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Thread: DIY - Emergency flasher repair

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    Clarksburg, MD USA
    Posts
    96
    My Cars
    1982 320i

    DIY - Emergency flasher repair

    This DIY was snagged off of the bmw320i.com site before the lights went out permanently over there. I did not write it and take no credit for it. It was very helpful to me. I did not change the words of the original poster - only some punctuation, spelling and emphases. I may have aligned the page a bit differently from it's original form. I will be posting all of the DIYs I saved from over there that have not been posted here already (like Jester's tranny swap) ENJOY!



    An easy fix to a common problem on these vehicles.



    With the flasher removed from the dash - easily accessed by removing the speaker grill and pushing on the backside of the flasher - use a small screwdriver or pocket knife and carefully pry the top half of the switch off the base.

    Watch out for the spring when you get the two pieces apart.

    When you get the flasher apart and you retrieve the spring that went flying across the room you should see the metal follower in the base of the switch that rides in the cam on the upper half.

    Usually the pin (red arrow) is bent up - as shown by the blue arrow. Note the angle of the pin.





    Using a pair of needle nose pliers, grab the metal arm just below the pin and gently bend (or twist may be a better description) the arm inward.

    Here's a view of the pin and arm after realigning the pin.

    Now carefully replace the spring and the upper half of the switch.





    Here's a view of the pin riding in the cam on the upper half of the switch.

    A word of advice - let the red button out gently when turning the flashers on. Don't poke at it and let your finger slide off allowing the button to "pop" out. That's how the pin and arm get bent.

    I know that the button attracts attention, but remind your passengers that they are in a classic BMW that's 20 years old or better and to "leave the damn button alone!

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Location
    Ohio
    Posts
    6,763
    My Cars
    E21 320i, e39 540i/6
    excellent. I'll add whatever you post to the faq.

    '81 320i turbo | t25, 931 CIS, 240hp, 13.92@100mph | 2.2L m10 Turbo Build | My E21 Videos |

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Fayetteville, NC
    Posts
    153
    My Cars
    330XI, Porsche 944
    Well written and excellent pix.

    Very Nice!!

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    Washington
    Posts
    257
    My Cars
    81 320is
    problem solved....FINALLY ! Thanks alot!


    81 320is, Stock m10, CAI, TEP headers, 'high performance' wires, ST lowering springs (1.5''), Billie sports, Front and rear stress bars, Alpina bar, Poly bushings

    I'm always changing it, it needs endless money, and i love it with all my heart. This is my baby.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    MA
    Posts
    216
    My Cars
    1982 320i
    i did this same technique with my rear defroster switch. a new one of those is 85 bucks.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Portland, OR
    Posts
    915
    My Cars
    80 320i, 87 325 i & is
    Heh... I think mine's been continuously ON for about 5 years. I kind of like the styley little purple light.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    des moines, ia
    Posts
    141
    My Cars
    B5, e21 (sold)
    VERY HELPFUL!

    Fixed my hazzard switch and rear defrost with this


    E21 320iS
    B5 A4

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    District Nine
    Posts
    17,984
    My Cars
    sold 78 BMW 320i
    Aha! So that's why my old one likes to pop-out when it's sitting in blazing sun heat!
    That esplains it . Robert
    Tbd

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    Kingston, Ontario, Canada
    Posts
    593
    My Cars
    '78, '80 parts cars
    I've got a couple working hazard light switches for sale ('78 & '80), if anyone needs one. Ian (Ontario, Canada): pringle_5@sympatico.ca

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Oct 2012
    Location
    Sandy, OR
    Posts
    22
    My Cars
    1982 BMW 320i e21
    when i got a new haz switch i put it in and it started to smoke =0 ideas?!

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    monterey, ca.
    Posts
    14,486
    My Cars
    e21, e30 m3. e46 330ci
    ^ it was probably made by Lucas and not OEM.
    Tom D

    77 e21 - m42
    88 e30m3
    04 330 dinan3
    84 r1000rt
    02 r1150rs
    all of them gray
    14 f800gsa - red headed stepchild!

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    vancouver, washington
    Posts
    491
    My Cars
    83 320i to 325ti S.I.K.
    isn't the newest E21 months from 30 years old? lol

    excellent write-up! Lucky for me mine was a reliable car and the hazard switch is top notch!
    Standard 320i: $1000
    Auto: -$500
    Perfect interior:+$200
    Needs paint: -$700

    Total: $0

    Add $6000 for an optimistic seller.

    Quote Originally Posted by jollE21 View Post
    Hazard Light buttons are a hazard themselves...

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Location
    Woodfin, NC
    Posts
    1,536
    My Cars
    (2) '83 320iS, '97 528i
    Quote Originally Posted by Tom D View Post
    ^ it was probably made by Lucas and not OEM.
    Why do the British drink warm beer?
    They have Lucas refrigerators!

    The hazard ain't nuthin' compared to the Prince of Darkness!
    Last edited by e21Terry; 11-02-2012 at 09:11 AM.
    "The water was not fit to drink. To make it palatable, we had to add whisky. By dilligent effort, I learnt to like it." Sir Winston Churchill

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    Oakland, CA
    Posts
    25
    My Cars
    1981 320iS
    It took about an hour. Some of the plastic tabs are mangled. The triangle isn't perfectly aligned. But now it works, and I ain't got that daggone paper clip no more. Thanks for postin.

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