1997 dash lights

The search function on this website is compromised.
Every search (every search!) I input comes back with the same 20 hits: "Word Association" or "Pix your Ride", or "Southern Get-Together"....
Is there a way to narrow my search?




Have found incredible things by browsing, but random and off point. Sorry if I am asking a question found on the forum
Here's my curious question on dash lights:
What are those X signals? Are they LED's? Early version of LED's? Are they incandescent bulbs???
The neutral light/turn signal/ABS lights?
I'm kinda interested in how/why they developed them. They look different from other bikes I"ve ridden.

I agree with you that the forum search engine leaves a lot to be desired. There are other ways to search that likely will work better. Read about them here:

https://forums.bmwmoa.org/showthread.php?77843-Tips-on-Searching-the-MOA-Forum

With any internet search, the more specific and fewer terms you use will get you closer to what you want.

Can you show pictures of what you are looking at? What is an "X signal"? Where are they located on the dash?

The neutral light shows up as an X. Most people who see it, know what I mean.
My question is, is it just a light bulb/incandescent behind there? The pattern and the shape look like it might be something else.
I see zig-zag lines and I was thinking, "is that a solid state element, like an LED." An early type of LED?

RealOEM seems to show a "telltale" unit housing all of the various bits of info. Can the bulbs inside be replaced? Seems like you'd almost have to replace the whole unit.

https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/pa...-259S-BMW-R_1100_RS_93_0411,0416_&mg=62&sg=11

But, you're right, if someone else has seen the "X" in the display, hopefully they'll chime in.

The backside of the "lens" is covered with facets in a diamond pattern. This is what concentrates the light in that X pattern. It's visible in all of the dash indicators, but most noticeable in the large ones like neutral and low fuel. It doesn't matter what kind of bulb is in there; I replaced my incandescent with LED and still get the X.

20774 said:

Can the bulbs inside be replaced? Seems like you'd almost have to replace the whole unit.

Click to expand...

You have to remove the instrument panel from the bike to get access to the bulb sockets. They're rubber and simply push into the back of the instrument panel. They're pretty stubborn to pull out; try twisting them back and forth a little bit to loosen them up, but not too much, you don't want to break any wires.

It's a type 74 bulb. I bought LED equivalent from superbrightleds.com. I'm sure there are others out there selling them as well.

Thank you for search help!

That is super! Will read it carefully.
New to site, another question: I wanted to thank your post or give it a thumbs up? Does that button exist, or do I just
respond like I am doing now?

Again, I really like this site and spend time on it, BUT I belong to forums for all my machines Acura, Honda, BMW, etc.
This one seems a little old and featureless. Will it ever be updated? Or, do the members like stability and don't want change? Haha!
I hate change, too, but it usually works out for the better