DIY: Glove box light

clex2 · 05-21-2006, 09:02 PM

Several threads talked about the lack of a glove box light. So far, none of the solutions offered have been worth considering, so I tried to tackle this problem myself. I do a lot of work on my BMW's, and I had some spare parts lying around which happen to be perfect for this project.

The first two pictures are the parts with part #'s. They can be had at any BMW dealership or BMW parts vendor. Just supply them with the part numbers. The parts are relatively cheap, even though they are BMW. I think $20 would cover it, maybe less. A regular incadescent bulb will be supplied with the BMW lamp, but I used a LED replacement to match the rest of the LED bulbs in my Element.

After getting the parts, find out a suitable supply of power. I used a add-a-circuit to the #18 fuse box location with ground being the common ground on the way right of the glove box (bolt).

Undo the two glove box stops on the sides (snap out)

Remove the passenger side dash board garnish right above the glove box. There are 2 fillister head screws to the sides of the metal U latch that you need to access from up and behind the glove box. Then push from below/pull from the top straight up and it will come loose. Two more screws way to the sides hld the metal rail with the metal U latch. U need to take this off also.

Measure the openeing of the BMW light (roughly 6.9 cm x 2.9 cm) and cut a hole in the location shown. You can drill a bunch of small holes and use an exacto knife to cut the plastic. ***DO NOT make the notch that you see in the picture. That was my mistake, but fortunately, the metal rail was cut properly and the light snaps into place***

The metal rail with the U latch needs to be cut. Put it back into position and hold it there and using the hole you just cut in the plastic, take a marker and mark what needs to be cut. A dremel cutting wheel makes this easy. Paint the bare edges with black paint to prevent rust.

Now do the same for the glove box light switch. The switch itself needs to be modified by cutting off the plastic around the pins. The pins need to be bent upwards slightly. These modifications are done to clear the metal bar just behind the switch location.

Reassemble everything, making sure that the light and switch fit snugly.

Wire it up, making sure to cover the female switch pins with shrink tubing or I guess a generous helping of electrical tape. They just can't make metal to metal contact with each other or worse, the metal frame sitting just behind (see short circuit, blown fuse).

clex2 · 05-21-2006, 09:04 PM

More pics:

lwclancers · 05-21-2006, 09:07 PM

Nice work!

Same kind of ingenuity I did for my passanger dash lights :D

ramblerdan · 05-22-2006, 10:36 AM

Looks good. That plunger switch is just the ticket.

outpost4 · 05-22-2006, 11:01 AM

Nice work and an even nicer write-up. Thanks.

Now all I've got to do is find a BMW dealership. There is one in Rochester, Minnesota, which is about 70 miles from me. I go there occasionally for business.

lwclancers · 05-22-2006, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by outpost4

Nice work and an even nicer write-up. Thanks.

Now all I've got to do is find a BMW dealership. There is one in Rochester, Minnesota, which is about 70 miles from me. I go there occasionally for business.

or you could just use the internet :D

outpost4 · 05-22-2006, 02:25 PM

.....D'oh!

aquilles10 · 05-22-2006, 04:23 PM

Nice install! That is ingenious. I love the Element, but I wish that Honda didn't skimp on certain things, like power door lock switch for the passenger, and this a glove box light.

A good place for Bimmer parts online is : http://www.pacificbmw.com

Back when I had my 3-series, I would always find that Pacific BMW had the best prices for Bimmer parts. They ship to anywhere in the U.S. and a big part of their parts department business is internet/mail orders.

clex2 · 05-22-2006, 05:04 PM

I buy quite a bit of BMW parts, and although Pacific has some of the best prices, their customer service is really poor. You can never get ahold of anyone in the parts dept and good luck getting them to answer your emails. For those reasons alone, I don't do business with them.

tessa · 05-22-2006, 05:55 PM

This is a fabulous install and write-up. Thanks for taking the time to share it.
My glove box light required about 30 seconds to install. :cool:
http://www.sylvania.com/ConsumerProd...s/Dotitlights/
Works great and the red matches my TRP. I know tango has the matchng one for her Tangerine, also.

