Backup Light Switch - 1980 320i

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Any help would be appreciated.

My girlfriend can't part with her beloved beemer, so I am trying to fix a few things up for her. She bought the car in 1990 and the backup lights have NEVER worked.

I bought a Haynes manual which shows a very nice picture of the tranny with 2 wires hanging out of a backup light switch. I jacked up the car and got under and everything is identical to the Haynes picture except there is no backup light switch. There is a protrusion where there should be a swich, but no wires and no switch.

Could this be an after market tranny? Or is there another location where I might find the switch.

Thanks in advance

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plubber@hotmail.com

[supervisor1886]

If u dont find it its probaly not even there. Somebody might have changed out the tranny (used) like 4 spd to 5spd swap or while doing the clutch. You could go to a dealer and get one (which should pretty expensive $50 at least) or a junk-yard hunt-that would defibatly sucked.
The easiest way is to wire a relay and a manual switch to the light so it can be operated manually till you get time to do it right.

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The tranny has the protrusion where the switch is supposed to be, but there should be a threaded hole to screw it into. There is no hole for the switch to install. Also, I see no wires anywhere that used to go to a switch.

If I wire a relay in for her, I'm just afraid (not that it's a big deal) that she will be driving around with her backup lights on all day.

A new or rebuilt tranny JUST for this switch is not in the budget.

Phil

[supervisor1886]

Oh comon I have my push button starter, ignition switch, fuel pump power, and manual fans wired like that on my trans am. Lotsa fan. You can wire a little warning light in there too.