Control apparatus for a light unit for vehicles

This application claims a priority based on German application serial number 199 42 729.1, filed Sep. 8, 1999, and the contents of that application are incorporated herein by reference. Control apparatus for a light unit for vehicles, in particular motor vehicles, includes an electronic control unit for controlling the light unit, with the control unit having an I/O interface for connecting to a plurality of control and/or switching devices assigned to the light unit. The electronic control unit is arranged in a rectangularly-shaped housing which is detachably mounted in a receptacle of the light unit. A first contacting device is provided on a first side of the electronic control unit for connecting the electronic control unit to a number of electric components integrated into the light unit, and in addition a second contacting device is provided on a second side for connecting the electronic control unit to a number of additional electric components arranged near the light unit.