Subject: I can't take credit for the discovery...I first heard about it a few years ago Author: Q : member since February, 2004 : 8433 posts Posted on: 2009-04-13 14:44:57

on an e39 forum. I even mentioned it here in a thread back in Oct/2007 when someone inquired about strange and seemingly unrelated electrical gremlins.

Here's a link back to that old 2007 reply: http://www.bimmerboard.com/forums/posts/430961

It took me about 3 days to figure it out because everything didn't happen all at once. It started with my DSP control unit. I turned the radio on and it didn't sound right (EQ settings and all)...so I pressed the DSP button and it didn't respond. I thought maybe a fuse had blown...but checked and all was well. The next day the airbag symbol came on...and I though "Ah HE&&!"...but then later that day I used the rear shade and it operated real slow, then stopped.

Then on the 3rd day, I went to use the horn and it didn't work, I then turned on the headlights and the steering wheel buttons didn't illuminate or work...then that' when I reached up and opend the sun visor mirror. Low and behold...things started really going crazy...then they went back to the way they were when I closed the sun visor's mirror cover.

The person who mentioned that changing the ignition switch fixed this problem has long left my memory...but I truly appreciate that they did discover the fix and mentioned it. And at the time...I remember he received a lot of flack...but others with these symptoms that could be exacerbated when opening the visor's mirror cover..proved that the symptoms AND fix could be replicated.

I just wanted to put a video out there to go along with David C's excellent write-up...showing how weired the symptoms are...and that replacing the ignition switch truly could be the solution...as strange as it seems. 8-)


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 (793 views)
  • I want to know how you discovered the - theref 2009-04-13 14:16:28 (62 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 (93 views)
  • Why would you change anything? Your car was tricked out my man! - bghark 2009-04-13 10:06:10 (35 views)
  • Damn Q?!? Who was that - Lionel Hampton? (nt) - WTH 2009-04-13 10:04:14 (25 views)
    • Haha...I don't know. It was the local PBS radio station playing Saturday Jazz (nt) - Q 2009-04-13 14:46:30 (18 views)
  • That's brilliant Q... a good laugh... I had the same kind of crap happening. (nt) - Himey 2009-04-13 08:28:22 (36 views)
  • That's awesome. Good work! (nt) - DavidC 2009-04-13 04:39:33 (22 views)
  • congrats man. If you still have the old ignition switch post pictures of.. - sdmike 2009-04-11 16:31:28 (44 views)
  • Sometimes the easy fixes work the best!! Tnx for the vid Q (nt) - Edwin™ 2009-04-11 16:30:23 (34 views)