Courtesy lighting failure post steering wheel removal/refit - solved

[Legoman]

I've just replaced my steering wheel after a leather recover and that all went well, no problems. Followed all the directions with regard disconnecting the battery in order to not set off the airbag etc. Everything came apart and went back together without any breakages, stripped threads or anything untoward of that nature at all. I didn't forget to plug anything back in again either.

Now, the car starts and drives perfectly again, no problems at all. I have reprogrammed the radio stations and reset the OBC post battery disconnect. That all works fine too. There's just one weird thing I've noticed. Before I started all this, when I would switch off the engine, the interior lights would come on before I even open the door to get out, and then when I did get out and close the door behind me, they would stay on for about 20 seconds or so on a timer before switching off automatically. Now, post steering wheel change they do neither. They still come on when I open the door, but not when switching the engine off. They also go out again as soon as the door is shut. It's like whatever timer function there was working before, now isn't.

Maybe this is just pure coincidence this has gone wrong at the same time as I was messing about with swapping steering wheels around, or maybe the multiple disconnections of the battery to avoid an airbag discharge has upset something electrical somewhere or perhaps blown a fuse?

Where should I start looking please?

[shogun]

This is controlled by the general chassis module = GM under the rear seat. Maybe you disconnect it once more and connect again, resetting sometimes helps, here the info:
SUBJECT: New General Modules (GM) MODELS: 7 Series (E32), 5 Series (E34) - Vehicles produced 9/91 and later
Situation: New general modules have been used in production since September 1991 in all E32 and E34 models. The software has been completely revised (details of these revisions are found in the attachment to this Service Information Bulletin). Part numbers have been changed to reflect these revisions, as listed below, as of September 1991. Model Part Number
E32 61 35 8 356 095,
E34-up to 61 35 8 356 095 9/91 production
E34-9/91 and later production 61 35 8 355 812
Note:
E34 vehicles produced 9/91 and later have different central locking system components from earlier E34 vehicles; therefore, P/N 61 35 8 355 812 is used only in E34 vehicles produced 9/91 and later, P/N 61 35 8 356 095 can be used in E34 vehicles produced prior to 9/91, and in all E32 vehicles. When the general module is connected to the vehicles electrical system, it will recognize (and store in memory) the vehicle configuration, such as:
- with/without power windows
- With/without power sunroof
- with/without wiper contact pressure control
- with/without headlight washers
Important Information: All general modules must be plugged in only after disconnecting the vehicle's battery. If the vehicle's battery is connected when the GM is installed, undefined signal contacts can cause an incorrect vehicle configuration to be stored, resulting in the impairment of one or more of the above-mentioned systems. If one or more of the GM functions are impaired in this matter, the GM can be "cleared" by disconnecting the vehicle's battery for at least ten seconds.
GM Function Changes E32/E34 (Beginning with 9/91 Production)
- Repeat and Time interlock for headlight washers:
· Time interlock: 3 minutes
· Headlight washing at fifth windshield washing after time interlock.
- Intensive washing pump operating time reduced from 3 to 2 seconds
- Minimum interval for intermittent wiping is programmable down to 2 seconds (previously 3 seconds)
- Increased wiper contact pressure during windshield washing cycle is now also provided during dry wiping portion of the cycle (previously only during washer pump operation).
- Previously, the GM would react to opposing signals (eg., an unlock signal while trying to lock, as with a defective microswitch) by carrying out the first command, then the opposing command (e.g., locking, followed immediately by unlocking).
Repeating the first command then results in carrying out that command (e.g., try to lock again, and locking is now carried out).
This function ("Asynchronous Position") is omitted in the new GM for all E32 models and E34 models prior to 9/91 (P/N 61 35 8 356 095), and remains in the new GM for E34 models after 9/91 (P/N 61 35 8 355 812) only for central locking commands "lock" and "double-lock".
- After unlocking is performed due to crash sensor activation, the locking command is now reactivated by double-locking with the key from either the driver's or passenger's door.
- The "one-touch" operation of windows has been expanded to include all four windows in the opening direction. The driver's window still has "one-touch" operation in both opening and closing directions. Interruption of the "one-touch" feature of the driver's window in the closing direction is still accomplished by depressing any window switch (in any direction), or by depressing the sunroof switch in the "tilt" direction (provided the sunroof is not already in the "tilt" position). Interruption of the "one-touch" feature of the sunroof in the closing direction is still accomplished by depressing the sunroof switch (in any direction).
- The switch-off delay of the interior lights which occurs after entering the vehicle and closing the driver's door has been reduced from 20 seconds to 15 seconds.

