Author Topic: 1980 BMW 528i SIGNAL Lights not working? (Read 2807 times)

old528ebmw · « **on:** February 06, 2006, 02:44:49 pm »

I have a 1980 528I in very good condition. We had it moved from the west coast to Ontario last summer and ever since the trip the signal lights do not work. I checked the fuses and light bulbs all good. I cannot find the flashing relay, does anyone have any idea what might be the problem?
Please help!

Thank you!

Bullet Blue · « **Reply #1 on:** February 06, 2006, 04:03:15 pm »

Is it all the signal lights? Including the front and the rear signal lights?

barrie1 · « **Reply #2 on:** February 06, 2006, 04:57:27 pm »

I would strongly suspect that the Flasher is the worn part as the age of it alone will have it ready for replacement. It probably will be under the dash but i would call a BMW dealer and ask to speak with the service advisor on this problem. They are usally round and about the shape and size of a roll of toonies in size. A decent service advisor should tell you on the phone where it is located. If it a North American style of flasher the price should not be that bad.

articsteve · « **Reply #3 on:** February 06, 2006, 08:42:55 pm »

Can you manually engage each turn signal with the indicator lever?

What about the emergency 4 ways?

old528ebmw · « **Reply #4 on:** February 08, 2006, 08:46:57 pm »

Quote from: Bullet_Blue on February 06, 2006, 04:03:15 pm

Is it all the signal lights? Including the front and the rear signal lights?

Yes it is all the lights, i would replace the flasher if i could find it. I know what to look for but for some reason i cannot find it.
Thank you for replying.

old528ebmw · « **Reply #5 on:** February 08, 2006, 08:50:38 pm »

Quote from: articsteve on February 06, 2006, 08:42:55 pm

Can you manually engage each turn signal with the indicator lever?

What about the emergency 4 ways?

No the emergency 4 ways do not work, it must be the flasher but i cannot find it.
Maybe next time i pass a BMW dealer i will go in and ask them if they know where it is and also pick one up as well.
This car is in great condition and stays in the garage most of the time anyway.
Thank you for replying!

old528ebmw · « **Reply #6 on:** February 08, 2006, 08:55:30 pm »

Quote from: barrie1 on February 06, 2006, 04:57:27 pm

I would strongly suspect that the Flasher is the worn part as the age of it alone will have it ready for replacement. It probably will be under the dash but i would call a BMW dealer and ask to speak with the service advisor on this problem. They are usally round and about the shape and size of a roll of toonies in size. A decent service advisor should tell you on the phone where it is located. If it a North American style of flasher the price should not be that bad.

Sorry guys i am not very good at replying, this forum stuff is new to me.
I think we all figure it's the flasher so i will let you all know what i find!
Thank you!!

articsteve · « **Reply #7 on:** February 08, 2006, 09:20:17 pm »

You never answered if you can manually operate the flashers?

Below is a pic of the Hazard Relay,Flasher Relay,Turn Signal

I had a 84 528e and I think this plug in module will be under the hood in one of 2 electrial boxes. If you buy off a Bimmer dealer the parts guy will tell you where it is? Don't go to service and ask.

old528ebmw · « **Reply #8 on:** February 09, 2006, 07:39:55 pm »

Quote from: articsteve on February 08, 2006, 09:20:17 pm

You never answered if you can manually operate the flashers?

Below is a pic of the Hazard Relay,Flasher Relay,Turn Signal

I had a 84 528e and I think this plug in module will be under the hood in one of 2 electrial boxes. If you buy off a Bimmer dealer the parts guy will tell you where it is? Don't go to service and ask.

None of the lights flash, i also have a 1984e and the electrical system is different than the 1980I. I have the dash open under the steering wheel and i cannot find what looks like a flasher. The 528e has a flasher control module thing that is even maked on the fuse cover under the hood so that one is easy to find. I will take your advice and go to a BMW dealer hopefully tomorrow. I will let you all know what i find.
Thank you for the pic.

articsteve · « **Reply #9 on:** February 09, 2006, 10:18:17 pm »

OK. 82-88 5 series are a different animal

That pic is a pic of the 1980 module. Although, the fact that you cannot manual operate the turn signals and get a turn signal light is a bit troubling.

