E30 Light Issue

[318isbmw]

I swapped my dash out, plugged everything back in and now my dash lights and head lights won't turn on when I turn the lights on. The check panel doesn't show any issues, and tail lights work when I turn on the lights, just no head lights or dash lights. I've checked the plugs and all the interior functions work correctly so I'm assuming it's the dimmer switch. Any other options, or things to check?

Brendan

[jlevie]

The dimmer switch would affect the dash lights, but not the head lights. A bad switch or a problem with the connector sound likely.

[Thizzelle]

do the hi beams come on when you pull the lever on steering wheel? if so then it's your dimmer switch because that controls the headlights.
boom

[318isbmw]

Unfortunately due to previous owner putting depo headlights in the car I've never had working high beams. I removed the switch and put it back in, checked all the wires under the dash to make sure everything was tight and they worked. Put the car back together and now they don't again. Tail lights still work whenever I turn the lights on, and check panel still reads the head lights are there.

[Thizzelle]

this is when you need a DMM

[318isbmw]

this is when you need a DMM

Part of the issue, previous owner did both and hacked the wiring bad. I fixed the lows but I never used highs so I had been addressing other issues first. Looks like it may have been a bad ground. I removed the ground wires and reattached them and now I've got head lights and dash loghts. Still no cluster lights but getting there...

[Thizzelle]

sometimes the dimmer switch just sucks, wiggle it while turning it. Happens on all my cars.

[318isbmw]

sometimes the dimmer switch just sucks, wiggle it while turning it. Happens on all my cars.

Thanks, makes sense. I'm sure pulling the dash had jiggled the wires pretty good.

[Thizzelle]

IT'S NOT THE WIRES IT'S THE POT THAT ROTATES (Potentiometer)