high beam issue - High Beam Relay question with pics

[Rahul325]

when i pull the stalk to activate the high beam(pull and hold), the high beam does NOT come on, but the blue high beam indicator in the dash comes on. The low beam stays on.

when i push the stalk to turn the high beam to stay on, the low beam goes OFF, the blue high beam indicator does NOT come on.

and also, sometimes the low beam does not come on when i turn the switch to ON position, have to turn OFF and ON a cpl of times for the low beams to come on.

i recently upgraded to Depo with 5K HIDs if that matters.

I was gonna check for the relay as some of my texas buddies advised.

1st pic from manual showing fuse box with relay positions


2nd pic - photo of my fuse box


3rd pic - close up of the relay and place where high beam relay shud be there


last pic - from manual with fuse box diagram for 95 E36.


so, am i missing the high beam relay or is everyone's fuse box like this with high beam relay missing in the position that manual shows.
sum1 pls help me out

[habbie]

your box is fine, you are not missing anything.
did you check the stalk and the connector?
your light switch is most likely defective.

[Rahul325]

thnx Habbie
i looked at removing the stalk, looks like it is better handled by a professional, i have got a new switch, will replace and see if it fixes the issue.

[leedawg]

You have all the relays, bud id check the high beam relay and make sure it hasent failed, at least before tearing apart the stock. Id guess the stock is probably fine seeing as your indicator is coming on when you switch it.

[TC535i]

Sounds like a wiring issue, I know people have a lot of trouble with the depos. What I would do is pull the wiring harness off the headlights. Using a voltmeter and grounding against chassis, have someone flip the highbeams, and see if one of the wires is getting 12v with the stalk. If the light is lighting up, it doesn't sound like a switch issue, I wouldn't go to the mechanic right away.

[leedawg]

Sounds like a wiring issue, I know people have a lot of trouble with the depos. What I would do is pull the wiring harness off the headlights. Using a voltmeter and grounding against chassis, have someone flip the highbeams, and see if one of the wires is getting 12v with the stalk. If the light is lighting up, it doesn't sound like a switch issue, I wouldn't go to the mechanic right away.

This is an excellent insight. I bet you put the wrong wire on the wrong pin. DO what this guy said.

[Rahul325]

thnx a lot guys !!!! i will try it.

as usual bfc is awesome !!!!! u guys rock

[leedawg]

i agree this place is kick ass.

[jonesov]

your box is fine, you are not missing anything.

Can someone address why in his photos, the high beam relay appears to be missing. I have the same issue, the high beam relay in my '96 328is isn't where the Bentley manual says it is, so I have no idea where it is, but more importantly would like to know why the book says it's there when it isn't.

[johnf]

The reason Bentley doesn't mention the variance is probably because the BMW NA ETMs don't mention it. The reason the ETMs don't mention it is because they are secondary sources derived from some of the drawings used to build the car.

Your high beam relay could be mounted to a white nylon carrier, that probably also holds a few other relays and a fuse, underneath the dash left of the steering column. Mine was.

[martin1997m3]

My high beam relay is also underneath the dash left of the steering column. My question: How the heck to you remove it? I have the instrument cluster out because it looked like the only way - still not room to spread the relay clips! Arg!

[johnf]

My high beam relay is also underneath the dash left of the steering column. My question: How the heck to you remove it?...

It gets easier if you first lower the whitish nylon carrier that the relay and neighbors are clipped into.

At the back middle of the carrier, there is a flat, broad hook that locks the carrier under the dash. If you stick a flat blade up back there (I often use a Swiss army knife), and press it forward or aft (I think forward(??), but it has been a while), you can then slide down the carrier that holds the relay and neighbors.