Questions and Answers

BMW 318i Head Light Problems Q. Hi, You are a great help! I have a 1984 BMW 318i. Two door sedan. 1.8 liter with a manual transmission. I went to turn the head lights on and they came on for a second and went out. In the past, this has happened but a second later the headlights came on and stayed on. The dashboard lights, taillights, and marker lights worked. I turned on the bright headlights and all four headlights came on.

But now when I turn on anything on the dash the air, the fan, the headlights, or the brights, the temperature. gauge jumps about ten degrees. During the day with the above not on the temperature gauge works normally.

I replaced the headlight switch, which was burned at the point where the low beam wire contacts the switch. I know this because I took the wire off and there was no change.

With the new switch, the headlights still do not come on, and the temperature gauge advances as before, but now when I have the brights on, the fog lights will come on but not with the headlight switch pulled out. I think that the problem is the low beam relay, which was probably shorted out when then the headlight switch went bad.

Problem, the guide to the relays and fuses, which is on the underside of the fuse box cover is gone. I can not get one from the dealer and the two manuals I have do not tell me either. What to you think is the problem and if you think it is the relay which one is it. Also, I have a leaky sunroof. I replaced the lid seal and it still leaks, any ideas?

Thanks,
Gary

A. Here is a diagram showing where the relays are located. I suspect it could be a bad really as well. They are all the same relay so you can swap them back and forth to determine if it is a bad relay and which one it is.

As for the sun roof, I would check the four drains, one at each corner, and make sure the are free and clear. Other than that, the best thing to do is have a body shop look at it. It is likely the roof is out of adjustment.