BMW E46 lights problem

rrrrrrrr

The lights on my 2000 bmw 318i have started acting very strangely...

• First the green arrows on the dash and the clicking noise stopped working when indicating even though the indicators were working.
• Then when I pull the left stalk forward to flash the main beam, the lights stay on, even if the key is out.
• then the indicators stay on even when the key is removed.

It's all a bit random and can be reset by switching the ignition on/off.

Could it be the LCM? or a loose wire or something somewhere?

Anyone any ideas?

Thanks in advance

Rory

Hogzy

rrrrrrrr wrote: »

• First the green arrows on the dash and the clicking noise stopped working when indicating even though the indicators were working.
• Then when I pull the left stalk forward to flash the main beam, the lights stay on, even if the key is out.
• then the indicators stay on even when the key is removed.

Dont know about the indicators but the headlights staying on is completely normal. Theyre called follow me home lightsm Designed to light up your drive way at night time, THey auto shut off after 30secs

El Guapo!

They give trouble with the indicator stalk. Iv replaced a few of them. But they dont come cheap. They usually just stop working altogether though, or the stalk constantly clicks when turning the wheel. But this could be your problem.

rrrrrrrr

After further investigation it looks like the indicators outside are working fine but it's the flashing arrows on the dash and the 'clicker' that are dodgy.

Some times they work fine, but some times when I indicate, there's no dash light or click (even though the actual orange indicators outside are fine).

Other times, when the indicators go off, the dash light and clicker go on and stay stuck on until I turn the key completely off (or turn the key from off to on, as they can get stuck on even if the ignition is fully off!)

Any ideas?

Hogzy

It could be didgy wiring, I wonder has the wiring become loose and began to rub off other part of the car therefore shorting the connection.

This happened to a Fiat Punto i owned years ago. Anytime i turned a corner the wires would move and one of the headlights would flicker, thought it was a loose bulb but turned out to be crap wiring.

Captain Slow IRL

You should get it scanned for codes asap - anyone with decent diagnostics should be able to carry out function tests on the LCM, it sounds like this could be the problem.

If it is the problem, you'll need a new one (or try find someone who can repair it) as the vehicle's mileage is stored on it and using a second hand lcm with different mileage will bring on the mileage manipulation light on the dash.