Help Needed - Exterior Lighting Trouble

[BEX]

I am suspecting a bad LCM. I have the Bentley Service manual for the 5series E39 and from what I have read there are no fuses to replace or relays that may have been burned from an over current situation.

I have just accepted this car from a local used auto dealer (non BMW), and have come across this problem.

The symptoms:

I had suspected a blown headlight last night while driving, as the low beam or the high beam on the right hand side of the vehicle would not illuminate. After further driving, I realized the right turn indicator was blinking extremely fast, indicating correctly that there was a blown rear tail signal light.

Here I am now, putting it all together, all on the right side of the vehicle, blown low & high beam and tail signal light.

I bought replacement bulbs to solve the problem. When I opened the hood, the connector to the right high beam was disconnected, when I connected it, the light immediately came on, NO KEY IN THE IGNITION, the high beam, once connected, illuminates, without any input from the light switch on the inside of the vehicle or the key.

The lights on the left hand side also do not appear to be working properly, and today, once the light switch in the cockpit is off, the turn signal indicators work normally.

I am suspecting a Light Control Module failure, if anyone can assist with helping me trouble shoot this vehicle, it would be greatly appreciated. I am looking to replace the LCM myself, as there IS NO BMW delaer here to assist. Please no one reply I am SOL!

Regards,

BEX

1997 Eurospec e39 520i
M52 I6 Engine

[Torque]

Originally posted by BEX@Aug 19 2005, 07:57 PM
Please no one reply I am SOL!

So ... should I reply or not ?

[BEX]

Originally posted by Torque+Aug 20 2005, 12:53 PM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Torque @ Aug 20 2005, 12:53 PM)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteBegin-BEX@Aug 19 2005, 07:57 PM
Please no one reply I am SOL!

So ... should I reply or not ?

[snapback]371144[/snapback]

[/b][/quote]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I have found an independant repair garage here that can install the new LCM and code it to the vehicle, I sure hope that is what my problems are. I just hope BMW Miami has the part or can order it within the week, or else I have to be home at sundown.

Will keep the board advised.

[yrshaik]

Greetings. I drive a 528i e39. One bright headlight stopped working.
Swopping the bulbs around did not change the symptom.

Being an electronics engineer, i delved into this problem myself. Firstly, there was no voltage present at the particular headlight plug. I took note of the cable colours and proceeded to trace it to it's voltage source. This was a most difficult task.

I eventually learnt that the lights were controlled by a module located in a recess behind the bonnet catch. The bonnet catch lever and the kick panel must be removed. The module is attached by a bolt at the bottom end and a "clip" at the top. Once the bolt is removed, the module can be pulled downwards to release it from the upper "clip".

I found the relevent coloured wires from the faulty headlight and traced it to a defective electronic switching device (ic) within the module. I could find no specs. or replacement for this ic. A replacement lcm cost a fortune, so i decided to solve this problem by building a relay circuit within the module, to replace the faulty ic.

It's been almost a year since and it still works.

Regards

Yusuf

[cnn]

Originally Posted by yrshaik

Greetings. I drive a 528i e39. One bright headlight stopped working.
Swopping the bulbs around did not change the symptom.

Being an electronics engineer, i delved into this problem myself. Firstly, there was no voltage present at the particular headlight plug. I took note of the cable colours and proceeded to trace it to it's voltage source. This was a most difficult task.

I eventually learnt that the lights were controlled by a module located in a recess behind the bonnet catch. The bonnet catch lever and the kick panel must be removed. The module is attached by a bolt at the bottom end and a "clip" at the top. Once the bolt is removed, the module can be pulled downwards to release it from the upper "clip".

I found the relevent coloured wires from the faulty headlight and traced it to a defective electronic switching device (ic) within the module. I could find no specs. or replacement for this ic. A replacement lcm cost a fortune, so i decided to solve this problem by building a relay circuit within the module, to replace the faulty ic.

It's been almost a year since and it still works.

Regards

Yusuf

www.totalbmwmag.com/HandsOn/TechJan04.pdf

Written by the British for RHD car but the location is the same.

HTH.

cn90