However, replacing that parts is the first step as it is listed as a turn signal relay as well as the flasher relay.

Here is a pic of the flasher module for a 1984 528e. The pic isn't as good put it is a totally different part @ about 14 bucks. The 1980 flasher unit is about 50 bucks.

old528ebmw · « **Reply #10 on:** February 11, 2006, 04:09:00 pm »

Quote from: articsteve on February 09, 2006, 10:18:17 pm

OK. 82-88 5 series are a different animal

That pic is a pic of the 1980 module. Although, the fact that you cannot manual operate the turn signals and get a turn signal light is a bit troubling.

However, replacing that parts is the first step as it is listed as a turn signal relay as well as the flasher relay.

Here is a pic of the flasher module for a 1984 528e. The pic isn't as good put it is a totally different part @ about 14 bucks. The 1980 flasher unit is about 50 bucks.

I did go to a BMW dealer and asked the parts guys, they told me the flasher is located in the steering colum.
I opened up the colum but could not find the relay that looked like your first pic. However there is another small one in there that looks like this pic. They told me the flasher is $146.00 is told them i could find one on line for $47.00.
They where cool with that and agreed that bying it on line was better.
Yes i was correct the signals do not even work even if i manualy togle the signal switch. I will go on-line and order the flasher and see what happens.
Thank you for all the great info!

articsteve · « **Reply #11 on:** February 11, 2006, 05:27:05 pm »

Becareful about ordering on line if it is a US site because the base customs broker charge is about $35.00. Perhaps if you order by AIR it will be less.

Generally, if something is $50. US and transported by ground it will arrive at your door @ $125. CDN.

If you haven't already ordered, PM me I can will give you the name of a Bimmer wholesaler in Mississauga who might get you that lower price.

barrie1 · « **Reply #12 on:** February 11, 2006, 07:17:25 pm »

As the age of this part is over 25 years then it should be duty free for this car. I have ordered many parts from the US of that age and never had a problem yet. I pay the price including exchange rate to the seller and they usually send it by Fedex. Usually a week at the most and arrives in perfect shape as well. The seller usually can tell you on the phone all of the details you need to know about buying from them.

articsteve · « **Reply #13 on:** February 11, 2006, 08:01:26 pm »

Customs broker charges are not duty. I've never paid duty on mechanical/auto parts from the US new or used.

UPS, FEDX, etc. are charging about $35.00 custom brokerage per shipment on ground. The companies use to have a deal on AIR freight at about $10. but that is gone. This is on top of the regular shipping charge which has risen quite a bit in the last year.

The customs brokerage charges are subject to GST and are determined at point of entry so this can cause some US online sellers not to ship to Canada. The trouble is this: normally an American orders and the shipping is pre calculated and included in the online charge. Pretty simple. If a Canadian orders an American based on-line seller can pre-calculate the shipping to the Canadians address and add that to the invoice, however they cannot calculate the customs broker charge and the tax applied to the customs brokerage charge and the item itself: PST/GST. Therefore, that portion has always been COD. But if the recipient for some reason doesn't pay the COD then the American online seller is charged back that cost.

Consequently, I had to take out a FEDX international account to receive product from some US suppliers. On-line buying is for Americans only. It sucks up here. The alternative is the US postal service but most online sellers will not use it.

old528ebmw · « **Reply #14 on:** February 11, 2006, 08:15:17 pm »

Quote from: articsteve on February 11, 2006, 08:01:26 pm

Customs broker charges are not duty. I've never paid duty on mechanical/auto parts from the US new or used.

UPS, FEDX, etc. are charging about $35.00 custom brokerage per shipment on ground. The companies used to have a deal on AIR freight at about $10. but that is gone. This is on top of the regular shipping charge which has risen quite a bit in the last year.

