E30 Zone

E30 320i Convertible 1991

Hi - I noticed my ignition switch was on its way out so I bought a replacement second hand one on ebay but it doesnt work at all. Do you get specific ignition switches for different E30s and does anyone know where I can get one for mine?

Thanks

I'm sure they're all the same. Still available from BMW, circa £40 iirc

i have working ones here

Ignition switch wiring is in the Wiki:

http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/inde ... l#Ignition

and it shouldn't take more than 5 minutes with a multimeter to confirm whether the switch is good or not. If two switches don't work then either the wiring is fault somewhere else, or the main lock mechanism is going duff.

With the ignition switch removed, get your head under the steering column and turn the ignition key. You should see the shaft from the key mechanism turn AND extend. If that's not happening, you've got a more serious problem...

Thanks Grrrmachine.

I took a look and the shaft does extend as soon as key turns but the end of the shaft looked like it's broken as the end is on an uneven angle. Not knowing what one should look like I am guessing but doesnt look right. Pictures aren't great as phone camera is poor in low light.

Any advice on how to resolve?





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It does look a bit like the arm is failing to make contact with the switch. This can either be because the switch wasn't clipped on to the rear of the ignition barrel properly, or because the barrel arm is worn or broken. That's not something I've ever heard of, but others might have experience with it.

The solution is replacement parts; you'll need another barrel mechanism from a donor vehicle. This usually comes as the whole mount that's attached to the steering column with shear bolts, but swapping parts over should be easy. You need to remove the lock tumbler (the part the key fits in to), and then carefully pull out the spring-loaded arm inside. Do this on your own car as well, swap the arms over, and reassemble. It's fiddly work, but possible.

To get the lock barrel out, read this:

http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/inde ... ition_Lock