Help about light switch

[Alexandre VTS]

Dear Friends,

Right now need some help.

Well, it is about light switch. I got a 323Ti. Real OEM, doesn't solve my doubts.

Here we go, I got a failure in my light switch, due to a problem in my illuminated shift knob.

Searching through internet, found some pictures from 318ti dashboard, and it is like mine, not to be for the fact of my car has a button on right side that controls fog light and rear fog light.


Other cars, have light button outside the dashboard, like this one:


Well, what i need to know is:

Does 318ti on light button, controls 2 positions of light ( minimum and medium, not the fogs)?
Does this button also controls dimmer dashboard lights?

If so, please provide me right part number of this light switch.

Waiting, thank you very much!

[1996 328ti]

Well, on the 318ti we don't have buttons.
One knob is for the lights and it pulls out in 2 positions, plus rotates to adjust the dash lights.
On the other side of the cluster there is a similar switch for fogs.
US models only have fogs in the front, so I don't know if other (non-US) models are two position as well.

[J!m]

I beleive the european models have the same configuration of switches, but just add the rear fog light (and a slightly larger fuse I beleive as well).

The switch chould come up in realoem.com with no issues. That program is overly complicated, so you may have to look in the "wrong" place to find the part you want.

Or, check the for sale section and see if anyone is parting out a ti and can send you the switch...

[Alexandre VTS]

Originally Posted by 1996 328ti

Well, on the 318ti we don't have buttons.
One knob is for the lights and it pulls out in 2 positions, plus rotates to adjust the dash lights.
On the other side of the cluster there is a similar switch for fogs.
US models only have fogs in the front, so I don't know if other (non-US) models are two position as well.

328ti,

Maybe i did not expressed my self well. That is what i am talking about, knobs.

The one that controls lights and rotates to adjust dash lights is on the left side of the cluster, is that right?

If so, it is equal as mine. If you can, please help me with correct number

Originally Posted by J!m

I beleive the european models have the same configuration of switches, but just add the rear fog light (and a slightly larger fuse I beleive as well).

The switch chould come up in realoem.com with no issues. That program is overly complicated, so you may have to look in the "wrong" place to find the part you want.

Or, check the for sale section and see if anyone is parting out a ti and can send you the switch...

Dear Jim,

If the only difference is about second position of rear fog light and that means that we are talking to the knob that goes on right side of the cluster, no problem at all.
What i reallly need to know is if the knob on the left side of the cluster have 2 positions for lights, and if it is rotates to control dash lights.

If it works this way, please help me with number of the correct switch. Thank you very much

[1996 328ti]

Take a look at
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...98&hg=61&fg=35

Although many of them say light switch.

[Alexandre VTS]

Originally Posted by 1996 328ti

Take a look at
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...98&hg=61&fg=35

Although many of them say light switch.

Steven,

That's it. So many says light switch. And also seems to me, that all of them talks about Fog, what seems to me, that they're talking about the light switch that goes on the knob that fits the right side.

Well, if anyone can clarify this, would be a great help. Buying parts overseas is not that easy.

[Alexandre VTS]

Maybe i didn't understand this in a good way. Thinking better, there is one item (number 6) that says " For vehicles with rear fog light - light switch". My car has front and rear fog lights.
This way, my part would be: 61318353504

What do you guys think?

Thank you very much

[1996 328ti]

I'm as confused to which part.

[Will'sBimmer]

Originally Posted by Alexandre VTS

Maybe i didn't understand this in a good way. Thinking better, there is one item (number 6) that says " For vehicles with rear fog light - light switch". My car has front and rear fog lights.
This way, my part would be: 61318353504

What do you guys think?

Thank you very much

I was thinking number 6 as well. That would be my best bet.

[1996 328ti]

There is also this site.
http://bmwfans.info/original/E36/com...1/ill-61_0098/

61 31 8 353 504
Light switch for vehicles with rear fog light

[J!m]

Best thing to do is to remove yours and match it up at the dealer.

Also, if using real OEM, input your VIN number, and not just the model year information. That way., the correct parts will be shown.

I think you want the one with for lights, as there is a feed from the headlight switch to the fog light switch. Cars without fog lights delete this connection.

All the headlight switches have three positions:

off
side lights (parking lights in the US)
on

When in side light or on position, power is allowed to go to the fog light switch. This way, if you forget to turn off the fog lights, they will go off with the headlight switch.

Also, the fogs will be turned off when high-beams are turned on.

[Alexandre VTS]

Originally Posted by Will'sBimmer

I was thinking number 6 as well. That would be my best bet.

Will,

If you pay attention, you´ll see that there are several number 6, all of them showing light switches for my car.

Originally Posted by J!m

Best thing to do is to remove yours and match it up at the dealer.

Also, if using real OEM, input your VIN number, and not just the model year information. That way., the correct parts will be shown.

I think you want the one with for lights, as there is a feed from the headlight switch to the fog light switch. Cars without fog lights delete this connection.

All the headlight switches have three positions:

off
side lights (parking lights in the US)
on

When in side light or on position, power is allowed to go to the fog light switch. This way, if you forget to turn off the fog lights, they will go off with the headlight switch.

Also, the fogs will be turned off when high-beams are turned on.

Jim,

I tryed using my VIN number, and what i see, is absolutelly the same page, with this all light switches

I agree with you, that the best thing is to take my car at BMW, and match up. To be sincerelly, i would like to avoid this. Only in last case, if we don´t find the answer for this.

Man, there must be at least one person in this forum, that had this problem before, and had to buy this switch, that can clarify this thing for us.

About working, that is how it works, except in my case about high-beams. Here, even with they on, fogs keep working

Let´s pray for more inputs, that can solve this dilema

[Alexandre VTS]

Originally Posted by 1996 328ti

There is also this site.
http://bmwfans.info/original/E36/com...1/ill-61_0098/

61 31 8 353 504
Light switch for vehicles with rear fog light

Looking at this, we see some number 6 as on real oem, but check it:


61 31 8 353 503 - switch fog lamp and fog tail lamp. If i understand, this one goes on right knob am i right?

This way, as Jim said in his post "I think you want the one with for lights, as there is a feed from the headlight switch to the fog light switch. Cars without fog lights delete this connection."

Considering this, other number 6 seems to be for the knob in the left side that works off, side lights and on. The one I need.

Considering that my car have front and rear fog lights my part must be:
61 31 8 353 504.

Waiting for you, my friends, that have more experience than me.

Thank you

[1996 328ti]

Originally Posted by Alexandre VTS

Man, there must be at least one person in this forum, that had this problem before, and had to buy this switch, that can clarify this thing for us.

In the US

• we don't drive at night
• don't have any 323ti's
• don't have rear fog lights

[Alexandre VTS]

Originally Posted by 1996 328ti

In the US

• we don't drive at night
• don't have any 323ti's
• don't have rear fog lights

hehehehehehehehh

If someone with a 318ti, with front fog light done this service, i´m sure that my doubt is resolved

Still waiting