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I inherited an older (and neglected) 79 528i. I took the dash apart to try and fix some things and when I went to put it back on everything works great except for the turn signals. They worked fine before but when I push the turn signal either way I don't get the green flashing light from the instrument cluster so I feel like it's something wrong with the wiring. Is there any possible way someone could post a picture or describe how the wiring should be plugged into the back of the instrument cluster (specifically the turn signals)? Thank you all

Your turn signal issue is likely with the hazard switch.

Yay! There is an FAQ on repair but as of yet, I've been 100% unsuccessful with rebuilding these and I've been trying for about 15 years starting with E21s. They never end up sitting perfectly centered so there's always something making contact that shouldn't.

I really believe these switches work backwards. They shouldn't have any tension on them unless you're using them. It seriously would have to make M1 ownership just horrible.

I have had this aggravating issue more than once. The turn signals work, but the dash light won't flash. The culprit is the bulb doesn't sit correctly in the awful plastic wiring harness that distributes power around the dash items. The bulb (make sure it's good) is in a plastic holder that clips into the dash opening and wipes the wiring harness while it's sitting in there for power. At least the easy part is you can access this bulb fixture by just removing the lower cowl panel and fiddling with it until it works.
AMHIK

I agree with the comment about the hazard switch, it is another over-engineered mechanical device that yes, is designed backwards. They get old from the spring pressure constantly wanting to deform the innards until it doesn't work, works incorrectly, or fails flashing at the most inappropriate times with no way of turning it off until removal. And yes, fixing is a test of patience.

If the signals work but the light in the dash doesnt, it's your flasher relay, not your hazard switch.
I have repaired dozens of hazard switched. I would say that 9 out of 10 fixes are successful. Most fail when they won't stay in. The switch itself is quite simple. The little rod that does he "holding" gets fatigued and needs to be bent back in. The hardest part is separating the two halves. The rest is cake.
The flasher relay can also be fixed. It's a contact that needs to be cleaned.

I have tried to fix at least 40 switches and I have 41 that don't work.

Put them in a box, ship them to me, I'll fix them and ship them back to you. Just pay the shipping both ways.

The bulb in mine flashes only once. Lights outside are ok. I am under the impression that the bulb in the dash would work if all contacts to the lights outside were perfect.

Falkenberg wrote:The bulb in mine flashes only once. Lights outside are ok. I am under the impression that the bulb in the dash would work if all contacts to the lights outside were perfect.

I've seen that happen with a tired flasher relay.

Hey all thanks for the replies. I ended up pushing the hazard switch in and then try the turn signals. They work now and the light in the cluster illuminates but it seems to be intermittent as opposes to following a steady sequence. Could this be the relay going bad or what? I'm already loving these forums! Pictures of the bimmer to come

As Pierre indicated, seems to be the flasher relay. After wiring new Euro lights in bumper and headlights, the light in the dash would not work, except after replacing the flasher relay...

Hi crispycreme;
Of course I chuckled a coupla times about you finally pushing the hazard switch in, which we all feel was BMW doofawgulty!
Glad you found the problem.
I forgot to say, 'Welcome'!

GripGreg wrote:we all feel was BMW doofawgulty!

And only now I realized that it is opposite to most other cars.
At least the turn signal switch is on the left on the E12. I had some people start the wipers on the 2002.

Mike W. wrote:

Falkenberg wrote:The bulb in mine flashes only once. Lights outside are ok. I am under the impression that the bulb in the dash would work if all contacts to the lights outside were perfect.

I've seen that happen with a tired flasher relay.

Good info, thanks. Will it stay like this or will it die on me? If prior, I can live with it.

Falkenberg wrote:

Mike W. wrote:

Falkenberg wrote:The bulb in mine flashes only once. Lights outside are ok. I am under the impression that the bulb in the dash would work if all contacts to the lights outside were perfect.

I've seen that happen with a tired flasher relay.

Good info, thanks. Will it stay like this or will it die on me? If prior, I can live with it.

No worries, they seem to stay like that and not fail completely. I'm not sure what causes them to act like that, I even replaced some of the transistors one time and it acted the same, one flash on the dash but the actual signals worked fine.

eatcrispycreme2 wrote: Is there any possible way someone could post a picture or describe how the wiring should be plugged into the back of the instrument cluster (specifically the turn signals)? Thank you all

Surely.

The pic does not show the actual dash cluster that both of the items shown snap into. But note the electrical 'ears' on the bulb holder that contact the sorry wiring harness when fitted into the dash cluster opening for the turn signal bulb (as is the same for the rest of the cluster warning/indicator bulbs).

Plug all that into the dash cluster opening, making sure the bulb holder ears are contacting the copper wiring harness tabs, operate the turn signal, and wiggle the bulb holder - behold its flakiness.

Good luck with the rest of them!

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