instrument panel lights not working
 

Bought a 1993 320e couple weeks ago and previous owner said that the radio didn't work because the code had to be reset. He had unplugged the battery in the car and lost the code. My question is: Do the instrument panel lights, speedometer,rpm gauge, etc. work on a specific code? The fuse is not blowed for the instrument panel lights. Also all of the interior lights are not working i,e. the little lights for the window switches the gear shift lights, and also the little lights on the door panels for the window switches. The dome lights and the lights at the bottom of the doors are the only inside lights working. Please help me solve this problem. Thanks in advance.

I called the dealer and got the code for the radio and reset it already.

Is the rheostat for the panel lights working (if your model has one that is)? Wiggle it and the lights might all come on....

rheostat
 

Yes. I do have a rheostat. I have wiggled it left and right on several occasions. The lights still won't come on. How difficult is it to change the rheostat? Can it be changed? I'm willing to do whatever it takes. Are there any other alternatives?

Do a search using keywords 'panel light rheostat'. I don't know if your rheostat is like the one on my '85 380SE, but regardless, they all work the same. If you can get the instrument panel out, just jumper a wire across the terminals into and out of the switch, as if the rheostat was turned all the way 'up'. If the lights come on, then you can either fix or replace it, or solder a permanent jumper in its place to illuminate the dash/lights at 'full' brightness (which isn't very bright anyway, so this thing is, IMO, useless).

Also consider this...
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=120344
...as perhaps part of the problem.