Drove my 1998 xj8 for the first time after dark a few days ago. Some quick odd questions:
None of the radio or phone buttons on the steering wheel light up
The LCD for the temperature does not light up
on the driver's door the front window buttons light up but the rear windows don't

I would assume these should all be lighting up to see in the dark - but its an old car so maybe they don't ?

or if they are supposed to light is there a button or dial like modern cars have to dim the interior lights ?

blown fuse maybe - or is it possible to replace lamps or LEDs for these locations ?

thanks for any help

 

No steering wheel lights - is normal, there's no lights there.

All other things you've mentioned should be backlit. There is a small knob for adjusting brightness, I think it's on the left side of the steering column if I remember correctly.

Many other members of the forums have done write ups for LED conversions, and how to replace the radio backlights, etc. I personally prefer the incandescent lighting, the unique warm color was one of the things that drew me to the x308 first time I drove one (happened to be after dark) and it'd be difficult to reproduce with LED's.

 

I replaced almost all bulbs to my centre console and door switches. My car has windscreeen heater button so I bought

JLM11965 x2
JLM20308 x7
JLM20309 x1
Those are for heater controls only.

These are for one row up from heater. Seat heaters, valet button etc
LNA5180EAx1
LNA5180DA x5

When it comes to the driver switch pack lightning. There is two type window swich bulbs.My car has the "later type" so I bought :
LNA5180CA x2
JLM21554 x2

Front passenger switchpack bulb is soldered to the pcb. As always, when you go in to the changin bulbs. You have to change all in the same time. SOOO many times I've skipped and changed only the burnt ones and every time bulbs what were working doesn't anymore when everything is put back. I tried to buy bulbs via normal route. But these bulbs quite normal type. But in imperial sizes. The more common is metric.. So had to buy all of those from SGN Barrat.

Instrument cluster backlight bulbs are standard 3W glass bulb.

 

ohhhhh, that's bad news nilanium - the very first lights I was planning on fixing were the steering wheel buttons, oh well out of curiosity anyone know the first year the XJ8 got steering wheel button lights ? I agree with the quality of the old lights but if the LEDs will last longer, then I won't have to mess with getting those darn door panels back on as often

thanks for all the bulb numbers Vauxi

Off topic - is there anything special about replacing the power radio antenna ? or is it just a plug and go type thing ?

 

Pretty much just plug and play