"Bad neutral safety switch"?

[clarkitect]

Hey guys, my kid has a '97 328i 5-speed and took it for inspection. The car passed (yay!) but they said it needs a neutral safety switch. I assume they are talking about a switch that would prevent starting the car unless the clutch pedal was depressed. I didn't think the car had that feature and could be started without pushing in the clutch.

Anyway, just wondering.

[66 6]

It's located on the clutch pedal under the dash. Someone may have bypassed it if the switch was bad or they didn't want that safety option. Take a look and see what you find. If You need one I will send you one, just pay shipping.

[66 6]

You will also see a similar switch for the brake light (on the brake pedal) Brake has 4 wires, clutch has 2.

[johnf]

The ETK shows the starter interlock switch (8) on cars built from September 1996 onward, and the bracket (3) from March 1997(?!) onward. I would show them the page if your car was built before March.

The 1997 US BMW ETM, on sheet 1240.0-00, however, shows a 3-pin, clutch STARTER IMMOBILIZATION SWITCH for all of "1997" – the start of which varies, to satisfy marketing.

[clarkitect]

Car was built 2/21/1997, so perhaps could go either way. I’ll take a look under the dash when the car gets home. Thanks guys and 66 6 thanks for the offer on the switch, if I find it’s there and bad I will take you up on. Much appreciated!

[johnf]

Car was built 2/21/1997, so perhaps could go either way. I’ll take a look under the dash when the car gets home....

I will be curious what you find. I have noticed the introduction of U.S. specific features can sometimes be a little sloppy.

[gc325is]

This is a requirement to pass? or was the computer flagging it? As mentioned a 95 cars does not have this feature so how would the shop know? Was it a federal law now?
Neutral lock out is a term for Automatic cars. Manual have clutch or starter safety switch. There that word safety... so inspectors must check It. sb above the clutch pedal

Clutch Brake and cruise control switch

[jmo69]

By-passed mine when I was having my first starter issues. Jumped purple to brown, dont have inspections here except for emissions.

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[clarkitect]

It passed inspection but they noted it on the receipt. I will have to ask them about it next time I’m in there.

Have not had the chance to look underneath the dash of the car yet to verify the existence of this switch. Perhaps this evening.

[jc43089]

FYI early cars have a switch on the clutch pedal but it is only to disengage cruise control, not disable starter. Just print out the page from the ETM showing the starter wiring which will show that there never was a starter interlock if that is how your car is.

[jmo69]

FYI early cars have a switch on the clutch pedal but it is only to disengage cruise control, not disable starter. Just print out the page from the ETM showing the starter wiring which will show that there never was a starter interlock if that is how your car is.

His is a 97 328, so it most likely had it.

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