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1995 BMW M3 Headlight / flasher problem

Tiny
COREYCPC
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  • 1995 BMW M3
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • MANUAL
  • 149,000 MILES
I have aftermarket DEPO headlights with angel-eyes wired into the flashers, bought the car 6 months ago as is and everything was fine with the lights. I replaced the flasher bulbs with "stealth" lights and realized one of the sockets was 150 deg. And the other 180 and that two 180 bulbs had been installed, one shoved into the 150 socket (have now replaced with 2x 180's). After changing the bulbs, when I turned on the headlights (even to the running position) the flashers are "frozen" on and do not blink causing me to drive with no working turn signals in the dark. I was thinking it was the relay but when the lights are off the flashers work fine so I don't want to buy the relay if it's more likely a ground issue but all the wiring seems legit (a little shoddy but it all seems right and worked fine before)
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Monday, June 1st, 2009 AT 12:33 PM

9 Replies

Tiny
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I think I understand but I would like some clarification, what is a stealth bulb? This problem was not present before the application of these bulbs, correct?
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Monday, June 1st, 2009 AT 1:32 PM
Tiny
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The stealth bulbs really have no significance, they are silver colored bulbs that glow amber so they aren't seen in the clear corner housings. I think the problem originated with the wrong bulb/socket pin orientation the 180 deg. Pin bulb was shoved into a 150 deg. Pin socket which I dumbly just repeated (shoved the new 180 bulb into the socket) the bulbs worked just not when the headlights where on. They worked perfectly fine before this however. I have since changed the 150 socket to a 180 so the bulbs fit but the problem is still there. I'm thinking that maybe the bad bulb fit shorted something but the only place I can figure the flasher and headlight circuits meeting is the relay and the flasher module (in the dash?) Or the multi switch which I believe to be fine.
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Monday, June 1st, 2009 AT 1:51 PM
Tiny
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First request I have is to remove the bulbs and see if the flashers flash with the headlamps on. Do that and report back, I'll be here.
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Monday, June 1st, 2009 AT 2:03 PM
Tiny
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Nope, doesn't work, i've tried every possible combo of lights in/out & on/off and the problem sticks. I even had a friend of mine who was a mechanic at a local ford dealership look over it with me and he was as bewildered as me and after looking at wiring diagrams figured it had to be a short at one of the locations I was already wondering about or a ground problem. So I'm fairly certain thats where the problem is, just trying to figure most likely culprit.
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Monday, June 1st, 2009 AT 2:10 PM
Tiny
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I am going to pull up the wiring diagrams when I get home this afternoon and see if I can get you an answer, hang in there mate à â Â
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Monday, June 1st, 2009 AT 2:51 PM
Tiny
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Thanx for helping, heres a link to the diagrams I was looking at:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/mitchell1eautorepair-car-repair-manuals
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Monday, June 1st, 2009 AT 2:57 PM
Tiny
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The diagrams you are looking at should help guide you through this, where exactly are you stuck? Do you need an explanation of the diagrams? How much modification was inflicted on your car?
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Wednesday, June 3rd, 2009 AT 8:51 AM
Tiny
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I'm not good with the electronics, my buddy found those diagrams this is the first time I've tried reading them
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Wednesday, June 3rd, 2009 AT 10:26 AM
Tiny
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Corey, send me a PM with your phone # and lets see if I can school you on these repairs.
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Wednesday, June 3rd, 2009 AT 10:41 AM

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