The customs brokerage charges are subject to GST and are determined at point of entry so this can cause some US online sellers not to ship to Canada. The trouble is this: normally an American orders and the shipping is pre calculated and included in the online charge. Pretty simple. If a Canadian orders an American based on-line seller can pre-calculate the shipping to the Canadians address and add that to the invoice, however they cannot calculate the customs broker charge and the tax applied to the customs brokerage charge and the item itself: PST/GST. Therefore, that portion has always been COD. But if the receipant for some reason doesn't pay the COD then the American online seller is charged back that cost.

Consequently, I had to take out a FEDX international account to receive product from some US suppliers. On-line buying is for Americans only. It sucks up here.

I used a site in Canada that has all the parts in need for my old BMW's. They must be in ontario because i get charged all the taxes.
I think you sent me to this site from one of my last tech questions when i had a heating problem on my old 528e by the way is working great now! I have ordered the part already and will let you know how it goes.

Thank you!

barrie1 · « **Reply #15 on:** February 11, 2006, 11:16:46 pm »

I have never had a problem obtaining parts from the states myself and have never taken out any accts for this purpose either. I have found it quite easy to get the parts I want and needed on line as well.

old528ebmw · « **Reply #16 on:** February 14, 2006, 08:10:20 pm »

Quote from: old528ebmw on February 11, 2006, 08:15:17 pm

Quote from: articsteve on February 11, 2006, 08:01:26 pm
Customs broker charges are not duty. I've never paid duty on mechanical/auto parts from the US new or used.

UPS, FEDX, etc. are charging about $35.00 custom brokerage per shipment on ground. The companies used to have a deal on AIR freight at about $10. but that is gone. This is on top of the regular shipping charge which has risen quite a bit in the last year.

The customs brokerage charges are subject to GST and are determined at point of entry so this can cause some US online sellers not to ship to Canada. The trouble is this: normally an American orders and the shipping is pre calculated and included in the online charge. Pretty simple. If a Canadian orders an American based on-line seller can pre-calculate the shipping to the Canadians address and add that to the invoice, however they cannot calculate the customs broker charge and the tax applied to the customs brokerage charge and the item itself: PST/GST. Therefore, that portion has always been COD. But if the receipant for some reason doesn't pay the COD then the American online seller is charged back that cost.

Consequently, I had to take out a FEDX international account to receive product from some US suppliers. On-line buying is for Americans only. It sucks up here.

I used a site in Canada that has all the parts in need for my old BMW's. They must be in ontario because i get charged all the taxes.
I think you sent me to this site from one of my last tech questions when i had a heating problem on my old 528e by the way is working great now! I have ordered the part already and will let you know how it goes.

Thank you!

Feb 14 2006. update.
Ok the relay came in today and did not make any difference the lights still do not work.
There must be a loss connection some where or no voltage present.
I will get out my tester now and check to make sure i have 12vdc at the fuse box and also check the relay out puts.

Until next time1

articsteve · « **Reply #17 on:** February 14, 2006, 08:29:45 pm »

That's a

off for sure.

How much did that module cost?

The only thing that kinda bothered me is that you had no turn signal when manually operating the turn signal arm. But they have it listed as the turn signal relay as well as the turn signal flasher. Downer.

barrie1 · « **Reply #18 on:** February 14, 2006, 11:10:28 pm »

I would now suspect either a bad ground on the wiring system or a broken or worn wire shorting out against something else in the system. Hopefully you find it real easy.

old528ebmw · « **Reply #19 on:** February 17, 2006, 03:53:43 pm »

Quote from: articsteve on February 14, 2006, 08:29:45 pm

That's a off for sure.

How much did that module cost?

The only thing that kinda bothered me is that you had no turn signal when manually operating the turn signal arm. But they have it listed as the turn signal relay as well as the turn signal flasher. Downer.

I only paid $60.00 with shipping and taxes. That's ok we had to try the simple fix.