intermittent locks/windows...comfort relay

[galaxii]

I bought this car a month ago (93 318i) and it's got a few glitches. At first the locks seemed to work ok but they're working less since it's getting colder (currently -6C). I wouldn't mind so much if the drivers lock cylinder was working, but climbing into the driver's seat through the passenger's doesn't look so great, after all, this is a bimmer right? Anyway, I did some troubleshooting tonight and I think the door locks work now. I sprayed the terminals on the harness connector with contact cleaner and tested several times, maybe fixed now. The terminal pins look flawless but the female connectors are showing signs of wear.
The windows also work intermittently. I read it could be the comfort relay. I'll pull it out tomorrow and inspect it. But also...looking through manual, it appears that the locking module, windows, and dome lights etc, are supplied power by fuse 43 on the violet/white wire. The windows and locks are intermittent, and the dome turns on and off at it's own will as I'm driving if I don't leave it turned off. I wouldn't have thought it's purely coincidental that these are all working funny at the same time since they're all fed by the same circuit. But when I tested the locks which appeared to be fixed, the windows were still not working. The switches weren't lit up. So, maybe it is a coincidence and the comfort relay needs soldering or replacement, and there's a ghost in the car turning on and off the dome light to confuse the matters further. :eek:
Anyone know where the white/violet wire is located where it splits into 7 or so wires to feed all the said components?

[flyfishvt]

I think you have 2 separate issues. The car shows all the classic symptoms of a faulty comfort relay so get that fixed or buy a new one.

The dome lights comming on while you are driving is not the comfort relay. that would most likely be one of the door locks/latches. There is a micro switch that senses when the door is open. In your 93 e36 that micro switch is part of the door lock inside the door. Later years had it as part of the door striker. Since the drivers door is the one that gets most use I would venture a guess that the issue is in the drivers door lock/actuator assembly. As you're driving down the road the microswitch is triggering when it shouldn't ahd the car thinks the door is open and turns on the dome light.

[galaxii]

Thanks for your reply flyfishvt. I have to replace the actuator or motor, or both in that door anyway. I pulled the comfort relay and one of the pins broke off so I will order a new one anyway. Hope that clears up those issues. In the meantime, my locks work perfectly! :)

Fail...locks are intermittent again. :s