Reverse light and rear fog light defective.

[Wega]

Does these two light have anything in common? Like the same fuse or something like that? It's the only two lights that isnt working on my 89 325, and I am wondering if there could be a connection between both of them failing, or if it's just random that both are out at the same time?

[Wega]

It's a manual.
Nope haven checked yet, but i will first thing tomorrow. I was just wondering if the two light shared something, because then that would be the first place I would look.

[Wega]

Ok, I found the connector for the reverse light, and when I short the pins the light turns on.
BUT...! Where on earth is this suppose to be connected? When I found it it was just laying down there, and now I've taken apart half the car to find where it's supposed to be connected, and havent found a thing?
Here it is:

Can some of you tell me where the connection from the switch, or the switch itself is suppose to be at? I cant see it....

[Wega]

"Resident expert", I like the sound of that

Problem is that I know very little about this car. I'm the second owner of it, after is had the engine swapped. The guy I bought it from knew nothing about it, so I have to find out everything myself. I dont even know what gearbox was used

But all the wires on the second picture is already in use for something else, so i really dont think it's any of those. I'm just looking for the wire from the switch, so I can connect it with the one in picture #1.
Maybe there is no switch in the gearbox? Where exactly should the switch be located?

[Brianmoooore]

Somebody call?
Need to know the wire colours to that plug to be absolutely certain, but it looks very muck like the reverse light switch loom connector to me, and definitely is if shorting the two pins brins the reverse light on.
The plug that connects to it should be on the end of a short pair of wires that come up from underneath the car through the same large rubber grommet that the gear lever comes through.
Worryingly, I can't see any trace of it in the pic., so it looks like you might have broken my cardinal rule: "never buy an E30 from an idiot".
The reverse light switch itself is high up on the side of the gearbox, and the wires that go through the grommet should be clipped to the fixed element of the gear linkage, then to the gearbox, before connecting to the switch.

[jmc330i]

A picture may help...


The wires (in the black sheath) go through the rubber grommet and should be clipped to part of the gear linkage and gearbox case before connecting to the switch, which is on the driver side of the gearbox - you should be able to see two spade terminals.

[Wega]

Yep thats the one, thanks a lot for the picture and info. The reverse light does turn on when I short the pins.
No wire is coming up from underneath the car, so I will have to check if there even is a switch installed. Cant do this today though, but should be able to tomorrow.
I will return

[BHadley]

It's screwed in to the side of the gearbox, follow the wires from the gear stick area
Can only get to it from underneath to change it
Spade terminals off and unscrew with a open end 19mm spanner
Bit fiddly but worthwhile.....

Most motor factors should have access to parts quite cheap too...

[Brianmoooore]

The guy I bought it from knew nothing about it,

Mmmm, convenient!

What are the last seven digits of the VIN?

[Wega]

The guy I bought it from knew nothing about it,

Mmmm, convenient!

What are the last seven digits of the VIN?

Brian:
Maybe i should have been a tad more clear: He knew nothing about the engine swap and how it was made. He had all the papers on the car, including the sales paper from when he bought it. Vin AF48301

slideout318i20: Problem is that there is no wire from the gear stick area ;) I should find it anyway... I hope

[Brianmoooore]

AF48301 - that was born as a 4 door 325i manual in January '89.
That's my theory gone - I was certain it would have originally been an auto.

[BHadley]

Left hand side of the gearbox is normally where they are quite high up.
the two prongs for the spade connectors are normally exposed then the wires.
Tried lifting the floor gromit from where the gear stick is and following the loom?

[Wega]

Oh well there was a reason why the wire wasnt inside the car: There is no switch installed!
Ordered one and hope to have it installed next week.
Thanks a bunch for your help guys

[Wega]

Dang I feel stupid now! I sorta forgot that I dont have an M20 motor and Getrag gearbox installed in my car So I've been searching the wrong place for the switch, AND ordered a new switch for a Getrag box, that I cant use at all...

The saga continues... http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... 06#2779006

[Brianmoooore]

M52 and ZF or not, the wiring to the reverse light switch should be the same (although in the original M52 installation it was part of the engine loom). AFAIK, the switches themselves are identical, apart from the later one has a 'proper' two pin socket on it, rather than the crude 'lucar' spades on the E30 one.

[Wega]

M52 and ZF or not, the wiring to the reverse light switch should be the same (although in the original M52 installation it was part of the engine loom). AFAIK, the switches themselves are identical, apart from the later one has a 'proper' two pin socket on it, rather than the crude 'lucar' spades on the E30 one.

Thats good to know. The shop that sold me the switch told me that I couldnt use the E30 switch, but if it's only a question of socket vs non-socket, I will keep the E30 switch as a spare.
Thanks again Brian

[Brianmoooore]

Not absolutely certain on that. They appear identical, but I've never compared then side by side to check the reach of the pin is the same on both. What I do know for certain is that the internal design isn't too clever, with the contact blocks set flush in the insulation, such that there's no provision for wear or pitting, resulting in failure being common.