Wiring weirdness

[ES 1800]

First, thanks to Dave V for posting the pdf of the wiring diagram in the FAQ section.

I just got my car back from the painter, and needed to sort some things out, since I did not take it apart.. In the process, I realized there are some pretty weird idiosyncrasies in how the lights work, at least on my car. E.g. ...

If I leave the turn signal on the marker lights stay on even with the light switch off and the ignition in the off position.​

In order for the parking/license plate lights to come on the ignition needs to be in the on position.​

What sense does this make?? What were these German engineers thinking? Or imbibing/smoking?

jim (1 BMW, many Volvos)

 

[stphers]

On European cars there is a feature that keeps the signal lights on on whichever side you put the signal switch on It is for the small roads with no lighting on the street so oncoming cars can see that someone is parked on the side
They go out if you leave the signal switch in neutral

Thanks, Rick

 

[HB Chris]

Even my US 73 has this feature or is it my 70 2800? lol

 

[Twenty Mike Mike]

Perfectly normal behavior for both Euro and U.S. models. Both of my late in the 1973 model year build U.S. spec cars had that feature.

In the Owner's Manual, page 8, Controls and Instruments, number 11: Lever for turn indicators, parking lights, screenwipers and screenwasher.

As Rick said, it's a Euro thing, but it was cheaper to build them all that way, rather than having bespoke wiring harnesses.