So, after owning an '88 e28 for just a couple months, I'm taking the kids for a short spin when my daughter decides she'd like a Starbucks. I first go into a store to do an errand leaving she and my son in the car (yes they're old enough...), during which time they both do what they normally do, that is, push every button the interior of the car has to offer. :mad

Unknowingly I get back into the car, start it up, and the interior lighting doesn't work and the OBC is out. I don't notice anything else until we get into the Starbucks drive-thru line, when, as we wait behind about 5 cars in a slow-moving line, the horn starts beeping uncontrollably. People in front of me think I'm some caffeine crazed jerk who can't wait to get my fix..... :embarrasm I don't really know what caused the horn to do that but it finally stopped and at the same time, the interior lights and OBC suddenly work again. Who knows what buttons were pushed...???

Fast forward to last week. After having performed lots of restoration and having it looking much better inside, I take this ugly-duckling-soon-to-be-a-swan on the road for my work. I am in a semi-redneck part of town and I'm not sure where I am so I pull over to the side of the road, get out the map, and turn on the flashers. That's it! The flashers don't work, the interior lights go out again, the OBC goes - nada. Car still runs and all else is okay but evidently one of my kids must have pushed in the flasher button to create all that mess.:icon23

So, now having my bearings I pull back into traffic and up to a red light behind 3 rather large motorcycle gang type guys. My exhaust is practically louder than their choppers but not by design - it needs work as well. They're looking around at me like I'm some destitute guy living in my car but notice my plates, signalling that I "ain't from around there"...

The light turns green and the very split-second it does, my freakin horn goes off completely involuntarily again, just like it did back in the Starbucks line months ago. The guys are thinking I'm honking at them for not going sooner after the light turns green. One of them gives me the finger :flipa and the other two just shake their heads, mouth a few expletives, and take off. Once again, the e28 project car strikes again. I just sat there tooling down the road laughing out loud. :D About 20 minutes later, the OBC, interior lights, and presumably the horn go back to normal.

Several times I've thought maybe I'm in over my head with this thing but you know, this car has real character and I can't let it get away now. Besides that, it is an absolute blast to drive. :alright

Anyone else have similar experiences?

if only you knew.....

that's a bit of an odd one... but there are millions like it....

Have you checked out the fuses? If they're very old I'd buy a couple boxes of new fuses and clean all the connections in the fuse box and replace all of them. I'm not sure if the OBC, horn and flashers are on the same fuse, but I'd eliminate them first.

flasher module

holy zombie thread revival! lol

replace all the fuses with the glass equivalents. those old plasic type tend to cause lots of issues, especially in the E30/E28. do that, and you should eliminate most of the headlight, brakelight and OBC faulty warning issues..

replace all the fuses with the glass equivalents. those old plasic type tend to cause lots of issues, especially in the E30/E28. do that, and you should eliminate most of the headlight, brakelight and OBC faulty warning issues..


Happy to say: BINGO! :drummer Changed 'em a couple of times but with some tweaking of fit, fixed the problems. Thanks all.

replace all the fuses with the glass equivalents. those old plasic type tend to cause lots of issues, especially in the E30/E28. do that, and you should eliminate most of the headlight, brakelight and OBC faulty warning issues..

sounds like a good idea to me, where is the best place to find replacements?
i have all plastic fuses and they are garbage....lol

-Dale

replace all the fuses with the glass equivalents. those old plasic type tend to cause lots of issues, especially in the E30/E28. do that, and you should eliminate most of the headlight, brakelight and OBC faulty warning issues..

:lol

That's when all my electrical issues started!!! I went back to using those old garbage plastic fuses and everything was fine after that!

anyone ever have issues with their starter relay? my e28 won't turn over unless I have someone tap the starter relay with a mag light.

e23's do the same thing. Just buy a high quality reman.
and make sure your positive cable and negative cable are in great shape