Can faulty electric window switches cause a fire?

[kevin316i]

I was getting some parts from BMW breakers yesterday and the guy there fold me about this 318is which went up in smoke inside due to a faulty electric window switch. Apparently the guy has just lowered his window and then noticed smoke coming from the central console area.

He said the E30 switches get problematic with age and can cause this.

I would have thought the fuses for the electric windows would stop this from happening?

[Simon]

Not heard of it happening myself, but I have noticed these switches get very hot!

[Jesus325iTouring]

And our cars could have blowouts with horrific consequences but we still drive them everyday without a thought

I say fcuk it fella,don't worry about it

[johnl320]

Jesus has spoken ,so all is well and my mind is put at rest, thank you lord

[A1BMW325iSport]

switches can get hot with lazy or dud window motors, but very unlikely to catch fire i would say, the fuse should blow 1st

[Widge]

The reason the switches get hot after a while is cos they've got sodding bulbs in them guys. I very much doubt they'd cause a fire, but if you're worried I suggest taking them to pieces and cleaning out the very very flammable fluff and grease that resides therein.
Here ends todays lesson.
Where's Jesus when you want him????

Get HIM to bless the car and then I'd never go up in smoke, I bet he dosent cover mechanical failure though

[Andy_magic]

Haven't E30 windows got a thermo cut out thingy bob on the console too.

Both mine have, the switches themselves dont get hot, a little warm (due to bulbs that work)

It's theoretically possible for a switch to stick in the ON position, it's not neccesarily the switches fault though.

If a huge amount of current is drawn accross the switch the contacts weld themselves together and stay on, the massive current draw then melts other things. There are 2 failsafes though, 1) the fuse and 2 the thermo thingy bob. so both of these would have to be by passed to cause that.

[amit325i]

i think he means electric windows which have been added after the car left the factory. I had an e28 which caught fire lucky i had the under panel of the time, otherwise i probably would have fried myself.

[Andy_magic]

I see....

i had a vectra that used to catch fire under the bonnet, the rocker cover gasket leaked oil all over the exhaust manifold.

Like an idiot I actually put the fire out and fixed the leak

[Simon]

The reason the switches get hot after a while is cos they've got sodding bulbs in them guys.

Have they? I thought it was a fire glowing within!

[Widge]

The reason the switches get hot after a while is cos they've got sodding bulbs in them guys.

Have they? I thought it was a fire glowing within!

Controlled fire, the Germans are good at that, take Dresen for example.

[Brianmoooore]

The retro fitted electric windows for E30s don't have the console mounted cut out that the OE one's do.
One of my cars, with retro fitted windows, had the windows powered from a constant live supply, and was accidently left overnight with something heavy resting on the up button of the driver's window.
The stall current of the motor was insufficient to blow the (correctly sized) fuse, and by the morning the battery was flat and the motor totaly cooked. The switch and wiring survived intact.

[Andy_magic]

Cheers for clearing that up brian,

Where were these retro fitted windows fitted?? Was it a dealer special so that base model buyers could by a 316 limited edition with the "keep fit windows" deleted etc.

Or having said that was it owners doing it themselves?

[Brianmoooore]

I'm not sure if they were dealer fit or no. The three cars I have come across with these windows have all been done identically, but the parts, including the switches are non BMW. If the kit was dealer fit, I would have expected them to use the OE motor assemblies and switches along with an add in, self contained loom.

[A1BMW325iSport]

my 325i i stripped had a retrofit kit, the motors and switches were genuine but the wiring loom was very sub standard with crimped connectors and no loom tape used