Cluster/headlight Lights - I need your help!!!

[Bbruins72]

Help my cluster get light - please!!!!
I have read many posts on fixing this issue and I know it seems like it has been beat to death, but any help you can provide me in my problem would be great.

1. On the cluster the car has only had right turn signal illuminate. The left arrow did work at one time with hazard use. I found out through research that is usually a sign of a bad turn signal switch, relay or ground at the switch. I have installed a known working unit and relay, and no fix. I have used a new hazard and still no left arrow. This leaves me to believe it must be a bad bulb in the cluster? Thoughts???

2. Since I have owned the car the head slight switch has not illuminated. I took it apart and put in a known working unit. I have replaced the bulb with a brand new one and the bulb did not light up. The bulb was a little bigger than stock bulb, so I have special ordered the new one (too small no shop had it in stock). We will see if that fixes it? Why that didnt work is beyond me, bulb size - it fit and connections were solid so seems odd? Side note the dimmer works well on the headlight switch so I know its good.

3. Cluster lights - This is an odd one. I have been trying to get this problem fixed since I have owned the car. If you read Paragraph 1 you know I have no left turn signal light, but the right arrow lights up. The only other part of the cluster that lights up is 2 green lights at bottom and when I turn the key or as needed the warning lights at the bottom illuminate. Nothing else. On 2 occasions 1 time last summer and 1 time in the fall/early winter the cluster lights magically came on while driving. Why I have no idea. This sounds like a bad board? But could it be the Light bulbs?

Any help anyone can provide would be awesome. Thanks!

[dnguyen1963]

You have gone this long and not taken the cluster out for an examination? It is about time. These boards are old and many of the solder joints are broken. Replace all the light bulbs with new ones from any of the reputable shops.

[cory58]

My understanding is lots of crazy things can happen on the dash when the SI board batteries start to go bad.

[Bbruins72]

You have gone this long and not taken the cluster out for an examination? It is about time. These boards are old and many of the solder joints are broken. Replace all the light bulbs with new ones from any of the reputable shops.

Just got done at advance auto parts ordering the light bulbs. Are these really that uncommon they hAve to be special ordered. Its the bulb not even the bulb with housing. Anyone suggest a direct bulb from sylvania that could work?

[jeffnhiscars]

You can get a 10 pack off of amazon or eBay for about $12

[dnguyen1963]

Just got done at advance auto parts ordering the light bulbs. Are these really that uncommon they hAve to be special ordered. Its the bulb not even the bulb with housing. Anyone suggest a direct bulb from sylvania that could work?

Welcome to German cars! Get to know suppliers such as Pelican, Blunttech, RMEuropean, Bavauto, and a few similar ones for your E30 supplies. Local places, Autozone or Advance Auto, do not normally carry them. I bought stuff off Ebay and Amazon too. You just have to know what to look for to avoid buying junks.

[Bbruins72]

Update....

Found a 10 pack of bulbs at napa, only had 5 in it. Odd but what ever i got 5 in hand.

Get home take cluster out, replace light bulbs and replug in battery to check on status. YES. I have light to the cluster. But no Damn left green arrow. I replaced that bulb, why isn't it working? Must be an issue with a piece on the board. Honestly I don't have the skills, patience or time to get that deep over a green arrow.

While out I also found smaller bulbs for the headlight switch assembly and replaced that bulb and bam, I know have lights to the headlight assembly.

I daily drove this car for a year with no interior lights, but had no downtime to fix it. 1 day off and I have it 90% fixed.

Any last ditch help to get that Damn green turn signal working?

[Bbruins72]

Update:
So my OCD is taking hold with this in-op green left turn signal in the dash. I have been messing with the new bulb with no luck. I have tried every combination of hazards and key positions, no luck. I am out of ideas. I want to put everything back together tomorrow, but it would be even better if I got this fixed before. Ideas?

[Bbruins72]

Another idea - the turn signal stock and relay were used. Same part #. What are the odds I have stumbled across two bad relays? They are slightly black on flat prong. Could it be I have 2 bad relays on the signal stock. The right turn light on the dash works and the clicking is normal speed. Plus when hazards on the right green arrow lights up but no left arrow. What is going on????

[dnguyen1963]

Man...you are not listening. Take your main cluster board out and get a big frigging magnifying glass and look at all the solder joints. If your board is bad, you can spend days replacing bulbs or relays and still have the same problem at the end. You need to eliminate this possibility first before doing anything else electronically.

[Bbruins72]

Dude I have zero experience soldering. Not sure if a missing green flashing arrow is worth me jacking more stuff up.
Side note: no chance in hell I could do that work tonight after all this jack and coke I have been drinking.

You are probably right man, i would bet that's the answer.