Compare these two parts (BIG picture warning)

[xLibelle]

one on left is mine but broken. one on right is what i keep finding.
What are they??? My door's harness doesnt have provisions for this switch on the right. can i use it anyway, just minus that extra plug? I just need what ever info i can get from this because i cant find the part number for mine.

[Jordan]

Door handle/lock heater?

[DaveSmed]

Door handle/lock heater?

+1, in your case, your car does not have it. That switch on your car is for the interior light delay. Curious, did you even know you had an interior light delay? Connect the brown/green and brown wires together and try it out.


Now, the reason most people don't know that there car even had that feature is because that switch is a crap design. Good news? You can leave it bypassed, as that switch's purpose is classic over engineering at the cost of adding another failure point. It's sole purpose is to ensure you don't encounter the horror of having your dome light remain on for 10 or so seconds after you leave the car- it should only hold the light on if your getting IN the car. If your like me, and can accept such a steep trade off for the convenience of a timed delay light (but getting in AND out of the car!) leave it bypassed, and ignore the wiring for that stupid bent metal "switch"

[nando]

door lock heater, the part # is right on there (1374784)

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/partxref.do?part=1374784&showus=on&showeur=on

[xLibelle]

nando's link is door lock heater, this, what i have, does not appear to be.
the realoem item is the clip that holds the lock tumbler in place. this switch where the dome light for door pull would have no effect as a heater for the lock.

it could be a handle heater ... i'm just a little lost... if its acutally that, maybe the switch part of it will work.
dave, i'm thinking of going with your idea to just leave it out and forget it.

[DaveSmed]

Clarification: That would be the switch that activates the door lock heater (in cars so equipped) as well as that interior light delay.

[Jordan]

Yeah... you lift the door handle and stand there like a retard while a heating element thaws a frozen door lock cylinder. I've never seen a e30 that had the feature, that still had it working.

[e30_kid89]

Yeah... you lift the door handle and stand there like a retard while a heating element thaws a frozen door lock cylinder. I've never seen a e30 that had the feature, that still had it working.

QFT.

[xLibelle]

how does the lock heater work? you hold the handle up while it heat the lock??