**This advise is given purely as that! I'm not a mechanic and if you do deceide to follow these steps, you do so at your own risk.***

If like me you love the fine details of the E30 this simple and relatively easy modification is for you.
9 out of 10 E30 owners will find the tiny bulb in their key has either disintergrated or burnt out. I deceided this afternoon to remedy this and I am now typing the process up 4 hours later!

Firstly you will need to take a trip to Maplins and fork out an outrageously small amount of money, £2.11 for the led and the new lithium battery.

Lithium CR1620 16mm 3V battery - £1.99 (Maplin part number GU11)

5mm Red HB LED (Red) - £0.12



The Lithium battery will last for years, don’t be put off by the fact it is different from your original battery as you will find it’s a lot thinner! (technology hey!)

I went for a High intensity led, which will last for 100000 hours. Basically you will never have to change the led again unlike conventional incandescent bulbs.


Tools Required:

Stanley knife
Flathead Screw Driver
Wire cutters
Dyson




Lets get the job started.

Firstly give your keys a quick hoover with your bloved one so they are nice and clean and ready for a rework.



Then slide the light module out of the key sideways (you may need the screw driver to help it out a little but be careful).
Again using the screw driver gently depress the 2 mounting tabs on either side of the module to release the 2 separate parts into 2 halves.

Inside you will find a copper metal contact plate, silver spring, a thick battery and an incandescent bulb. Chuck the bulb, recycle the battery and remove the copper and spring pieces.





Then use your Stanley knife to make the bulb hole a wee bit larger. Spend a bit of time on this to make sure the larger new bulb will fit in snug but don’t go over the top and make it too large as the bulb will slip out. The LED flange should be positioned just inside the housing lip so at regular intervals test fit the bulb as you are cutting away at the hole.



The LED will have one pole longer (anode) and the other a fraction shorter (cathode). Using the battery attach the anode to the (+) side and the cathode to thhe (-) side o check polarity and component functions.

Cut the shorter leg (cathode) so it cannot come in contact with the copper plate. Place the spring into the housing folder by the copper plate and then the led. You will find you may need to trim off the back of the anode leg so that it fits in the key. If required slightly bend cathode upwards carefully to make sure the spring rests on top of the cathode.



At this point take a break with you nearest and dearest and enjoy a cuppa and a benson, your nearly there and your coming up to the really tricky bit! Kick back for a bit and watch corrie or something.



Anywho, the anode leg sits on top of the copper plate. Check to make sure the cathode is still in contact with the spring and that there is no contact between the spring and the copper plate.



Place new lithium battery (+) side up on the spring and centre it with the roundel from the upper plastic piece. The roundel (push button) has a tab on the side of it to help locate its fixing position into the upper piece of plastic of the key.
Gently squeeze the 2 pieces together (this will take several attempts, I counted 20 goes and gave up counting) while making sure the battery doesn’t move. If you don’t get this right, it just won’t work.

Then simply slide the battery module back into the key and hey presto! You now have a working light in your key to help you find your key whole on those Dark wintery evenings!



Now practise the use of the light and shine iinto all your pets eyes and watch them wince!!! Then retire to bed or the evening with your favourite cyclone in the knowledge that if your ever in a pitch black car park you’ll know be able to find your door lock!



Written by Daryll Perry for PlanetE30.co.uk copywrite 2009