Few electric issues.

[Arsen_Design]

hey all,

i have the following issues and was wondering if anyone would have some ideas on what would i have to do to fix them:

1) central locking doesnt work via door locks, it opens but doesnt close. i can close it if i lock it using a boot lock!!!

2) electric mirrors dont work

3) lights sometimes work sometimes dont, other times i with them on but when driving over the bumps one will die, or even both will switch off.

im a total newbie to the e30s and cars mechanics.
so any tutorials/instructions will be super helpful.

cheers!

[daimlerman]

1. Possibly this is a worn/damaged lock barrel.Your local stealer will be able to order you a replacement,ask for a 'lock repair kit'.What you get is a plastic bag with enough bits to build yourself a replacement lock barrel.Only snag is that the enclosed instuction sheet is in German...so dis-mantle your old lock first to see how it all goes together,it's not difficult.
2.Start with a fuse check,then try known good switch.
3.You are playing 'hunt the poor connection' here.

[Arsen_Design]

re 3) its possibly a silly question, but is it likely to be the connection at the light switch or rather somewhere else?

[daimlerman]

I would start at the headlight end and work back,myself.
The earth connection is a decent starting point,then the live feed to each light.
Each headlight has it's own fuse,but it's unlikely that all four have a poor connection at the same time.
Lightswitch harness enters the car via the large white multiplug behind the glovebox,then works it's way over to the lightswitch. Lightswitches do not seem to give many problems.

[Arsen_Design]

The previous owned have done a HID conversion - could that be the issue?

[daimlerman]

Very likely!

When I did my HiD swaps,I needed to make connections within the dipped beam light units,so those are well worth checking out.

[Arsen_Design]

Ok - that sounds well over my knowledge!
Is that something I can even attempt to do myself?

[daimlerman]

Just take the plastic covers off and have look,a tug at the wiring joins that you find will give you a clue as to it's soundness.

[Arsen_Design]

Cool will do!
Its all a bit of a black magic to me - I guess it will be a steep learning curb...

[Arsen_Design]

I've changed fuses for the headlights and the mirrors.
That didnt solve the issues - both STILL dont work properly.

New discovery is that when the headlights (HID conversion) are on and working I can hear a very clearly that there is a short-circuit happening in the lights, thats when they start flickering and go off.
I guess its a proper garage job before my car sets itself on fire?

On the bright side I managed to get the fog lights to work (it was just fuse change).

[Speedtouch]

May be a dodgy earth to the step-up transformer that feeds the HIDs. They are normally housed in a separate black or silver box on the front inner wing somewhere.

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

[Arsen_Design]

yes - i have them installed just above the lights...
do you know how could i check (without being electrocuted ) if this is it...and what would be the best fix?

[Speedtouch]

Best to don some Latex gloves, and avoid directly handling the output connector pins - they generate between 1500-3000 V.
Check all the wiring to the 'ballasts'/transformer boxes, and between them and the lights.

There is a guide here:
http://www.exceline.com/library/techdat ... ooting.pdf

What make are they - a well-known brand, or some cheap Chinese tat?