Reverse light switch in gearbox?

[da breeze]

Hey all, i have been troubled with this for a while. The Wires that travel through the gearbox boot rubber were torn so i stripped them and reconnected them and the reverse lights still dont come on when i shift into reverse (manual tran). But when i connect the two wires coming from the engine (assume power source) together the lights come on, so there is power but when i connect them to the gearbox wires nothing. My question is where is the switch for to trip the reverse lights on when you click it into reverse gear? Is it in the gearbox? under?? i dont have a service manual so any help would be apprectiated!
Cheers Mark!

[erik325i]

The switch is on the passenger side of the tranny

[da breeze]

Cheers eric, Is the switch located inside the box or does it run through the side of the box and up?? Also when you say passenger side you mean (U.S) passenger side (right). Thanks again!

[KenC]

Yeah, US passenger side. The switch is pretty much a plug. Just use a box wrench to get it in and out. Shouldn't take more than 5 minutes total.

[BahnE30]

follow the wires down, i believe it's 13 mm someone correct me, take it out like a bolt, installation is reverse of removal.

simple job. :D

[da breeze]

Ok thanks all for your help, very appreciated, just one more question, i have found the clip at the top of the shifter (between rubber boot and chassis) and for this second "Bolt" do i take out the rubber boot and find the second connection down next to the box? Cheers All!

[KenC]

If you find the switch under the car, you'll see the connection going to it. You just unplug it, unscrew the old switch, screw the new one in, and then plug the wires back onto it.

[da breeze]

Ok so i need to get under the car and will see the two wires coming from the passenger (driver side in australia) of the box and from there i need to unscrew those wires that run up to the top of the box where it comes through between the rubber boot and chassis, and then i just pull it through and replace? Have i got this correct, Sorry but im a noob to my bmw so i just wanna get it right!
Cheers all

[KenC]

Why are you replacing the wires? You just need to replace the switch.

Slide under your car and take a look... you'll see what we're talking about.

[BahnE30]

leave the wires, there's a bolt on the side of the transmission that has a switch on the end of it, when you put your car in reverse, the shift linkage pushes it in, makes the connection inside the switch and, the reverse lights come on.
simple disconnect the wires from the switch turn the switch out and turn the new one back in, replace wires and your lights should come on.

[Axxe]

If you are unlucky like me you will find that it's actually the piece inside the tranny that doesn't push the switch at all that has faiiled. I bought a new switch but no dice, still no reverse lights.

[da breeze]

Ok i understand fully now , thanks all for ur help!!!
cheers, Mark :D

[unreel]

If you are unlucky like me you will find that it's actually the piece inside the tranny that doesn't push the switch at all that has faiiled. I bought a new switch but no dice, still no reverse lights.

By any chance did your lights work only sometimes and then not work for a while? Or did they just stop working all together one day?

[Giorgio]

If you are unlucky like me you will find that it's actually the piece inside the tranny that doesn't push the switch at all that has faiiled. I bought a new switch but no dice, still no reverse lights.

By any chance did your lights work only sometimes and then not work for a while? Or did they just stop working all together one day?

Those are the symptoms of a bad switch. If you replace the switch, you should be good.

[UNHCLL]

If you are unlucky like me you will find that it's actually the piece inside the tranny that doesn't push the switch at all that has faiiled. I bought a new switch but no dice, still no reverse lights.

did you use the right washer between the switch and the tranny?