S52 w/ ZF 5 speed Reverse lights

[craiggroves91]

So after searching around I can't get solid info on how to get reverse lights working.

Do I use an e30 reverse light switch and screw that into the ZF and use the factory e30 wiring that goes through the shifter?

thanks

-Craig

[bmwdready347]

if your car is already stick shift u just take the two wires that run threw the boot to the the tranny and u have to plug the wires up to the e36 tranny it is two wires and they will work with no modification

[bmwdready347]

and use the zf reverse light switch

[craiggroves91]

The ZF has a plug type switch though?

[Todd Black 88]

The two switches are exactly the same, but the e36 one uses a plug style and the e30 is just two connectors.

[craiggroves91]

I got them working. Just used the running losses plug I snipped off the e36 harness and wired it in to the factory e30 wiring.

[328ijunkie]

^that works lol

[nmlss2006]

..running losses?

[craiggroves91]

..running losses?

It's a valve/solenoid type thing on OBD2 cars that has to do with fueling I believe?

Not sure exactly, but basically you just want any BMW two prong plug that will slide onto the reverse plug on the trans

[yahh]

Is there a way to check if its the switch or the body side wiring? Can i jump the wiring in some way? I put the e36 connector onto the e30 wiring . I tried switching the wires and fuse #10 and still no reverse lights. Bulbs look good too. Any ideas?

[e30rapidic]

Is there a way to check if its the switch or the body side wiring? Can i jump the wiring in some way? I put the e36 connector onto the e30 wiring . I tried switching the wires and fuse #10 and still no reverse lights. Bulbs look good too. Any ideas?

yeah, just jump the two wires together that lead in to the switch and see if the reverse lights come on.

[yahh]

Yeah I got it figured out. The green wire was torn inside the but the cover wasn't. Rewired it and it works now. Always something dumb.

[jjc034]

My reverse lights aren't working so I checked Fuse #10 and all was good, and I also tried jumping the connector under the shift boot and that didn't trigger the reverse lights either.

I did install a keyless entry in the trunk of the car, but I recall the reverse lights not working before then.

I hear some people had to extend the switch - is that the next step? Pull the switch and see if pushing it in will trigger the reverse light?

What else should I be looking for?

Thanks,
John

[wilholl]

Might be a dumb question... but if you jumped the connector under the shift boot and the lights still did not work, wouldn't that rule out the switch as the problem?
Is there voltage at the connector under the boot?

[Todd Black 88]

My reverse lights aren't working so I checked Fuse #10 and all was good, and I also tried jumping the connector under the shift boot and that didn't trigger the reverse lights either.

I did install a keyless entry in the trunk of the car, but I recall the reverse lights not working before then.

I hear some people had to extend the switch - is that the next step? Pull the switch and see if pushing it in will trigger the reverse light?

What else should I be looking for?

Thanks,
John

If you jumped the car side and the lights didn’t come on, then changing the switch will do nothing. Change the fuse, whether it looks good or not, and try it.

If you jumped the transmission side of the plug.....smack yourself..