Dome light problems

[motorsporte30]

My drivers light will only come on when the door is opened. I can't switch it manually. The passenger door will only come on then the switch is flipped, but not when the door is opened. Does anyone know why my lights are wigging out?

[vpilarrt]

Can't switch it manually - more than likely a broken piece in the light, mine did that.

Not when the door is opened - more than likely you need to clean the door switch "contact" - take it out & you'll see what I mean.

[saurey]

Where would these "contacts" be, on the door or on the light? My lights won't turn on with the doors open

[bmwstephen]

they are the black door pins towards the fender. when you open the door, they retract there by bridging some wires behind the pin to light up your domes. Of course you have to make sure the switch on your dome lights are set in the position to automatically come on.

as for the OP's passenger side problem, when the door is open, try to tug the door pin away from the fender and towards you. it could just be sticky

[Cletonius]

as for the OP's passenger side problem, when the door is open, try to tug the door pin away from the fender and towards you. it could just be sticky

I had that same problem when I got my car, found lots of nastiness in the switches when I removed and cleaned them.

[ELVA164]

Where would these "contacts" be, on the door or on the light? My lights won't turn on with the doors open

Like bmwstephen said, you can find them on the fenders. Each one has a small screw holding it on; you need to remove that screw and clean the screw threads and the edges of the hole it threads into. These places get corroded and prevent a good contact.