Backup Light Switch - 1980 320i

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

re_fill
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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.

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

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.