Head Light electrical problem

[keru627]

Good Morning BMW drivers!

I am new to this group. I bought my wife a 1993 used 525i Touring station wagon a few years ago. Needless to say, I didn't realize what a financial maelstrom I put myself into when we purchased it. When the car is working it runs fine, but let one thing go wrong and it becomes a veritable black hole. You want to try and get away, but it just keeps pulling you in to the night.

I have had to replace several items on the 525iT, like the radiator, the fan clutch, and now just recently the fuel pump and relay. One problem that seems to be cropping up is the bright lights(hi-beams) come on now with no setting of the hi-beam switch. Is it possible the switch is bad? I could really use some help. Talk to me.

By the way, we took the car for a trip to Texas a few years ago, and the ride was a little stiff, but the mileage was great(around 32 m.p.g.). It isn't a bad car, but I would like to restore it a little bit and bring it back to a very usable and nice condition. Thanks

[GIBSON]

Welcome to the board! I hope you get the problems with the BMW solved, that is a pretty reliable car but with the common problems you have experienced.
Maintenance can be pretty high, same thing with many other BMW's when it comes to the cooling system. I flush the radiator fairly regularly and check coolant often, the thermostat housing on my 3 series went out after two years.

Do the brights come on when you have the low beams on or when the lights are off. If they are coming on when the lights are on, I'd say it's the switch.
If they come on when no lights are on, it could be in the column and you are getting a short that causes the brights to come on.

Expect a few problems like this from time to time, you have to balance the good with the bad, if the car is enjoyable to drive and most of the time seems
to perform well, you just have to live with these things and have a budget for the repairs that will come up.

[Jeron]

Those replacement items are pretty common. Doesn't sound too bad for a 15 year old car. Your only other option is to replace some of the common wear items as part of preventive maintenance.