M42club.com - Home of the BMW E30/E36 318i/iS

DISCUSSION => Electrical => Topic started by: freeclowns on May 03, 2009, 01:11:00 PM

Title: reverse lights
Post by: freeclowns on May 03, 2009, 01:11:00 PM

Well i have been trying to think of a reason why my reverse light are not working.. All the other lights work, I have even move around the parts the plug in. Yet the reverse lights still dont work....

At one time i had no brake lights also, but i moved  the connector fromt he reverse lights to the bakes to see if it was even moving... Whats sad is I got my brake lights back and yet still not reverse... I did replace all the bulb in the back to to make sure it was not the bulbs..


So what can i do the fix this?

Title: reverse lights
Post by: ak96ss on May 03, 2009, 04:06:38 PM

Have you checked the wiring to the reverse switch?

Title: reverse lights
Post by: freeclowns on May 04, 2009, 12:37:13 AM

I have not checked that.. Where will I find the reverse switch at? This is my 1st bmw and i have only owned mazda rx7's.... I still own a 1st gen rx7, but i need to learn more about my bmw.

Title: reverse lights
Post by: ak96ss on May 04, 2009, 01:38:59 AM

The wiring for the switch runs through the boot where the shifter is, and often becomes frayed. That's the first thing I would look at. The switch itself is mounted on the right side of the transmission.

Title: reverse lights
Post by: freeclowns on May 04, 2009, 11:15:15 AM

thank you for the info... I will be check that out tomorrow when i am replacing the alternator,shocks and struts then...

Title: One more thing
Post by: romeomike on May 04, 2009, 05:24:31 PM

Reverse lights come through fuse #10 as contrasted to the stop lights on fuse #6. When I restored fog light capability on a non M42, I blew out fuse 29 doing nothing trickier than changing out bulbs, so who knows....:)

Title: reverse lights
Post by: freeclowns on May 05, 2009, 08:30:07 AM

now thats some bad luck.... sounds more like my kind of luck the last month or so.

Title: reverse lights
Post by: quinn11m20 on May 05, 2009, 09:01:56 AM

You know a few years ago I owned a 85 318i, and when I would put it into reverse my guages would drop. I was blowing a fuse. Follow? So my dealer replaced the reverse switch and I replaced the fuse. The point I am trying to say is, it could be more than the tailight mounts. It could be a relay. You never know. Good luck.