92 735i, On a couple of occasions, my hi beams have come on without any direction at all. When on, they do not respond to the light switch or hi/lo switch. This is only the two hi beams, all other lights are uneffected.

The first time it was in heavy interstate traffic.

Second time today after dealing with a busted upper curved coolant hose. (It ruptured after arriving from a long distance trip. The motor didn't overheat, but there was a fair amount of heat building up as I fixed it.) They went off a little later after driving a few miles.

So, the only common denominator that I see is heat - but that may be a red herring. Has anybody else experienced this? Or ideas?

does the high beam indicator light in the instrument cluster stay on when you turn the head lights? I've the same problem, and I was told that I need to fix the high beam switch at the steering column.

Elias

Loose or busted contacts in your steering wheel. Also some foreign tiny metal peices shorting the contacts. You may want to blow compress air to the electrical contacts inside the steering columm.

does the high beam indicator light in the instrument cluster stay on when you turn the head lights? I've the same problem, and I was told that I need to fix the high beam switch at the steering column.

Elias
It doesn't come on at all when this happens. The only way I know that they are on is from the reflections outside.

turns out it was a relay in the crash control system. Something about turning on the high beams and unlocking the doors in a crash according to the mechanic. He heard the relay popping when he was working on something else. Replaced it and all is well. Perhaps this will help somebody else in the future.