Help: High beams Issue

[mirzoni]

Hi guys i have a 91 BMW 318is i need some advice on my high beam lights issue, the high beams when clicked on wont stay on, i actually have to HOLD the multifunction combo lever/stalk back while driving in order to have high beams. I have replaced multiple working levers and still the same problem, i have also replaced the K3/K4 high/low main beam relays and still the same issue, Could anyone point me in the right direction please and thank you.

[paultv]

Are you saying when you push the high beam lever away towards the windscreen it doesn't latch into the on position and stay there?

And what happens when pulling the lever towards you?

Paul

[Blanca]

Sounds like the 'nut holding the steering wheel' problem again.

[mirzoni]

Hey guys thanks for taking the time to help me out here is a Video Link with more details. Basically I have to hold back the lever in order for my high beams to work.

https://youtu.be/d2jA_IDhDSg

[Lemon98]

Hey guys thanks for taking the time to help me out here is a Video Link with more details. Basically I have to hold back the lever in order for my high beams to work.

https://youtu.be/d2jA_IDhDSg

Have you tried it with your main headlights on? I think almost every car needs your lights to be for the full beam to come on in that 'clicked' position towards the windscreen.

Same as the foglights, they won't come on unless you have dipped beam on at the minimum

[BenHar]

Read the handbook.

It will tell you to push the lever forwards to set main beam on.

Ben

[mirzoni]

Are you saying when you push the high beam lever away towards the windscreen it doesn't latch into the on position and stay there?

And what happens when pulling the lever towards you?

Paul

Yes the lever pushed forward towards the windscreen it clicks in but it doesn't do anything meaning it doesnt turn my high beams on. So I pull it back hold it in the quick flashing direction and it works. I have the basic sealed beams headlights usa version. Thanks

[mirzoni]

Hey guys thanks for taking the time to help me out here is a Video Link with more details. Basically I have to hold back the lever in order for my high beams to work.

https://youtu.be/d2jA_IDhDSg

Have you tried it with your main headlights on? I think almost every car needs your lights to be for the full beam to come on in that 'clicked' position towards the windscreen.

Same as the foglights, they won't come on unless you have dipped beam on at the minimum

Mate I've tried everything possible and I'm simply not having any luck could it be a wiring issue or the stalk/lever itself or something else. Technically all the lights work low beams signal indicators it's just the high Beams that wont stay on while engaged into the high beam position.

[Blanca]

I don't see where you say you have dipped beam in the centre position of the stalk.

Can we assume you do? You have dip beam but main beam only on 'flash' but not in the forward position, that would mean a problem with the dip switch as you have proven the circuit from dip switch to headlights.

What is NOT there is connection between power from light switch within stalk and main beam in the forward position.

IF on the other hand you don't have either main OR dip but only flash, then it is the light switch not putting power to the switch, as the 'flash' has a different feed and works independently of the light switch.

If you have dip beam but no main beam then the light switch is OK and it's the stalk. Like I said, forget the flash, it's a separate feed.

[Contours]

Maybe someone has messed with or changed about your relays. The relay K4 is a 5 pin relay and if you have a 4 pin relay in that position you will only have high beams with the stalk .

[Ukhozi]

Maybe someone has messed with or changed about your relays. The relay K4 is a 5 pin relay and if you have a 4 pin relay in that position you will only have high beams with the stalk .

But he says he only has high beam on 'flash' not high, sounds like no power to dip from lights switch

[mirzoni]

Maybe someone has messed with or changed about your relays. The relay K4 is a 5 pin relay and if you have a 4 pin relay in that position you will only have high beams with the stalk .

But he says he only has high beam on 'flash' not high, sounds like no power to dip from lights switch

Yes that's correct high beams only work on flash, the relay stuff is fine I dont think the issue is there, could possibly be the stalk/lever might just have to bite the bullet and dish out 200$ for a brand new stalk/switch
OEM from BMW hopefully that will resolve my high beam issues.

[Brianmoooore]

