intermittent turn signal

[coupelady]

I have a great feeling that the connection from the bulb to the socket is at fault. Several techs have looked at it, sand a bit, or giggle it but it keeps returning. The indicator on the dash flashes 4 times then stops. No clicking.
Don't think it is a ground. I copied a tech talk from Mike Miller from the Roundel (just found the copy which reminded me, the coupe is sleeping right now) about an 02 that did the same thing. He suggested replacing the blub with a BMW blub (I know that is important) and build up the contact point with some solder. Not sure that would cure this. What are your feelings? I did not replace this cluster's base due to cost or was it NLA at the time of my restoration? Probably was NLA

 

[jmackro]

You had written: "The indicator on the dash flashes 4 times then stops". Is that the only problem? Or is it that the exterior lights are intermittent?

If it's just the indicator, then the problem is the flasher unit. You can polish up the contacts inside the flasher and that problem will go away - for awhile. A better solution is to replace the 1970's era, mechanical flasher with a modern, electronic unit.

There are several threads discussing this problem here on the e9 forum, as well as on the corresponding 2002 discussion board. One is: http://www.e9coupe.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6507&highlight=flasher See my post #15 in that thread discussing my solution. Still working great 2-1/2 years later.

 

[JFENG]

You had written: "The indicator on the dash flashes 4 times then stops". Is that the only problem? Or is it that the exterior lights are intermittent?

If it's just the indicator, then the problem is the flasher unit. You can polish up the contacts inside the flasher and that problem will go away - for awhile. A better solution is to replace the 1970's era, mechanical flasher with a modern, electronic unit.

There are several threads discussing this problem here on the e9 forum, as well as on the corresponding 2002 discussion board. One is: http://www.e9coupe.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6507&highlight=flasher See my post #15 in that thread discussing my solution. Still working great 2-1/2 years later.

I'll second that recommendation. The RIGHT type of electronic relay is highly insensitive to current draw (and hence the quality of your grounds), and will flashlight properly even with pretty sketchy contact quality.

But not all elec relays have this super low current threshold so paid heed the specs. Isis a writeupdir a German member of this forum and would be happy to forward it to others upon request.

John