robbo86
Part of things
Current Ride: 2018 Volvo V90 D4 , 1983 Rover SD1 Vitesse
Posts: 168
|
|
Mar 24, 2011 10:49:47 GMT
|
Ok so here goes:
I have a 95 BMW e36 328i. I have a few questions about a few small issues I have.
Firstly, I swapped the rear lights for a clear indicators set, to match the rest of the car and since then whenever I switch the rear lights on, I get a message saying "tail light failure" on the obc screen. The lights however all work. Secondly, if I swap for an HID kit, will inget an error message for the headlights also.
Thirdly, I decided to give the old girl a damn good vacuum out the other day, including unbolting the front seats to get underneath them properly. I also had the rear sea base off to do the same. Since then, the airbag light on the dash comes on when the ignition is started and stays on for about 5 minutes. I do not believe I disturbed the airbag deeley under the rear seat. Under the passenger front seat was plugged into the floor, this was disconnected when the seat removed and reconnected when placed back.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mar 24, 2011 11:00:51 GMT
|
My old E36 had the airbag light on permanently. It's a common E36 thing, as any number of things can trigger the warning light (removal of seats included) and I think the only way to stop that is to get it reset by BMW. I never bothered, I just ignored the light...
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mar 24, 2011 11:05:04 GMT
|
I 'think' there are two different kinds of rear tail light on an e36. check control & non check control. Maybe you have the wrong ones? As far as I am aware there are no warnings for the front headlamps on the on board computer. The airbag light will be on because you took the seats out. pop it into a bmw place & they can re set it. They might charge you £20 though.
|
|
|
|
robbo86
Part of things
Current Ride: 2018 Volvo V90 D4 , 1983 Rover SD1 Vitesse
Posts: 168
|
|
Mar 24, 2011 11:26:08 GMT
|
Possibly, the rear lights came out of a scrapper and I don't think it was as well specced with OBC etc might have to look on egay then I guess.
Could only BMW reset it or could any garage reset it?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mar 24, 2011 11:34:55 GMT
|
Just use your old back for the lights they should be the same fitment.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mar 24, 2011 11:38:24 GMT
|
My mate had an issues with bulb warning lights in his audi, turned out he hadnt bought audi bulbs and the resistance was different making the computer think the bulbs were not working.
|
|
Volvo back as my main squeeze, more boost and some interior goodies on the way.
|
|
Si
Part of things
(OO [][] OO)
Posts: 203
|
|
Mar 24, 2011 11:47:44 GMT
|
On my e36 M3 I've got the same issue - it's because BMW designed the tail lights to take 2x 10watt bulbs each side.. I'm betting you've stuck standard 5 watt tail bulbs in (as have I).. Tail lights only pulling half the current the check computer thinks they're meant to = must be a blown bulb, let's warn the driver!
Can't help with the rest though, sorry!
|
|
Unseen Jersey---------------- Delica Super Exceed 2.8 Delica Super Exceed 3.0v6 "Project Bully" e36 M3 e36 318iT e36 328iT Always looking for the next project, and somewhere to put it!
|
|
robbo86
Part of things
Current Ride: 2018 Volvo V90 D4 , 1983 Rover SD1 Vitesse
Posts: 168
|
|
|
Hmmmm so your saying try10 watt bulbs on the rear? That's good I can get a pack of them for about a quid on my mates trade card! Woop
|
|
|
|
rld14
Part of things
Posts: 351
|
|
|
I can help.
1) You unplugged the seats with the battery connected? Yup, that's why the light is on. The car lost signal to a seat occupancy sensor. This is unrelated to the usual SRS light, that's often caused by a faulty seatbelt latch, at least on US models. You'll have to have the light reset, while it is on the SRS system might be disabled. I say might be because I have heard of airbags working when a car with the SRS light on got into an accident, and I have heard of them not deploying.
2) Rear lights.... ok, the check control is looking at resistance. So It's gotta be down to either a bad bulb, incorrect bulb or incorrect wiring. Assuming the wiring and grounds are fine, check to see if the bulbs have brass bases, that'll confuse check control.