Tess

05-21-2006, 09:04 PM	#2
clex2 EOC Rank: Helium 2004 4WD EXS MT Satin Silver Metallic (SSM) Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Walnut Creek, CA Posts: 187	More pics: Attached Images __________________ '04 SSM EX-S 5-spdfogsside stepsair deflectorbumper trimsplash guardswheel lockslocking gas capcd changerPilot leather steering wheel w/radio controlsrubber matscargo tray & coverclear side markersInterior LEDsSiriuslLower grill guard,9" Panasonic DVD w/ 6" front pass. monitorpass. power door lock switchStorage ArmrestAlarmGPSGlove box lightAuto-Dim/Temp/UV/Compass mirrorRed Valve CoverMeter/Center/Switch Panel TrimRoof RackMade in USA EmblemFlip Key'09 FIT knob*SG II

05-21-2006, 09:07 PM	#3
lwclancers Chief Has Been Element Owner 2010 4WD EX 5AT Citrus Fire Metallic (CFM) Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Winchester, VA Posts: 4,822	Nice work! Same kind of ingenuity I did for my passanger dash lights :D __________________ 2010 CFMEX4WDAuto 2004 NBPEX4WDAuto - RIP 8/13/05 2005 Accord Hybrid w/ Nav - Desert Sand Metallic

05-22-2006, 10:36 AM	#4
ramblerdan Moderator 2004 4WD EXS MT Fiji Blue Pearl (FBP) Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Saratoga, N.Y. Posts: 8,121	Looks good. That plunger switch is just the ticket. __________________ EOC essentials Posting and You Rambler Dan's Element site Last edited by ramblerdan; 05-22-2006 at 03:16 PM.

05-22-2006, 11:01 AM	#5
outpost4 EOC Rank: Iron 2004 4WD EXS AT Sunset Orange Pearl (SOP) Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: La Crosse, WI Posts: 3,118	Nice work and an even nicer write-up. Thanks. Now all I've got to do is find a BMW dealership. There is one in Rochester, Minnesota, which is about 70 miles from me. I go there occasionally for business. __________________ the car stereo install in my Element: thread and pictures my other ride: This one I have actually riden, often, and have enjoyed seeing it roar by my house. :) Friends of the 261

05-22-2006, 02:25 PM	#7
outpost4 EOC Rank: Iron 2004 4WD EXS AT Sunset Orange Pearl (SOP) Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: La Crosse, WI Posts: 3,118	.....D'oh! __________________ the car stereo install in my Element: thread and pictures my other ride: This one I have actually riden, often, and have enjoyed seeing it roar by my house. :) Friends of the 261

