Attention: ALL E36 owners beware - WIRING PROBLEM

**bajan boi** · 08-25-2003, 04:23 PM

Originally posted by AceHazardX
I've had that relay blow out on me as well. Good luck on replacing it, not too much work.

Before you change the relay try that window kill switch on the right (right behind the steering wheel)

Fabian

What is the part number on that one (I lost my book) and how much does it run?

**Eurofied** · 08-30-2003, 06:03 AM

happened to me too, it sucked

**Kryptide** · 09-01-2003, 10:15 PM

well i been having a problem with something similiar i believe. my little computer has been saying i have a 'taillight failure' and 'brake light circut failure'....but i have check numerous times and everything works correctly... sound like i am having a problem like you all ?? i just dont wanna go ripping shit apart that i cant put back together. Say i take it apart. how did you guys put everything neatly together?

**AceHazardX** · 09-02-2003, 04:34 AM

Originally posted by bajan boi
What is the part number on that one (I lost my book) and how much does it run?

Hey, sorry for the late reply, I've been away for the long weekend. I dont remember the cost of the relay, but your local dealer should have it. Good luck tracing the problem!

Fabian

**G. P. Burdell** · 09-02-2003, 07:24 AM

Originally posted by Kryptide
well i been having a problem with something similiar i believe. my little computer has been saying i have a 'taillight failure' and 'brake light circut failure'....but i have check numerous times and everything works correctly... sound like i am having a problem like you all ?? i just dont wanna go ripping shit apart that i cant put back together. Say i take it apart. how did you guys put everything neatly together?

Your brake light circuit failure is unrelated to this wiring issue. Do a search on "brake light circuit" to learn more about it.

As for the taillight failure, do you have aftermarket taillights installed?

**Kryptide** · 09-02-2003, 03:46 PM

yes i just got some oem clears....the euro look, i started having probs like this when i put them in. oh well. i just wanna make sure its nothing serious.

**G. P. Burdell** · 09-02-2003, 03:51 PM

Some Euro clears can cause the taillight failure message. I don't have them, so I don't know if there is a solution. Do a search on that, too.

**Kryptide** · 09-04-2003, 03:34 AM

well damn, i cant seem to find a solution to this. i mean they are OEM so i would think i would have no problems.....i guess its just one of those things

**Edham** · 09-08-2003, 07:57 AM

I thought my whole electrical system was going. My odometer readout is to dim to read during daylight hours and the doors on my car lock when they want to.

Since this is so common is there any chance that BMW will do a recall?

**freespace** · 09-29-2003, 07:25 AM

Thanks for the heads up, will check it out today, My problem is you turn the radio on and with in 5 seconds it fades out to nothing also the curtosity lights wont come on when you leave the car,

**quickslvr387** · 10-10-2003, 12:06 AM

i had all my windows down today and drove around for a bit and when i tried to put them up none of them worked nor did my sunroof...could it be caused by the wiring problem? hopefully someone can answer me since i need to drive it and dont fell very safe leaving it outside and parked at school with the windows down..someone HELP! thanks

**AceHazardX** · 10-10-2003, 01:56 AM

i had all my windows down today and drove around for a bit and when i tried to put them up none of them worked nor did my sunroof...could it be caused by the wiring problem? hopefully someone can answer me since i need to drive it and dont fell very safe leaving it outside and parked at school with the windows down..someone HELP! thanks

Your problem most likely lies within the relay or the button to the lower right of your steering wheel. Some of the other members reported this same problem.

Fabian

**quickslvr387** · 10-10-2003, 06:35 AM

excuse my ignorance but where is the relay for the windows located?

**G. P. Burdell** · 10-10-2003, 07:01 AM

Do a search on the terms "comfort relay" and you should find what you're looking for.

**Boomer** · 10-12-2003, 10:08 AM

i got the same problem as the member above....

"tail light failure" on my OBC though all my tail lights are fine... i DO NOT have aftermarket tail lights so i dont know...

**BiMmEr JoN** · 10-12-2003, 02:42 PM

the comfort relay is located underneath the knee bolster on the driver side. you have to take off a big metal panel thats held in by 4 bolts and behind there you'll see a whole bunch of wires an relays. the comfort relay is the only light blue one under there

**Loud_TIGER** · 10-15-2003, 01:36 AM

is there a relay for the taillight and the dash light? i had both those go out...

**Mark85** · 10-15-2003, 10:14 PM

I just took a razor and sliced right where the arrows pointed in the picture and what do you know...2 of the wires were cracked open so i used some electrical tape and then taped it all back together

also had a bulb blow out on me the day before, hopefull this was why

i suggest anyone with high miles on their car to check this, better to find out now then later and its a reocurring problem so theres a good chance that you have it depending on your mileage

now the other electrical problem i found out was sometimes i go to hit the sunroof or the window and it wont work, then im driving and i press it again and it works fine...so im guessing the relay you guys are talking about might be it

**bmwarie** · 10-16-2003, 12:36 PM

Nice to see I am not the only guy who has floor mats in the trunk!:

**Cobra Jet** · 10-18-2003, 09:10 PM

hey guys -

since i never have posted in this area of the forusm before - being the owner of a 95 E36 M3, I had started a thread in the E36 M3 forum which is now also a sticky there...

This relates to the same problem with the trunk harness....

I hope everyone is made aware of this on all BMW sites, it is a pretty serious issue IMO.

http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/sh...hreadid=141349

**rsd** · 10-19-2003, 11:43 AM

heya

thanks for the heads up.. is there any way to do this without cutting the big outside covering with a razor, though? i'd like to keep it intact ...

thanks

**G. P. Burdell** · 10-19-2003, 12:07 PM

rsd,

You have a couple of choices:

1. Replace the entire wiring harness with a brand new harness that comes with a brand new covering. (See my previous posts in this thread.)
2. Cut the covering and tape it up really well afterwards.
3. Try fishing the existing wires through the covering without cutting it. It could be difficult getting everything back together, though.