Reversing lights stopped working!

[mrjonchandler]

Hi All,
Any pointers available to get the reverse lights working again?
Nothing has been moved/disturbed, just damp i suspect. Where should i look 1st? Car is 325i (Facelift)
Thanks
Jon

[trevski]

check the bulb then fuse then the connection on the gear box. its a matter of elimination

[mrjonchandler]

check the bulb then fuse then the connection on the gear box. its a matter of elimination

Thanks, is the gearbox connection easily accesible?
Jon

[Grrrmachine]

If both went at the same time, this is normally wear on the cable around the gear selector, which is under the car.

First check to do is to pull up the gear lever gaiter, fish out the two pin plug and socket lying in there near the base of the lever, unplug it, and use a piece of wire to short together the pins of the half that doesn't disappear down through the gear lever grommet. If this lights the reverse lights when the ignition is on, then the fault is narrowed down to the switch or the loom under the car.

Normally when the wire wears and breaks, it also blows a fuse. If your fuse is alright, then it's probably the switch inside the gearbox itself.

[trevski]

what e said

[Grrrmachine]

This info is already in the Wiki, and can be seen here;

http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/inde ... ts#Reverse

[Brianmoooore]

The fuse that serves the reverse lights on an E30 also serves so more important circuits, so any initial complaint on here is usually about something else, even if the reverse lights are at fault.
Link the socket, as suggested further up the thread, and you will probably find that the lights will work, confirming that the switch is the problem.
E30 (and BMW in general) reverse light switches are of a rather poor internal design for a switch intended to be used without a relay. So unreliable, that I buy them in bulk!

[capri_rob]

check the bulb then fuse then the connection on the gear box. its a matter of elimination

Thanks, is the gearbox connection easily accesible?
Jon

No.

The reversing light switch is a pig to get at - especially if you're on your back with the car on Axle stands rather than a ramp.

IIRC The switch is at the top of the gearbox midway along, and access between the box & transmission tunnel is very tight. Ideally you need a long spanner as unless you've got girls hands you won't be able to get your hand between the box & transmission tunnel to get a grip on the spanner.

I did mine when I did the gear linkage and had the gearbox mounts/crossmember undone, box dropped down, prop & exhaust etc out of the way and it was still fiddly as fook.

Pray its the wiring inside the car and not the switch !

[Duke137]

My reverse lights stopped working before I took the car off the road and I think it was the switch as no blown fuses/bulbs or bad connections.

Luckily the gearbox is out now and will be getting treated to the new switch I bought months ago but I remember looking at it whilst undoing all the moutings thinking "glad I ain't messing about with that..."

So as Rob said, pray it is something else....

[mrjonchandler]

Cheers All, Happy New Year!
Lets hope it's something simple eh?
Cheers
Jon