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Thread: Burning Plastic Smell This Morning... solved

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Location
    Jacksonville, FL
    Posts
    253
    My Cars
    91 M5, 90 750il, 07 328x

    Burning Plastic Smell This Morning... solved

    So yesterday morning I decided to crank my 750il up a few minutes before I was ready to leave work in order to let the engine warm up (I had to install resistors on the right bank coolant temp sensor to trick it into thinking that side is at operating temp temporarily until I can get another temp sensor) and continued my routine. When I opened my door I was struck with a smell I had smelled before: the burning plastic smell just like a drink spilled into the window switches (I've done it before on my e34).

    I look around frantically for any sources of smoke and can't find anything, worrying that my e32 is about to go up in flames. Nothing is found, no drinks in the car that could've gotten spilled. I happen to walk around the back of my car and notice the reverse lights are on. The car is in park, the dash shows the car in park. So I ask my father to look at the back of my car and tell me if they go out after playing with the gear select. They do. I put the car in reverse, no reverse lights. I have to get to work so I said screw it and the smell pretty quickly goes away after driving with the windows down.

    Any ideas of what this could be? Anyone ever encounter this? I replaced both of my tail lights recently and adjusted my trunk to try and keep water from getting inside, the tail lights didn't look to have any corrosion and everything on them works. I don't normally carry drinks in the car because I have no cup holders, and don't recall spilling anything in the car.

    We did have two or three days of pretty heavy rain recently, but I can't seem to find the source of this issue, maybe the gear select or a switch on the transmission? Tried looking for the wiring to the reverse lights in the wiring diagrams, but haven't had luck or enough time to find it.

    Thanks for any input
    -Jimmy

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Japan
    Posts
    54,655
    My Cars
    11/88 E32 750iL+98 E36M3
    some things to be checked first
    gear selector switch http://www.bimmerboard.com/forums/posts/744694/
    heater sword
    fuse under rear seat driver side for rear window heating
    Shogun tricks and tips for the E32 series are HERE!

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Location
    Green Bay, WI
    Posts
    1,332
    My Cars
    1992 750il / 1991 560 SE
    I agree with Shoguns first recommendation, the gear selector switch. I would not even both to take things apart until you have a new one. With reverse lights messed up, the problem really points there.

    Removal is not too hard. Tip: When it comes to removing the large wood surround, one can insert a screwdriver upwards along the carpet and between the console. There are a few hole and if you find one, you can push the wood shift surround panel right up. Its one of those things that once you do once, its really easy.
    ______________________________
    1992 750iL

  4. #4
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Location
    Boynton Beach, Florida
    Posts
    1,526
    My Cars
    1990 735I (E32) M30
    I had the exact problem with no reverse lights and burning smell. This was the fix. Easy once you purchase the part.

    http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/sh...Failure-SOLVED
    1990 735I (Auto) E32 Feb 1990 to Present
    1996 Z3 Roadster (5 Speed) E36/7 Jan 1999 to Dec 1999
    1983 733I (5 Speed) E23 April 1983 to Feb 1990
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2d4tHoHGaJo
    https://1drv.ms/v/s!Av20xCMMocSsyEpl...h_oOk?e=ekIcAT







  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Location
    Jacksonville, FL
    Posts
    253
    My Cars
    91 M5, 90 750il, 07 328x
    Thanks a ton fellas. Fixed this last week, pretty easy. The smell of old burnt bmw plastic makes me want to gag.



    Last edited by DKJimmy; 06-06-2017 at 10:44 AM.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Location
    Boynton Beach, Florida
    Posts
    1,526
    My Cars
    1990 735I (E32) M30
    Nice job. When I did mine, not only did the back up lights come on when in reverse, but the P from park began to show again on the cluster, the passenger side mirror dropped down again (as it is supposed to) when in reverse, and there was no more giggling needed when moving into gear. Nice to have that damn smell gone, I'm sure.
    1990 735I (Auto) E32 Feb 1990 to Present
    1996 Z3 Roadster (5 Speed) E36/7 Jan 1999 to Dec 1999
    1983 733I (5 Speed) E23 April 1983 to Feb 1990
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2d4tHoHGaJo
    https://1drv.ms/v/s!Av20xCMMocSsyEpl...h_oOk?e=ekIcAT







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