It's not the stalk (if you've tried three), and it's not the relays.
First thing to say is, looking at the u tube video, the steering wheel is on the wrong side of the car, so it's fair to assume that this is not a UK spec car.
Different markets have different lighting regulations, so there are variations in the wiring, but it's mostly concerned with the foglight wiring, so I think most of what I write will be relevant.
Both the dipped and main beam relays are wired with one end of their coils to 12 volts ignition live. This means that both beams are switched on by earthing the other end of the respective coils.
The wire from the coil of the main beam relay is plain white, and goes only to the column switch, passing through just the plug and socket half way up the steering column. There is a brown earth wire that also goes through this plug and socket, and goes to the column switch and also earths the outer steering column and the flasher unit for the indicators. When you move the lever to the flash position, it connects the white wire to the brown wire, earthing the main beam relay coil, and so lighting the main beams.
The above works as it should, so we can assume all is good there.
The dipped beam relay is earthed solely by the main headlamp switch via a yellow/green wire to turn the dipped beams on. There is no control over the dipped beams by the column switch, since they stay on when the mains are on, not switch off like on some cars.
The yellow/green wire is extended to the column though. It is earthed when the dipped beams are on, so when you move the column lever to the main beam position, it connects the white wire to this yellow/green, although note that the yellow/green changes to plain yellow at the column switch plug and socket.
IF the dipped beams are working normally, the yellow/green wire from the dipped beam relay to the headlamp main switch is all OK, but not the extension of this wire to the column switch, if the main beam position doesn't work.
The main headlamp switch wiring is part of the upper dash loom, and connects to the body loom at a rectangular plug and socket next to the accessories socket at the extreme left of the area behind the dash. The yellow/green to the column switch and the yellow/green wire to the relay join at the back of the socket, so your problem is somewhere along the wire from the back of this socket to the column switch.
There are no joins in this wire, except for the plug and socket where it changes to yellow, but the wire is fairly thin, and could be fairly easily broken if stretched, or it could be a crimping problem at the ends.
There's also a thicker green/yellow wire in the loom, so don't confuse it with the yellow/green.
Start your testing by linking together the yellow and brown at the column switch with the ignition on. This should turn the dipped beams on and the main beams as well if you move the lever to the main beam position.
I suspect that the main beams will work, but not the dipped beams.

[Ukhozi]

Basically an auto sparky with a meter or probe would sort this out in 5 minuets. Each unto their own.

[Brianmoooore]

Basically an auto sparky with a meter or probe would sort this out in 5 minuets. Each unto their own.

Not without detailed circuit diagrams or knowledge of the E30 layout. He'd get there eventually, if he's any good, but it would take him a LOT longer than five minutes.
This is not a 'standard' fault.

[BristolE30]

Hey guys thanks for taking the time to help me out here is a Video Link with more details. Basically I have to hold back the lever in order for my high beams to work.

https://youtu.be/d2jA_IDhDSg

Send a video of you pushing it toward the windscreen. You say you’ve tried it, but we haven’t seen it

[Blanca]

I'm still not sure if there is a dip beam, (as in , lights on stalk in middle) as he says he only has 'flash', that is NOT high beam, it is just 'flash'. so do you have low beam?

[Grepot]

Hey guys thanks for taking the time to help me out here is a Video Link with more details. Basically I have to hold back the lever in order for my high beams to work.

https://youtu.be/d2jA_IDhDSg

Have you tried it with your main headlights on? I think almost every car needs your lights to be for the full beam to come on in that 'clicked' position towards the windscreen.

Same as the foglights, they won't come on unless you have dipped beam on at the minimum

You've said you have tried pushing the left stalk forwards and it clicks in, which is how the high beams turn on. However, you haven't said whether you've tried this on conjunction with the full beams (headlights) turned on. The high beams will flash without the headlights turned on but they will not turn on in the locked forward position without the headlights on.

Apologies if this sounds patronizing but I haven't seen a response to this suggestion earlier in the thread and think it might be worth a try.

[Blanca]

Th question is, (or I'm missing something, again),
With the light switch fully clockwise in the third position and the stalk in the centre, do you have headlights of any sort? You should have dipped beams.

[Brianmoooore]

Th question is, (or I'm missing something, again),
With the light switch fully clockwise in the third position and the stalk in the centre, do you have headlights of any sort? You should have dipped beams.

This should read "light switch in the fully clockwise position and ignition on." Position of stalk in any position where it stays put is irrelevant to "headlamps of any sort".

[BenHar]

I thought it should be "fully" out. Rotating only changes the brightness of the dash lights.

Ben

[flybynite]

I thought it should be "fully" out. Rotating only changes the brightness of the dash lights.
Ben

That is the way it works on both of mine, first pull - side lights, second pull (fully out) - headlights. Rotation - dash illumination brightness.

Are we talking about an E30 here? not an E36 or E46 (which both have rotary headlight switches)

[Brianmoooore]

Oops! Engage brain before writing. Of course E30 switch is push/pull, so fully out it is.

[Blanca]

True, My excuse it 5 cars, all different switches and I'm 75 and ASD. Of course, pull out all the way with Ignition on.

[Lemon98]

Same as the foglights, they won't come on unless you have dipped beam on at the minimum
[/quote]

You've said you have tried pushing the left stalk forwards and it clicks in, which is how the high beams turn on. However, you haven't said whether you've tried this on conjunction with the full beams (headlights) turned on. The high beams will flash without the headlights turned on but they will not turn on in the locked forward position without the headlights on.

Apologies if this sounds patronizing but I haven't seen a response to this suggestion earlier in the thread and think it might be worth a try.
[/quote]

Yeah that's what I was trying to say ahaha and as you said didn't want to be patronising so maybe wasn't clear enough

[Ukhozi]

I have to admit I am confused now.
Are you saying with the light switch full out you have NO MAIN LIGHTS AT ALL? when you should have at least the two outer (Dip lights). but no inner main beam lights, (all four on). but you can flash main beams which are independent of the light/dip switches. at least that's how mine work.

[Richard-001]

Mirzoni,

I have PM'd you my details.

Give me a call.