instrument cluster backlight issues

[bmsamson]

03 bosxter base, manual. I suddenly lost my cluster backlight, went to my trusty Bentley to see how to pull it and replace the bulbs, and once i got it removed discovered I have a different cluster than the one illustrated. there are no tabs to slide out to separate the parts; no bulb housings visible at all before disassembly. (i understand the cluster backlight are not in the strip of idiot lights, but not seeing that strip of bulbs was a red flag that something was going to be different). So now I have the cluster out but still can't get at the bulbs. Can anyone point me to another procedure doc that might cover mine, or tell me what to try. looks like thre are two white tabs to lift but that doesn't separate; there's one small torx that seems to hold but taking that out didn't do it, i must be missing something and don't want to break fragile 20 year old plastic......

[bmsamson]

so i got it apart (sure hope I remember how to put it back together) and mine doesn't have any removable bulbs.

i read a couple of folks commenting the issue they had like mine was traced back to the headlight switch somehow. guess I'll explore that next, once i get my cluster reinstalled.

[muledog]

I had the same issue with my 2004 S. After checking fuses and taking the lnstrument cluster apart and not finding replaceable bulb I learned of the headlamp switch as a possible root cause. The other symptom was no dimmer adjustment screen would pop up. I replaced the switch which resolved the problem.