3) Headlights are more of the same. The OE Halogen bulbs draw a lot more power than HIDs, so Mr. Check control sees a lot less resistance so it throws off a code. On my E38 I had this problem and coded the car for HIDs, in your case HIDs weren't available on an E36, so option #1 is to live with it, Option #2 is some people wire in either a resistor or a tail lamp 12v bulb (Like an 1157) into the wiring to the headlamps, this creates additional draw, enough to shut the check control up.
|
|
Last Edit: Mar 25, 2011 5:37:47 GMT by rld14
88 BMW E28 M5
62 Vauxhall Velox
60 Vauxhall Velox
60 Lincoln Premiere Coupe
60 Lincoln Continental Mark V Convertible
54 Ford Customline Fordor
32 Ford Roadster
|
|
|
|
|
All of the above responses sound likely to be the problem, but if all else fails, check the wiring between the body and the bootlid, where it flexes. On my old one the wires chafed through inside the cover giving me intermittent faults
|
|
1967 Morris Traveller 1971 Series IIA Land Rover 1991 Golf GL 4+e 1992 Corrado G60 1986 E28 BMW 528i
|
|
|
Ian
Part of things
Posts: 977
|
|
Mar 25, 2011 13:22:11 GMT
|
I have just done exactly the same! My old lights had no issues with the check control, and the replacement M3 style lights have come from a non check control equiped car. if you have a look on the connector and the old lights you took off, you will notice that the pins do not align. You can get round it with a bit of adapted wiring though, by connecting the now missing pin by connecting into the wiring loom by cutting the wire to the check control system, and connecting this to the metal on the light.
Failing that sell on the lights and find ones from a check control equiped car.
|
|
|
|
Boogieman
Part of things
☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ -- five star failure
Posts: 445
|
|
Mar 25, 2011 13:50:06 GMT
|
. . . the replacement M3 style lights . . the M3 has the exact same lights as every other E36 . . . Your light problem is (as said) because the new taillights are designed for a non check-control car . . The airbag light is on, because you have seat belt tensioners in both your lower belt straps . . and a sensor mat for the airbag in the passenger seat . . if you disconnect the connectors under your seats, it'll store a error in the airbag control unit . . pretty much every garage with a scanner should be able to reset it . . as long, as they have a BMW diagnostic connector . .
|
|
........
|
|
Ian
Part of things
Posts: 977
|
|
Mar 25, 2011 14:30:17 GMT
|
Later spec clear topped rear lights, compared to early ones with orange indicators
|
|
|
|
Boogieman
Part of things
☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ -- five star failure
Posts: 445
|
|
Mar 25, 2011 15:32:42 GMT
|
since '96 clear indicators were a normal option anybody could order like a sun roof, or a air conditioning . . . . regardless if 316i or M3 . . and before that, it was a retrofit-set you could order from the parts departement . . even in 1991 . . there's no "later" or "earlier" . . the clear indicator lights are exactly the same for all years . . there are only differences for the various body styles . . and the side indicators on the front wings have changed with the facelift . . that's all . .
for example, a standard '95 M3 has amber indicators . . . while a '97 316i might have clear ones from the factory . . .
clear indicators have absolutley nothing (!!) to do with M3, M, M-tech or M3-style . . .
|
|
Last Edit: Mar 25, 2011 16:09:13 GMT by Boogieman
........
|
|
Ian
Part of things
Posts: 977
|
|
Mar 25, 2011 16:37:22 GMT
|
Fair enough, they are often (now I know incorrectly) referred too as these though. I will now refer to these as clear rear lights!! I prefer them to the orange turn lights though, I didnt like the orange on my silver one.
|
|
|
|
robbo86
Part of things
Current Ride: 2018 Volvo V90 D4 , 1983 Rover SD1 Vitesse
Posts: 168
|
|
Mar 26, 2011 11:08:46 GMT
|
Hmmm so either wrong bulbs or wrong lights... Guess I'll have to have a looksee then!
|
|
|
|
rld14
Part of things
Posts: 351
|
|
Mar 26, 2011 12:01:16 GMT
|
I didn't even consider the check control itself.. Over here all our E36s have check control.
But check the bulbs first.
|
|
88 BMW E28 M5
62 Vauxhall Velox
60 Vauxhall Velox
60 Lincoln Premiere Coupe
60 Lincoln Continental Mark V Convertible
54 Ford Customline Fordor
32 Ford Roadster
|
|
robbo86
Part of things
Current Ride: 2018 Volvo V90 D4 , 1983 Rover SD1 Vitesse
Posts: 168
|
|
|
Will do. I have another question. My 328 has the sigma 3T alarm which no longer sounds I believe due to the internal battery discharging itself. I have been told it can be replaced but have no idea how to open the siren to do so. Any ideas???
|
|
|
|