Control panel with functional lighting

Operating element for a motor vehicle with at least one luminous means for the backlighting of a diaphragm (1) of a display element or a key cap of a control knob and a between the light source and the key cap or cover (1) fixed in the operating element light-guiding element (3, 4, 5), wherein the light guiding member (3, 4, 5) extends up to and through the panel (1) or the key cap through, so that a search and / or functional illumination on the control element is displayed, characterized in that the light guide (3, 4, 5) is held by an intermediate plate (12) and the intermediate plate (12) in the control element can be latched.