Electric windows and sunroof only work with door open!?

[bmwsport]

Right, does anyone understand this...

I have a 90' E30 325i 2DR sport. Both the electric windows and sunroof open and close great when one of both of the doors are opened however when both doors are closed the windows and sunroof become dead!?? Does not matter if key is in/out ignition or engine is running - it makes no difference. I have narrowed it down to the black plastic switches located in the chassis door jams (the ones that turn the interior lights on and off). If both switches are pressed in (both doors closed) the lights go out and the windows/sunroof stop working, if i release one of both of the switches (door/s opened) the lights come back on and the windows/sunroof all work fine again. The boot does not effect this at all and it does not matter which door switch is being tested. Everything else electrical works fine such as heater fan, mirrors, lights, alarm etc etc

Any help will be appreciated guys before i have to call out the 'auto electrician'

[anisotropy]

This is a mystery for me too, I noticed the other day that my sunroof, leccy windows work with a door open even when ignition is off (though mine work fine when its on)

[zimmerbimmer1]

sounds like you have a short somewhere as they were designed to work when the interior light was on (i.e doors open) se if they will work with doors closed but interior light on??

[BM_Jay]

mate it is one of the fuses somewhere becoz the same thing happened to me and i took it to a bimmer specialist and he changed some fuse somewere and it worked

[eko]

mate it is one of the fuses somewhere becoz the same thing happened to me and i took it to a bimmer specialist and he changed some fuse somewere and it worked

Agreed!!!
The electric windows work off one circuit when doors open and a second circuit when closed hence having 2 seperate fuse.
Cant remember what number fuses they are but just have a look in the fusebox and youll find one blown!

[Chris-W]

Cant remember what number fuses they are but just have a look in the fusebox and youll find one blown!

[eko]

^Just checked too
Fuse 17 Windows with the ignition on.

Fuse 28 Windows with the doors open, ignition on or off.

Ill save that chart though Chris,thanks

[bmwsport]

Ok i'll give that a go. Is there anything else that i should look at if No.17 fuse does not fix my problem? I'm pretty sure the windows/sunroof worked for a VERY short time after the initial fault, literally half hour later for 5 or so seconds. Could a fuse half blow, then re-contact before really going? What about relays? I've heard they can cause funny electrical problems or what about the door jam switches?

I will check the fuse ASAP and will report in.

Any other suggestions will be greatly appreciated as the earliest i will be back home is the weekend so i want to be loaded with ideas!

Thanks guys - great forum by BTW.

[Greeny]

Just to let you know, the window's and sunroof work with the door a sunroof open and keys out as a convinience thing, so if you've forgotten to close them after getting out of car you can just leave door open and shut them without keys.

[bmwsport]

It was fuse #17! Thanks