Gear Selector Light

[Rav]

Dear friends - I have just collected my car from BMR after fitting the suspension and a few other bits. The drive back was sublime a real difference - thanks to @charles for showing what an Alpina is supposed to ride like. No coilovers for me!

The journey home was long and I have just pulled up home and moved the gear selector from D to P and noted that the little yellow light that tells you which gear the car is in is no longer working.

Any help with this please? I hope its something I can do myself as i need to break the news to the wife that the suspension and fitting was £3k!

[Metrics]

Wowzers Rav, I though the kit was £1300 odd?

Sorry can't help with the light thing - lose connection, or the bulb or switch?

[Rav]

Thanks Metrics.

The kit was just over £1300 once delivered. It got stuck in europe with the wrong paperwork after Brexit! Fitting was not bad value from the BMR team at something like £600, but whilst the car was there, I added a few items to the list - gearbox flush, brake fluid change and a few other bits.

Lat thing i needed was the light not to work, but, 'classic cars - who would have 'em'?

[Charles]

Probably just a loose connection on the bulb. You can check this by lifting the trim around the gear selector.

Really pleased that you finally have the proper suspension set-up

[Metrics]

Ah I see, soon mounts up!

Enjoy

[davettf2]

Hi Rav Not sure if this will help, I'm assuming that your E46 has a 'pixel' dash panel, The details below , hopefully!, gives access to the ability to check all the instrument cluster illumination.

BMW E46 Hidden Codes
Instructions to access the hidden OBC functions:
 1. Hold Trip Reset while turning ignition key to on position
 2. OBC should show "Test"
 3. Use Trip Reset to select function 19.0 that unlocks all the features
 3. Wait for display to show "Off"
 4. Depress Trip Reset for 1/4 second and release it
 5. With no delay press Trip Reset several times to select one of the following functions
BMW E46 On-Board Computer (OBC) Hidden Codes:
1 Car Engine and cluster data
 1.0 46nnn Chassis nr/VIN serial number (last 5 digits)
 1.1 4nnn K-number
 1.2 690236 Cluster Part #
 1.3 045210 Coding (04)/diagnosis (52)/bus index (10)
 1.4 1200 Week (12)/year of manufacture (2000)
 1.5 09_160 Hardware (09) and software # (16.0) of cluster
 1.6 Not used
 1.7 04__44 CAN-version (04) KI-revision index (44)
2 (test) Cluster System Test - Activates the gauge drivers, indicators LEDs to confirm function
3 SI Data
 3.0 1098 Used fuel in liters since last SI (Service Inspection)
 3.1 0231 Periodic inspection days; elapsed days (since last SI)
4 Momentary Consumption
 4.0 0145+ Instant fuel consumption - 0145=14.5 liters/100km
 4.1 0018 Instant fuel consumption - 0018=1.8 l/Hour
5 Distance Gone Consumption
 5.0 082 Average mileage; 082=8.2 liters/100km
 5.1 0536 Calc. km to refuel (momentary distance to go)
6 Fuel Level sensor inputs in liters
 6.0 109330+ Fuel level averaged; Left half sensor input=10.9 liters; Right sensor input=33.0 liters
 6.1 0439+ Total tank level averaged; vlgs 6.0: 10.9+33.0=43.9 liters
 6.2 0442+ Indicated value (44.2) and tank phase
7 Temperature and Speed
 7.0 021+ Coolant/Engine temperature (2.1C)
 7.1 130 Ambient/Outside temperature - chg met 5 pts. 125/130/135
 7.2 + Engine speed / Current RPMs 1/min
 7.3 + Vehicle speed / Current Speed in km/hour
8 Input value in HEX form
 8.0 1d0+ System voltage ADC-Value Hex code
 8.1 26C33C+ ADC Values HG left/HG right
 8.2 0000 ADC Value brake degradation sensor (000=o.k.)
 8.3 18C ADC Value outside temperature
9 Battery
 9.0 140 Battery Voltage - 140 = UB 14.0v
 9.1 242013+?
 9.2 074_78+?
 9.3 0011+?
10 Not used
11 Not used
12 Not used
13 GonG Gong Test
14 Not used
15 Status cluster I/O-ports (bit codes) 0=low; 1=high
 1 belt contact, seat belt fastened=0;
 2 ignition lock contact, key inserted=0;
 3 door contact, door open=0;
 4 clock button pressed=0;
 5 SI reset=0, for reset=0;
 6 EGS transmission failure=0
Status Digital Outputs (bits) 0=inactive, 1=active
 1 Gong output;
 2 Brake warning lamp;
 3 Low fuel warning lamp;
 4 EGA lamp;
 5 seat belt lamp;
 6 manipulation dot
16 Not used
17 Not used
18 Not used
19 Lock Status; unlocks functions in range 3-18
 19.0 L-On/L-Off Unlock: press button when "L-Off"
20 Not used
21 Software Reset; reset OBC settings
00 End of test

Cheers
Dave

[Rav]

Wow - thanks Dave. I will give that a look. I have never seen this before. What a great resource!!

[Charles]

Rav - just to clarify - is it the orange light on the centre console next to the gear lever or the display on the dash?

[Rav]

Good point Charles - I got excited.

Its the little yellow light next to the gear selector informing you of which position the lever is in.
Mine was temperamental and no have given up. I checked a few forums and it seems that wires wear away under here.
https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=511799

I will investigate in detail tomorrow.

[Rav]

Ok, so i went out the car and its now working fine.....Madness!

[CaesarBob]

Definitely sounds like you've probably got a wiring issue. Most likely there is a wire which is wearing through or is breaking due to following a convoluted path.