Odd Headlight/Wiring issue

[knoxgeeks]

I've done a bit of searching and not found an issue quite like mine. I recently picked up a low mile 1991 325i Convertible. The previous owner warned me that the passenger low beam was out. Drove home, turned on the headlights and the passenger side was indeed out, HOWEVER, the washer motor comes on. When I activate the windshield washers, the passenger side low beam comes on.

Simple case of crossed wires I thought, so I temporarily switched the hot leads to both the low beam and washer motor thinking that might prove to be the ticket. Nope.

I should note that all 4 headlights come on just fine when high beams are selected.

Anybody know what I should be looking for? It can't be some as simple as a crusty ground, can it?

Thanks in advance for your help, people in my hometown are tired of being blinded at night.

[richardodn]

First of all, all lights on in hi is independent of your problem. Your outboard lights are 2 filament lo/hi beams with independent power wires. Those 2 circuits are completely independent. The only place they touch is ground G200. The first things I would check is the G200 (behind left side of dash, above brake pedal) and G201 (upper LH side of steering column) ground locations. If you're lucky one of them is loose. More likely you'll need to follow the wiring diagrams and trace them with a meter.

You can download the ETM from here http://wedophones.com/BMWManualsLead.htm

[knoxgeeks]

Thanks for the heads up, I'll absolutely check there. Upon further inspection, it looks as if the car took a shunt to the passenger side front bumper at one point in its life, and that someone had been meddling with the wiring harness that goes from the engine compartment to behind the bumper. After checking the grounds, I'll yank the bumper off and see what nasty surprises await.

[richardodn]

That sounds more likely as the cause. It doesn't hurt to check those grounds too. The steering column one has been known to come loose.