electrical problems - coincidence or not?
Discussion
I have had a few electrical problems with my 1998 E36 328i Coupe recently, and I am wondering whether it is just coincidence or if something more serious is going on.
The first thing was a couple of months ago the tiny bulb that illuminates the headlight and foglight switches failed. The lights worked fine, the switch just didn't light up. I managed to replace the bulb and it worked OK after that.
A coupe of weeks after that, the right hand light on the rear number plate failed. When I investigated, I found it had lost the earth connection - the wires disappeared into the boot and I couldn't see where the connection was broken. So I took an earth off the left hand bulb and it seems to work OK.
Then another coupe of weeks later and the 30A fuse on the cigatette lighter blew, which is odd because I have the non-smoker package and the only thing i use the socket for is a tyre pump. I replaced the fuse and it seems to work. I thought the socket used to be illuminiated, it isn't now but I pulled the trim off the gear lever to have a look and I couldn't find any wires other than the main power circuit, so maybe it never was illuminated in the first place?
Anyway, does anyone know if these events might be connected? Should I be worried? I wondered if there might be a broken wire which is causing a short circuit occassionally, but I don't know why it would happen. I just bought a pretty detailed service manual but I'm afraid I don't understand the hundreds of pages of wiring diagrams, so it isn't mcuh help. I hate to think how much BMW would charge me to investigate.....
Thanks for any help you can offer.
The first thing was a couple of months ago the tiny bulb that illuminates the headlight and foglight switches failed. The lights worked fine, the switch just didn't light up. I managed to replace the bulb and it worked OK after that.
A coupe of weeks after that, the right hand light on the rear number plate failed. When I investigated, I found it had lost the earth connection - the wires disappeared into the boot and I couldn't see where the connection was broken. So I took an earth off the left hand bulb and it seems to work OK.
Then another coupe of weeks later and the 30A fuse on the cigatette lighter blew, which is odd because I have the non-smoker package and the only thing i use the socket for is a tyre pump. I replaced the fuse and it seems to work. I thought the socket used to be illuminiated, it isn't now but I pulled the trim off the gear lever to have a look and I couldn't find any wires other than the main power circuit, so maybe it never was illuminated in the first place?
Anyway, does anyone know if these events might be connected? Should I be worried? I wondered if there might be a broken wire which is causing a short circuit occassionally, but I don't know why it would happen. I just bought a pretty detailed service manual but I'm afraid I don't understand the hundreds of pages of wiring diagrams, so it isn't mcuh help. I hate to think how much BMW would charge me to investigate.....
Thanks for any help you can offer.
I recomend you contact a company called Hartlake. They are based in kent and are BMW electrical specialists. I have used them a couple of times and found them to be excellent. If they don't know what the matter is no one will, and there not exspensive. They can be contacted on 01474 326 626 and you should ask to speak to a guy called Phil Crouch who owns the business and is the electrical chap.
Kind Regards
Kind Regards
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