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The cheak control problem you describe may be three things. 1 it could be a bad capacitor. 2 it could be a bulb that is "lazy"* and is just about to burn out. 3 Nothing. The way to test with out removing the instrament panel, is to turn on your position lights on with the ignition on, push your BC computer swich (on the turn signal rod) so something is displayed in the cheak control window, adjust the interior light dimmer up and down to see if the information in the cheak control window will change light intencity like the rest of the interior lights. (do not worry if the light intencity in the cheak control window does not adjust as responsively as the rest of the interior lights**. This is normal) If the light intencity changes with the interior lights, then the bulb is "lazy" and will need to be changed. If it is nothing then scroll down to see the subscript***. But if the intencity does not change then the capacitors are bad. But the main clue to see if your capacitors are bad is that the temp/fuel gauges will act erratic and give fulse and varried information. I have to change my capacitors as well. I will provide you some tips via this board after i do the rapair. But if you go in to the instrament panel to change this possably fulty bulb then it would not be a bad idea to change the capactors as well. Because they are probly on there way out too.

The wiper spoiler on the BMW e34 (code for BMW 5 series 89-96) i think is pointless. I do not know if this same buzz whould happen if the spoiler would be removed. But i do belive that the hood shape of these cars are good enough to deflect wind to not let the wipers move around. Plus i think the wiper spoiler is ugly. (the 6-series wiper spilers look much better)

The link bellow provides the way to jupe the plug connector on a e30 BMW (BMW 3-series 84-92)
By following the instructions, you will reset the indicator lights with out an expensive plastic devise. As you know, this procedure is not for your car, but rather a 3-series BMW, but i think it will work. (i have not done this on my car but plan to do this soon) To put your mind at ease, use a juper wire that is fuesed, by a 7.5 amp fuse. That way if worse comes to worse you will blow out your fuse, not your electrical system.

there are many usefull tools to help us do-it-yourselfers. such as:the bmw e34 network that can be found at www.bmwe34.net (this explanes all maintainance and explanes how to change the bulbs and capacitors), the Bently e34 service manual that explans most to all maintainance for the e34 (good but not the best manual around), you can realy get expensive and by a factory BMW repare manual from a dealer, and this is the best manual around. But it is expensive. (around $300.00) To get this just get the info from your local dealer.

I hope you have fun with your new BMW. They are truly the Ultimate Driving Machine. Here at the e34 board, we will help you through the way.
Nick R.
*Meaning the bulb has lost it's intencity that it once had but has not burnt out.
**it is like the newly adjusted intencity on the cheak control window has to catch up with the rest of the lights in the interior. Can be seen on the on board computer as well.
***On my car the intencity is slightly lower in the cheak control window then the rest of the lights in the car. If you change the bulb and capacitors and there is no change, and it is realy buging you you can buy a bulb with more watage.

service lights reset (i hope this works)

Follow Ups:

I like the expensive plastic tool. Jeff 12:33 7/18/2001 (0)
Check control not cheak control haha, sorry!! Nick R. 03:18 7/16/2001 (0)

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