I just bought a 97 BMW 318i and I am guessing that its a censor or fuse or something of that sort that is causing the issue but it has a few things that I am trying to figure out. The turn signals dont work, when you flick them on nothing at all happens, also the window buttons in the center do not work, the radio does not turn on at all, and the doors will not lock. Can anyone tell me anything about this?

 

Idk if the e36 has it (pretty sure) but it might be the LKM.

 

Check the fuses under the hood and inside the car. That's a lot of different things on different sub-circuits that are inactive, which means it's probably a higher level fuse under the hood that supplies the smaller sub-circuits. It could be a module too, but I don't know enough about BMWs to know what the radio has to do with a module. Well, unless part of the radio function has to do with the security system or check engine codes or something similar. I'm guessing it's not the LKM because that shouldn't affect the window buttons or the radio (LKM is the light control module). So unless you have a bad LKM and some other unrelated problems, I don't think the LKM would be the issue.

 

Thanks!! we have been messing with it all day, we got some of the things on the dash like the clock and stuff to start working again and the windows. Found out the fog lights didnt work because someone had cut the wires so we got them back, and now we have to fix the radio which is in the process of being pulled out now and the turn signals, but I am thinking that they may be hooked up wrong when you flick it to turn left the green arrow to turn right comes on by the guages. ::interesting:: I think its all a matter of someone didnt know what they were doing!

 

This is why we can't have nice things.




Glad you got it sorted out. The bimmerforums guys are particularly helpful if you're a girl, btw.

Welcome to the BMW scene.

<3,
another BMW girl.

 

Ya I heard about those guys, I am definitely new to the BMW's usually been a honda chick, but so far I love this car even with all the little bs!!

 

It'll be a great car if you catch up on all of the (obviously) outdated maintenance... The 318's are slower... but if you get bored, you can always do an m3 swap (talk to Impulsed7 about that) for some more fun.

The e36's are the Honda of BMW... easily modded... fun to throw around on the road. I doubt you'll be disappointed once you get it back up to where it should be on the quality scale.

 

Ya we got it for a hell of a deal and its tastefully modded as far as appearance is concerned but like you said it just has all of the little maintenance that has to be taken care of for it, bought it last night, just replaced the two front tires, got an alignment, going to have to change all of the filters, and oil ect, and then fix the electrical, have to replace the headliner and then prob going to do the seats in leather instead of cloth. Then we will just work on the other swaps and things later!!

 

P.S.-- Since I've been told to find more girls to come out to the meets... Idk if you've seen this:

https://www.vadriven.com/forums/showthread.php?t=327144

also, I did my own headliner... lmk if you have any questions.

 

Nice, we may be down there. I actually have to go to the beach that day anyway... got some tickets down there lol and I have to appear sooooo its a good possibility!!