Intermittent dash lights

[aj_mckay]

The lights on my dash (whole thing not just instrument cluster) are very intermittent. Sometimes none work, sometimes half, sometimes all work.

I gave the cluster a whack which seemed to make some work, then hit it again and they all lit up. They then went out a minute later down the road almost like there's a loose connection somewhere or something.

Is this likely to be the case? If so where is it most likely to be? The headlight switch on the dash maybe?

Also, I'm not sure if it's related or not but the passenger front indicator is really temperamental too - sometimes it works, sometimes not. Could it be tied in some way??

Any suggestions gratefully received...

[MrAsp]

I had this problem on my 320i.

The culprit was the headlight switch.

For front indicator, I really don't know!

[aj_mckay]

Weird tho eh? Especially as they came on when i tw4tted the top of the instrument cluster??!??!!

I'll get hold of one and see if it works! Cheers dude...

[MrAsp]

The part broken in my car was the regulator of dash light brightness, included in the headlight switch.

You can try to fix/remove it.

Does it works on your car?

[Brianmoooore]

Front indicator problem is usually caused by cheap bulbs. The front indicator assemblies are not, and are not intended to be, waterproof. The materials they are made out of are all corrosion resistant, but this does not necessarily apply to the bulbs.

[aj_mckay]

Front indicator problem is usually caused by cheap bulbs. The front indicator assemblies are not, and are not intended to be, waterproof. The materials they are made out of are all corrosion resistant, but this does not necessarily apply to the bulbs.

I've replaced the bulb in it a couple of times with various different makes. Do you think it would be a good idea to replace the indicator assembly?

[Brianmoooore]

As I said above, the indicator assembly doesn't normally give problems, although corrosion on the contacts from a rusted bulb sometimes needs to be cleaned off.
There is another quite common cause of your problem. The wiring loom connects to the indicators at a socket which is on the back of the assembly. When replacing a front bumper, the bumper has to be held up nearly in place with one hand, and both the plugs pushed into their sockets with the other. Not unusual to find that one of the plugs hasn't been pushed fully home.

[aj_mckay]

Thanks for that Brian, helpful advice as ever...