Headlights go out - 1990 325i

[rolandmw]

Hi,

Long time reader, first time poster...

I have a 1990 325i, on the way into work this morning, my headlights just went out.. The dash lights were still on, not sure about the parking lights... I turned on my flashers and easied into a parking lot.. I sat there for a while and got out the owners manual.. Read up on the fuse locations... I decided to try the high beams... you know, where you just pull the blinker switch toward you... High beams came, but still no headlights. I then push the blinker switch forward to keep the high beams on... the stayed on. I pulled forward and now the low beams were back on.... I thought, cool, and drove into work. I got to work and played around with the high beams and sometimes the low beams would come on and some times they wouldn't.

Does anyone have any idea where I might start troubleshooting this problem?

Thanks!

Roland

btw... I did search first... couldnt find anything that addressed my specific issue.

 

[mjbst111]

Maybe check out the relay... probably what i'd do first.

Welcome!

 

[rolandmw]

Thanks for the fast reply.. I'll check it out!

 

[hatchman088]

yea jiggle or pull them out and then in again

do you have sealed beams, H4's , or ellipsoids?

 

[jrt67ss350]

Sounds to me like your relay is going out on you. If you can take the relay apart, the contacts inside probably just need to be cleaned. If you can't get it apart, then it's probably time for a new one.

 

[rolandmw]

Is there anyway to test a Relay with a Multimeter? Do bad ones have less resistenance?

BTW.. Thanks for all the replys!

 

[Kirby]

You can test a relay, but if it's intermittent as you describe, it may test OK with a meter, but fail under electrical load, heat or vibration. It could be either the coil, or the load contacts.

You don't want the headlights going out at 75 mph in traffic. I would just replace it. I think they are under $25 or so.