Backup Light Switch DIY
 

All the usual disclaimers apply . . in short, do this at your own risk, blah blah blah. Also, people have different methods of doing this job, and I have mine.

Backup lights don't work? Can't see behind you at night? If your bulbs check out okay, then the next step is to replace your backup light switch. This should take no more than a few minutes, and the switch costs under $10. This is probably the shortest and easiest DIY, but I wrote it anyway for those not so mechanically inclined :)


Jack up the car to give you more room to get underneath. Photo shows the switch on the driver's side of my Getrag transmission. On ZF trannies, it will be on the passenger side towards the front.
http://www.unitedbimmer.com/files/ub...36/backup1.jpg

To pull the wire harness off, feel for the metal locking clip and push in. Then pull the harness off the switch. Photo shows the harness off, with the metal clip visible (sorry for the blurry picture).
http://www.unitedbimmer.com/files/ub...36/backup2.jpg

You'll need a 3/4" box end wrench to unscrew the switch (inset photo), since not much else will fit in that space. If you use a socket set, you may need a deep well socket, but it might not fit with the wall of the tranny hump so close by.
http://www.unitedbimmer.com/files/ub...36/backup3.jpg

Say goodbye to the offending switch, and pop in the new one. Official torque is 15 ft-lbs, but a smidge past hand tight will do just fine. Plug the harness back in, lower the car, and you're done!

Sweet if that ever happens to me I'll know where to go! I was thinking to myself that was your problem.......We have light again!!!!!!

"Dr Dudesky to you..."
 

D-sky, you should be "Dr Dudesky".. One of my buds at an Orlando BMW dealer says you should write campaigns & training for BMW. I sent him a couple of your samples & he agrees they're better than Bentley & OEM.. You missed your calling bro... :bowdown

On an afterthought, - I don't know how readers (outside of UB) would take the occassional "WTF??" :thanks

Ha ha thanks :drive2

Very nice. This should also fix the occasional "Brake light circuit error" or whatever on the OBC, shouldn't it? :)

If so, can you add that little comment to the top, and I'll add it to the knowledge base. I know I personally was looking for a DIY a long time ago like this when I needed to replace mine, because of that message.

:drive2 :redspotda :thanks

Well, the one on the OBC is the Switch, this DIY is for the sensor ;)

No, this is for the backup lights not the brake lights :)

Yeah, I just realized that, haha. I'm an idiot. :)

Making it into a knowledge base DIY now....

Edit: Added!
http://www.unitedbimmer.com/kb-e36-r...hts-switch.php
:drive2 :redspotda :cheers :woot

Thanks Dudesky. :thanks

Di nada :)

Thanks!
 

I'm brand new here but this was awesome. I know it's more then a few years old but I had an intermittent back up light issue on my new (to me) 88 e30 Cabrio. No more though. Thanks!

Ryan