The backlighting for the left side of my climate controls is intermittent
(06 MCS)
I'm guessing it's a loose wire. It's just odd that it's intermittent I thought it was a blown bulb but then it was back another day. Anyone have the same problem? I don't want to rip my console apart and not fix this.

I have the base "analog" panel

Does anyone know if the "digital" panel is a simple plug in replacement?

If I have to take everything apart and there is a chance the panel is broken, I might as well upgrade

 

imo, the manual panel is the upgrade!

 

Is the "auto" panel failure prone or just not user friendly? Is it like my stupid BMW ipod adapter that doesn't charge my new ipod touch and thinks my ipod is a cd changer?
"oh disc three is playlist Mini3 and track 1 might be the first song on the playlist or the track counter rolled over and it's who know what song..." Not a good buy,,,

 

I have the manual panel too. The car has had lots of issues but at least the light bulbs have always worked...

I think the principal complaint with the "auto" panel is the inability to turn the fan completely off but I'm sure someone who has one will chime in.

Anyway, I don't think it's practical to retrofit an auto panel because you'd have to install a lot of other things like motorized flaps to make it all work.

IMO, it's more satisfying to be in direct control of the heating/cooling mechanicals instead of having some microcontroller second guessing my wishes.