Dashboard lights not workin!!! :(

[Ranz_Killa]

hi guys,

i have a V reg 99 318iSE [E46]. Am having some trouble lately. All the lights on the dashboard have gone crazy...
1. When indicating left or right, it does not show on the dashboard, but from outside u can see that the indicators are working.
2. if i leave my door open, it will show on the dashboard that my door is open. but once i close it, it still shows that my car is open!
3. When i switch my car off, sometimes the indicator light on the dashboard will appear and start ticking, even though i am not indicating.

I normally, turn the key around, take it out, and restart the car, for it to go back to normal, until a minute later.. and it all starts messin up again.
Now, the car went in for MOT, and the guy changed my clear lightbulbs at the front for yellow light bulbs. Since then, the dashboard has been messing up.
So i think, somehow the electrics have messed up.. but im not sure.. could there be a loose wire / cable, from when he changed the bulbs??

Please Help Thanks in advance!

[storme]

1st of all....disconnect the battery for 10 mins...(make sure u have any radio codes)


if this dont work....i reckon it is the control module

also,,,just check that the bulbs are the correct ones...voltage watts etc

good luck

[Ocean02]

I had a somewhat similar problem with my tailight indicator light. The indicator light on my dash has been intermitantly turning on and off, indicating that there is a bad light in the passenger-side, rear light cluster. When I checked these last night, everything was working. I replaced the running lights just to make sure, but the dash light still comes on and off---drives me nuts! Could there be a bad connection? It's a 2002 325i sedan.

I don't have an alarm as far as I know, so if I disconnect the battery, do I need to do anything?

[storme]

if u open the door with a remote,,then u have an alarm....if u have a radio that needs a code,,make sure u have the code

other than that....just disconnect the battery for 10 mins....

i cant remember off hand which way round to do it...but read your handbook..it tells u which colour wire to take off the battery in which order

[Ocean02]

I reckon the radio code will be in the booklet too? I'll take a look-see and let you know what happens...

Thanks.

[Ranz_Killa]

i put the original light bulbs back in, but still same problem used:

[Ocean02]

If anyone cares about my little dilemna, I took the bimmer to the dealer and the guy looked at the rear lights and said, "oh, you don't have an OEM bulb in here". I replaced it and "Viola!", no more dash light!

The motto of this story is, don't get crappy aftermarket bulbs that have the wrong wattage. (From the previous owner, I guess.)