05-21-2006, 09:02 PM	#1
clex2 EOC Rank: Helium 2004 4WD EXS MT Satin Silver Metallic (SSM) Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Walnut Creek, CA Posts: 187	DIY: Glove box light Several threads talked about the lack of a glove box light. So far, none of the solutions offered have been worth considering, so I tried to tackle this problem myself. I do a lot of work on my BMW's, and I had some spare parts lying around which happen to be perfect for this project. The first two pictures are the parts with part #'s. They can be had at any BMW dealership or BMW parts vendor. Just supply them with the part numbers. The parts are relatively cheap, even though they are BMW. I think $20 would cover it, maybe less. A regular incadescent bulb will be supplied with the BMW lamp, but I used a LED replacement to match the rest of the LED bulbs in my Element. After getting the parts, find out a suitable supply of power. I used a add-a-circuit to the #18 fuse box location with ground being the common ground on the way right of the glove box (bolt). Undo the two glove box stops on the sides (snap out) Remove the passenger side dash board garnish right above the glove box. There are 2 fillister head screws to the sides of the metal U latch that you need to access from up and behind the glove box. Then push from below/pull from the top straight up and it will come loose. Two more screws way to the sides hld the metal rail with the metal U latch. U need to take this off also. Measure the openeing of the BMW light (roughly 6.9 cm x 2.9 cm) and cut a hole in the location shown. You can drill a bunch of small holes and use an exacto knife to cut the plastic. *DO NOT make the notch that you see in the picture. That was my mistake, but fortunately, the metal rail was cut properly and the light snaps into place* The metal rail with the U latch needs to be cut. Put it back into position and hold it there and using the hole you just cut in the plastic, take a marker and mark what needs to be cut. A dremel cutting wheel makes this easy. Paint the bare edges with black paint to prevent rust. Now do the same for the glove box light switch. The switch itself needs to be modified by cutting off the plastic around the pins. The pins need to be bent upwards slightly. These modifications are done to clear the metal bar just behind the switch location. Reassemble everything, making sure that the light and switch fit snugly. Wire it up, making sure to cover the female switch pins with shrink tubing or I guess a generous helping of electrical tape. They just can't make metal to metal contact with each other or worse, the metal frame sitting just behind (see short circuit, blown fuse). Attached Images __________________ '04 SSM EX-S 5-spdfogsside stepsair deflectorbumper trimsplash guardswheel lockslocking gas capcd changerPilot leather steering wheel w/radio controlsrubber matscargo tray & coverclear side markersInterior LEDsSiriuslLower grill guard,9" Panasonic DVD w/ 6" front pass. monitorpass. power door lock switchStorage ArmrestAlarmGPSGlove box lightAuto-Dim/Temp/UV/Compass mirrorRed Valve CoverMeter/Center/Switch Panel TrimRoof RackMade in USA EmblemFlip Key'09 FIT knobSG II Last edited by clex2; 05-21-2006 at 11:22 PM.*

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05-22-2006, 04:23 PM	#8
aquilles10 EOC Rank: Oxygen 2006 2WD EX-P AT Tango Red Pearl (TRP) Join Date: May 2005 Location: hell-lay Posts: 439	Nice install! That is ingenious. I love the Element, but I wish that Honda didn't skimp on certain things, like power door lock switch for the passenger, and this a glove box light. A good place for Bimmer parts online is : http://www.pacificbmw.com Back when I had my 3-series, I would always find that Pacific BMW had the best prices for Bimmer parts. They ship to anywhere in the U.S. and a big part of their parts department business is internet/mail orders. __________________ -- '06 Tango Red Pearl EX-P: Honda Pilot Leather Steering Wheel, SC Leather Shifter, Polk db650 front & rear, Grille Guy lower grill, Bracketron iPhone mount, Superbright LED's all around Last edited by aquilles10; 05-22-2006 at 04:46 PM.

05-22-2006, 05:04 PM	#9
clex2 EOC Rank: Helium 2004 4WD EXS MT Satin Silver Metallic (SSM) Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Walnut Creek, CA Posts: 187	I buy quite a bit of BMW parts, and although Pacific has some of the best prices, their customer service is really poor. You can never get ahold of anyone in the parts dept and good luck getting them to answer your emails. For those reasons alone, I don't do business with them. __________________ '04 SSM EX-S 5-spdfogsside stepsair deflectorbumper trimsplash guardswheel lockslocking gas capcd changerPilot leather steering wheel w/radio controlsrubber matscargo tray & coverclear side markersInterior LEDsSiriuslLower grill guard,9" Panasonic DVD w/ 6" front pass. monitorpass. power door lock switchStorage ArmrestAlarmGPSGlove box lightAuto-Dim/Temp/UV/Compass mirrorRed Valve CoverMeter/Center/Switch Panel TrimRoof RackMade in USA EmblemFlip Key'09 FIT knob*SG II

05-22-2006, 05:55 PM	#10
tessa EOC Rank: Oxygen 2006 2WD EX-P MT Tango Red Pearl (TRP) Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: San Diego coastal Posts: 340	This is a fabulous install and write-up. Thanks for taking the time to share it. My glove box light required about 30 seconds to install. :cool: http://www.sylvania.com/ConsumerProd...s/Dotitlights/ Works great and the red matches my TRP. I know tango has the matchng one for her Tangerine, also. Tess

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