end of the long bulb holder could get caught up on wiring etc when the unit is refitted. The aircon panel on a Mk2 typically has the short holders but it seems possible to replace them with long ones. I have found a couple, new packaged, of the longer ones that were bought as combined bulb and holder. These are marked RING indicator & panel RU509T 12V 1.2W P C B.
Hope this helps.

Regards

XMexc

Hi Xmexc

I definitly found two bulbs that were soldered in, as when I tried to pull the bulb out of the holder, it only came as far as the end of the wires! I thought it was in the dot matrix display. I think that was on the Mk2 I have now as hardly any of the lamps worked when I bought it, or any other of the electrics for that matter.

Peter.N.

Hi Peter, Wirdy and All

The only soldered wire ended bulbs I can remember coming across are the 'pea' or 'grain of wheat' bulbs in the switches.
I see I omitted to include in my first reply Wirdy who actually started this off and wanted the information, sorry Wirdy do not know the Cit part No. as it never would have crossed my mind to ask a Cit dealer for bulbs. I find they have enough difficulty with the unique XM parts.

Regards

XMexc

These were the same bulbs as all the others, just that the leads were soldered. I think the bulbs are fairly standard. I think I got mine from CPC but most electronic factors would stock them and probably GFS.

Peter.N.

Hi all,

I have come across both types before. The term, soldered, however can only be used loosely. The tangs which protrude out of the glass part of the bulb (lamp) are extensions of the material which supports the filament. I'm not sure of the material but it definately can't be 'soldered'. More often than not they are usually crimped forming a mechanical joint or some kind of spot welding. The other type has thicker tangs one of which is bent up either side of the bulb. They slide into the holder and spring pressure keeps the tangs in contact with the metal part of the holder. The metal part at the base of the bulb holder is different for each option. I'm not sure they are interchangeable. I recall trying to get some replacement lamps with thin flying leads into the holders that were meant for the push in type. It wasn't very successful.

Hope that hasn't confused even more.

Cheers

noz

I have just looked on the CPC website and there are three types listed which all look the part but they are complete with the holders at about 70p each.
The numbers are :

CP03151
CP03087
CP03150

Have a look on the site.

Peter.N.

Hi Noz

Just read your reply. Yes, I think you are right, they are crimped, its just that everything with wires fixed on, I assume to be soldered, old habits die hard. I think the wires are steel, which wouldn't make them very easy to solder.

Peter.N.

Thanks y'all.

I've got a CPC trade account so I'll get a handful from there...........using man-logic, I've now got to find £30 worth of other goodies that I really, really need to qualify for the free postage!!

/ Edit - just looked in my CPC catalogue - CP03087 look just the job at 70p each (for qty >5). 3150 and 3151 are 24v Peter

This post has been edited by wirdy on December 27, 2006 06:59 pm

Hi Wirdy and All

Have found a supply of led bulbs that should fit the XM dash. Have ordered 10 to try. Will let you know how I get on.

Regards

XMexc

That sounds interesting. Really fit & forget after that.

Are they White LED's with built-in resistor for 12v use?

How much are the LEDS xmex? is this item over / under / priced_
Link

This post has been edited by wirdy on January 02, 2007 10:26 pm

Hi Wirdy

Yes, white and 12v with the built in twist base or so the advert says. I guess that they will be polarised unlike the normal filament bulbs. This could be a problem for some of the warning lights if Citroen did not worry about polarity when they designed the dash pcb. Still I can try them in the backlights for the aircon which is dead easy to remove. Around £1.40 each. Will report when they arrive, should be later this week.

Regards

XMexc

Mmm. Hadn't considered the polarity issue, but should be easy to just turn them around if they don't light up in the first orientation.

It was going to be 71p plus vat each for filament bulbs anyway, so I've just bought six LED ones for £6.24 from the ebay man to try.