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Thread: reverse light switch

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Oct 2017
    Location
    Melbourne Fl
    Posts
    1
    My Cars
    2003 BMW M3 Coupe

    reverse light switch

    My reverse lights dont come on in reverse. bulbs are good. I suspect a bad switch. Anyone know where it is located and how to replace it?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2016
    Location
    Ca
    Posts
    6,981
    My Cars
    2001 525it
    I suspect the wiring harness from the body into the trunk lid has broken wires.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2015
    Location
    west chicago il
    Posts
    509
    My Cars
    01 E46 330i 5sp man spor
    Reverse light switch is a two wire switch that screws into the side of the transmission case. I believe it's on the right side. To test it you can unplug the connector and use a small piece of wire to jump the terminals. Turn on the ignition and you should have reverse lights. If they still don't work you probably have broken wires in the harness to the trunk lid.

    Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G870A using Tapatalk

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jan 2016
    Location
    Ca
    Posts
    6,981
    My Cars
    2001 525it
    Why would you not check the wiring first, put a switch on first?, check the wiring first, open the trunk lid pull back the rubber cover look at the wires?

  5. #5
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    Honolulu, Hawaii
    Posts
    753
    My Cars
    '73 E9, '94 E34, '02 E46
    Bad trunk wiring was a signature element of the E36 models. I thought the E46 had that fixed, but it wouldn't be the first time I'm wrong.

    I too suspect the reverse switch on the side of the trans. Please be safe when you crawl under there, and make sure the car is securely blocked up on hard level ground.
    Charlie

    Your mission, should you decide to accept it, is to add value to these threads, either by pictures or by descriptions, so the next person with the same or similar problem stands on your shoulders.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Mar 2015
    Location
    west chicago il
    Posts
    509
    My Cars
    01 E46 330i 5sp man spor
    Both problems are fairly common on e46 cars. Reverse light switch only applies to M/T cars. Trunk wiring breaks from the wiring flexing every time you open the trunk. It can happen to any of the wires to the trunk and is more likely if you use the trunk often.

    Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G870A using Tapatalk

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    South Carolina
    Posts
    31,073
    My Cars
    2004 330 vert 2004 X5
    My reverse lights died. It was a fuse.

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