» Site Navigation | | » Recent Threads | | | | | | | 04-18-2005, 01:28 AM | #1 | Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Raleigh NC Posts: 36 | Today I bought my 98 318ti [probably a club sport] Black 5 spd/leather and cloth/sunroof/fogs/"m" badges/61000 miles/awesome original condition/ASC/5 spoke alloys/paid $6800/cd changer/no cruise... I'm thoroughly thrilled with this deal! I fly into Miami Wed. to pick it up and drive it home [perhaps via Key West]. only problems: lightly sagging headliner Brake lights [taillights only- up¢er is okay] don't light and needs rear brakes. http://images.autotrader.com/images/..._A.240x180.jpg Questions: Can OEM CC be added? Is there a timing belt/chain maintenence issue? | | | 04-18-2005, 01:52 AM | #2 | Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: mass Posts: 186 | niiice man sounds like a hella deal. take good care of her where shes in tit condition. | | | 04-18-2005, 01:52 AM | #3 | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 9,356 | What you have there is a Sport. Club Sports where only in 95. Cruise control can be added but there is a lot of labor involved. Some people have had headliner problems. These cars have timing chains. Not really an issue. Brakes are easy DIY jobs. No rear lights? Are they just burned bulbs or are there electrical problems? Congrats on the car. If you have questions try the search function. A lot has already been covered. __________________ ...steven BMW CCA #146825 1996 BMW 328ti • 2003 MINI Cooper S • 2016 M235i www.bmwcca.org | | | 04-18-2005, 02:11 AM | #4 | Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Raleigh NC Posts: 36 | The third light works, not the taillights... I'll know more wednesday. | | | 04-18-2005, 02:15 AM | #5 | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 9,356 | Quote: Originally Posted by itzyoubob The third light works, not the taillights... I'll know more wednesday. | Hopefully it is just burned out bulbs. __________________ ...steven BMW CCA #146825 1996 BMW 328ti • 2003 MINI Cooper S • 2016 M235i www.bmwcca.org | | | 04-18-2005, 04:01 AM | #6 | Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Virginia Posts: 368 | Could be the wrong bulbs, too. Ti's use odd bulbs and some places aren't familiar with how to source the correct ones. And the entire headliner is really not that expensive, considering how cheaply you bought the car! | | | 04-18-2005, 04:23 AM | #7 | Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Delafield, WI Posts: 471 | Quote: Originally Posted by Phil Marx Could be the wrong bulbs, too. Ti's use odd bulbs and some places aren't familiar with how to source the correct ones. And the entire headliner is really not that expensive, considering how cheaply you bought the car! | Nothing odd about the bulbs, replaced a tail/brake light bulb about 3 months ago. Got one at NAPA, it's a Wagner 17916. | | | 04-18-2005, 08:14 AM | #8 | Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Virginia Posts: 368 | It's easy as long as you match them up. Dealers have been known to simply swap in a non-ti E36 bulb that is not the same. | | | 04-23-2005, 07:48 AM | #9 | Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Delafield, WI Posts: 471 | Quote: Originally Posted by Phil Marx It's easy as long as you match them up. Dealers have been known to simply swap in a non-ti E36 bulb that is not the same. | How hard is it to pop off the panel at the store/dealer, two thumbscrews? That's what I did. It's always better to have the part in hand, I don't like making extra trips. | | | 04-23-2005, 01:17 PM | #10 | Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Virginia Posts: 368 | Quote: Originally Posted by mickd How hard is it to pop off the panel at the store/dealer, two thumbscrews? That's what I did. It's always better to have the part in hand, I don't like making extra trips. | That works fine as long as you know the bulbs you have are the correct bulbs. Usually the problem is that they've already been replaced by the inccorrect bulbs and matching them up perpetuates the problem. The dealer's parts film is not always helpful in figuring out what bulb goes where. | | | 04-23-2005, 02:54 PM | #11 | Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Delafield, WI Posts: 471 | Quote: Originally Posted by Phil Marx That works fine as long as you know the bulbs you have are the correct bulbs. Usually the problem is that they've already been replaced by the inccorrect bulbs and matching them up perpetuates the problem. The dealer's parts film is not always helpful in figuring out what bulb goes where. | You do have 2 bulbs to check. To find out what bulb I propped a board on the brake pedal in the NAPA parking lot. The problem is you went to the dealer, most car parts stores could have matched the bulb that was installed by the base size and bayonet style and wattage, dual element 5/21W. You will find the wattage on any bulb regardless of brand. You could have checked RealOEM.com, it's #4 http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...85&hg=63&fg=20 I'd rather fix a problem than to make excuses. | | | 04-23-2005, 05:33 PM | #12 | Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Raleigh NC Posts: 36 | The problem is not the bulbs. The up and center brake light worked {only} when I got the car. the rear center and the left front turn signal light went on with the brake pedal. I went to a Parts store and looked up in their book and installed the right lights. All 3 brake lights worked with and without the running/head lights on. The next day there were no brake lights at all. There seems to be no power to the brake light switch. There does seem to be power at the fusebox. I checked the fuse for the brake light, along with other brake-related fuses. I also tried to false wire to the switch to no avail. I guess I'll try a new switch, but I think the issue is elsewhere. This was posted elsewhere in response to the left front light issue: "NOPE....you have a bad ground! I had the same problem in my car it turned out to be the drivers side rear tail light circuit board. at times it randomly kept my whole rear end lit up while driving...it looked like I was riding my brakes. Trust me it bothered me for almost 6 months, until I figured it out." | | | 04-18-2005, 01:23 PM | #13 | aka Stabby Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mead, CO Posts: 5,336 | this problem of BOTH taillights going out at the same time seems at least somewhat common, so as steven first mentioned, start there (and make sure you get the CORRECT bulbs, two filament, not single) or get two of each bulb and plug away until you get them to work again __________________ 1996 318ti, California package, 267k miles current mods: bilstein sports, bavauto springs, e30 m3 LCABs, solid metal ball joints, bavauto RSMs w/reinforcements, e30 3.73 LSD & halfshafts, supersprint cat-back exhaust, turner rear sway bar reinforcements, IE poly subframe & RTABs + camber/toe kits, powdercoated e36 32x front calipers, sport mirrors, H&R 28mmF/19mmR sway bars, x-brace, auto solutions SSK w/poly bushing upgrade, BMW CD43 head unit, DICE HD Radio w/iPod integration and "stealth" HD antenna, staggered style 68s, orange electronic TPMS, leather arm rest, JT Designs metal undertray acquired and awaiting install: heated seat kit, cali top switch relo, lumbar support kit, park distance control kit, heated washer nozzle kit, m-coupe rear subframe, trailing arms, differential, and halfshafts, m-coupe front/rear brakes with master cylinder, under hood light kit, mud flaps, rear sun blind, auto-dimming rear view mirror, tilt steering wheel retrofit, apexcone 5000K HIDs with 55W ballasts 2002 X5 4.4 Sport Package, 53.5k miles Current Mods: e46 m3 steering wheel | | | 04-21-2005, 12:30 AM | #14 | Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Raleigh NC Posts: 36 | fixt the lites NOT! It was the wrong bulbs. I put the wright ones in and voiila... This morning there were no brake lights at all. a check of the power shows no power to the brake light switch. | | | 04-23-2005, 03:43 AM | #15 | Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Raleigh NC Posts: 36 | The Brake lights went bad again. Now there is no power to the brake light switch. I'll be hunting around the fuse block again Saturday. Is there a possible computer reset sequence i could try or is it possible the bulbs are of the wrong amperage and could have cooked something? | | | | | Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | | Posting Rules | You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts HTML code is Off | | | |