[Legoman]

Important Information: All general modules must be plugged in only after disconnecting the vehicle's battery. If the vehicle's battery is connected when the GM is installed, undefined signal contacts can cause an incorrect vehicle configuration to be stored, resulting in the impairment of one or more of the above-mentioned systems. If one or more of the GM functions are impaired in this matter, the GM can be "cleared" by disconnecting the vehicle's battery for at least ten seconds.

I've disconnected/reconnected the battery several times during the wheel recover process.
First time at home while trying to remove the wheel
Second time at mechanic workshop when the wheel nut was done up too tight to move and I needed to borrow a long breaker bar to undo it
Third time at home again during removal of wheel and refit of borrowed wheel to keep car driveable during leather recover work
Fourth time at home when refitting recovered wheel
Fifth time today readjusting the central airbag boss to equalize spoke gaps for aesthetic reasons

I noticed the problem surfacing between the third + fourth battery disconnect. It was accompanied by the hazard lights being activated upon battery reconnect without the hazard light button being depressed. This was solved with a cycling of the hazard push button, but no other abnormalities resulted other than the lack of courtesy light operation thereafter.

Does any of this ring any bells with anyone?

[shogun]

Maybe battery voltage is a bit low? Typical sign is that the hazard light goes on then when you reconnect the battery, also mentioned here https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...4-way-flashers
and when the battery is low, also the GM could get confused. As a first step I would drive a bit to recharge the battery, and then make the GM clearing procedure as described above.

BTW: did you switch the headlights on?

E32 owners manual: Automatic interior light: the light comes on when the driver's door handle is lifted (max. 3 times) and goes out again a few seconds after the door is closed or when the ignition is switched on. If the car's lights were switched on, the interior light comes on when the ignition switch is turned off and is switched off again a few seconds after the doors have been closed.

[Legoman]

Maybe battery voltage is a bit low? Typical sign is that the hazard light goes on then when you reconnect the battery, also mentioned here https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...4-way-flashers
and when the battery is low, also the GM could get confused. As a first step I would drive a bit to recharge the battery, and then make the GM clearing procedure as described above.

I'm not going to suggest the Bosch DIN85MF battery is new. It's not, it's about 4 years old, however, it has no problems starting the car or running everything and the little eyeglass battery voltage window thing has an (admittedly faint) green tinge to it. That said, this brings up another issue. Back in March I very much did have low battery voltage problems with this setup. That was caused by a weak alternator confirmed by two auto-electricians. The alternator was subsequently removed and rebuilt with all new 'whatevers' that wear out inside an alternator, however, this rebuild only put the alternator back to standard specs as per how the thing was supplied in the first place. I've since read that when you get alternators rebuilt now, you're supposed to get them rebuilt with a higher voltage regulator to put out 14.2V instead of 13.8V to cope with recharging modern Calcium chemistry batteries that don't recharge properly when being fed only 13.8V meaning that over time with a 13.8V regulator, they will slowly go flat no matter how much you drive the car around under its own petrol power. Certainly this situation gets even worse if the car is not used consistently on a long journey every single day and even worse still if the car is subject to being started, moved only a short distance and then switched off again. The borderline supply voltage of a 13.8V regulator is not enough to top the battery up again after voltage depleting events like frequent engine starts. Is there any truth to this rumour? Have I wasted a tonne of money basically disassembling half the engine to get to the bloody alternator, only to end up having it rebuilt incorrectly for the modern batteries I'm now forced to buy because of BS environmental health & safety claptrap?

BTW: did you switch the headlights on?

No, I did not. Was I supposed to? Do the headlights reset something?

[shogun]

According to the owners manual the interior lights only come on when you had the head lights on: quote: If the car's lights were switched on, the interior light comes on when the ignition switch is turned off and is switched off again a few seconds after the doors have been closed.

[Legoman]

Switching the headlights on/off did nothing, however, completely by good fortune and luck, I found that locking/unlocking the doors with the key has reset whatever screwy logic was missing from the control module post battery disconnect. The courtesy lights now stay on for 15-20secs again after closing all the doors. I really don't like all these weird things that happen with these cars. It's scary because when something really serious does go wrong, you know you've got bugger-all chance of ever being able to trace it to correct it.

These cars are dinosaurs electrically compared to a modern car too. God forbid you buy a new car and dare to keep owning it after the warranty period!