This message is marked as Important.

Subject: New Ignition Switch fixed all the electrical gremlins... Author: Q : member since February, 2004 : 8000 posts Posted on: 2009-04-11 16:22:38

Okay, got a chance to tackle the ignition switch this morning in the E38...and as you can see in the latest video...all the previous issues have disappeared and everything works correctly now.

It took about 1 hour to do the job, not because it was difficult...but taking the time to disassemble and reassemble stuff, making sure you put stuff back correctly, etc...you always drop a screw, or need to go get another tool to do the job etc. On a scale of 1-10...this is probably a 2 or 3.

David's write-up on e38.org was excellent (thank you David)...but I used a T30 torx socket and a T25 torx socket. I had to use the T25 because the T30 was too big...my t25 torx is a 1/8" rachet and it was needed because I probably needed to lower the steering column a bit more for more room. I also needed a VERY small flat blade screw driver to loosen those set screws with the paint covering them.

Here's the first video I posted last week that shows all the crazy electronic gremlins...especially when you lower the sunvisor and open the mirror cover:



And here's the video that shows everything is back to normal after replacing the switch:




1999 540iT (Orient Blue) 4/99 mfg date ||||||| 1997 740iL (Arctic Silver) 3/97 mfg date

my Qsilver7 cardomain site

• New Ignition Switch fixed all the electrical gremlins... (vid) (url) - Q 2009-04-11 16:22:38 (569 views)
  • I want to know how you discovered the - theref 2009-04-13 14:16:28 (52 views)
    • I can't take credit for the discovery...I first heard about it a few years ago (url) - Q 2009-04-13 14:44:57 (69 views)
  • Why would you change anything? Your car was tricked out my man! - bghark 2009-04-13 10:06:10 (26 views)
  • Damn Q?!? Who was that - Lionel Hampton? (nt) - WTH 2009-04-13 10:04:14 (16 views)
    • Haha...I don't know. It was the local PBS radio station playing Saturday Jazz (nt) - Q 2009-04-13 14:46:30 (9 views)
  • That's brilliant Q... a good laugh... I had the same kind of crap happening. (nt) - Himey 2009-04-13 08:28:22 (25 views)
  • That's awesome. Good work! (nt) - DavidC 2009-04-13 04:39:33 (15 views)
  • congrats man. If you still have the old ignition switch post pictures of.. - sdmike 2009-04-11 16:31:28 (31 views)
  • Sometimes the easy fixes work the best!! Tnx for the vid Q (nt) - Edwin™ 2009-04-11 16:30:23 (24 views)