Center Console Light Switch Tab

3002 tii · 05-11-2013, 08:52 PM

My center console light would always stay on. Upto now I assumed a piece of plastic had snapped off the bottom of the door flap. I eventually just disconnected the light but after randomly browsing the forums, I found this picture.

There is a metal tab that gets pushed down and makes contact with the switch (circled in red). I DON'T have that tab, duh!

Question is, is that metal tab part of that cheap plastic cover (*fingers crossed*) or is it actually part of the switch mechanism itself that lies underneath that plastic cover???

StickMon · 05-12-2013, 12:38 AM

I just checked mine and it looks like it's part of the switch.
Looks like a standard "micro-switch", which come as a basic switch with lots of optional actuators pre-assembled from the factory. Oddly, I haven't found it on RealOEM yet.
There's also an easily broken long plastic pin sticking out of the bottom of the door to strike it.
Shmeesh, that cheap plastic cover is a PITA.

Oh, here it is. Glad to be of assistance.

I also just checked to see if it's magnetic. No joy. So if it's gone into the nether regions of your tunnel, you won't be able to fish it out with a magnet on a stick.

Nate4641 · 05-12-2013, 05:01 AM

this seems to be a weak spot of engineering from BMW. First, stuff easily slides off from the shelves, second they fall into the hole if you dont have that cover in place. if you do have that cover, the object probably helps in ripping off the tab from the door that hits the switch. In my car, I didn't have the cover at the bottom and the tab holding the switch in place got bent 90º to the side and the metal part of the switch got ripped off. I bought a replacement cover and switch, but I dont think I can reattach the switch due to the damage on its mount. At least with the cover in place I wont be losing stuff down that hole anymore.

3002 tii · 05-12-2013, 10:20 AM

Hmm, so it seems I'm missing both the plastic tab on the bottom of the door/flap as well as the metal piece off the switch lol.

3002 tii · 05-21-2013, 06:56 PM

This is hilarious, so I ordered a new switch, installed everything only to realize the bulb died out. In trying to pull the bulb housing out, I cracked one of the tabs so I now need to order the lamp replacement... yes the irony

Looking at realoem however, I couldn't find the center console lamp, anyone have a p/n for me? It didn't look like parts 1 nor 8 in the picture below.

StickMon · 05-26-2013, 02:34 PM

I can't find that socket, either. Just like I can't find the sockets for the front corner marker lights that go into the headlight assembly. I broke some pieces off one of those while playing with LEDs. Easy to do. They get brittle from the heat of the bulbs.

jeebus87 · 05-26-2013, 05:58 PM

I actually had the same exact problem on mine - switch worked fine to turn the light off, but the console door tab had broken off and the light would stay on.

Rather than spending $70 on a new console door, I took a small screw, drilled a tiny hole into the bottom of the console door where the tab should be (so that the screw head sticks out far enough to contact the switch when closed) and it works great. Call it a redneck hack, but it was free and took about 5 minutes of my time.

ncognito01 · 09-26-2013, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeebus87

I actually had the same exact problem on mine - switch worked fine to turn the light off, but the console door tab had broken off and the light would stay on.

Rather than spending $70 on a new console door, I took a small screw, drilled a tiny hole into the bottom of the console door where the tab should be (so that the screw head sticks out far enough to contact the switch when closed) and it works great. Call it a redneck hack, but it was free and took about 5 minutes of my time.

Jeebus - I like the way you think, would you do me a favor and post a pic. of your creation? I would like to re-create it since I have the same problem. Thanks much!

Vanne · 09-26-2013, 10:32 AM

And just now I find out what that thing is actually used for... Of all things....
A pen holder...

jeebus87 · 09-26-2013, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ncognito01

Jeebus - I like the way you think, would you do me a favor and post a pic. of your creation? I would like to re-create it since I have the same problem. Thanks much!

Here's my ghetto hack.

Robert McCutcheon · 05-15-2024, 12:26 AM

Thanks for the Ideal - i am ashamed that I did not think of that - Thanks

05-11-2013, 08:52 PM	#1
3002 tii Lieutenant General 2387 Rep 12,635 Posts Drives: Z4 M, X5, GX460 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: CT iTrader: (100) Garage List E86 Z4 M [10.00] F15 X5 xDrive35i [9.17] F10 550i (Retired) [9.17] F25 X3 xDrive35i (R ... [9.43] E82 135is (Retired) [9.53] E85 Z4 M (Retired) [9.41] E90 328i xDrive (Re ... [9.25] E86 Z4 3.0si (Retired) [8.93]	Center Console Light Switch Tab My center console light would always stay on. Upto now I assumed a piece of plastic had snapped off the bottom of the door flap. I eventually just disconnected the light but after randomly browsing the forums, I found this picture. There is a metal tab that gets pushed down and makes contact with the switch (circled in red). I DON'T have that tab, duh! Question is, is that metal tab part of that cheap plastic cover (fingers crossed) or is it actually part of the switch mechanism itself that lies underneath that plastic cover??? Attached Images __________________ Follow for latest mods
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05-12-2013, 12:38 AM	#2
StickMon My other car is on Mars 639 Rep 3,124 Posts Drives: 2006 MR Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Lo-Cal iTrader: (1)	I just checked mine and it looks like it's part of the switch. Looks like a standard "micro-switch", which come as a basic switch with lots of optional actuators pre-assembled from the factory. Oddly, I haven't found it on RealOEM yet. There's also an easily broken long plastic pin sticking out of the bottom of the door to strike it. Shmeesh, that cheap plastic cover is a PITA. Oh, here it is. Glad to be of assistance. I also just checked to see if it's magnetic. No joy. So if it's gone into the nether regions of your tunnel, you won't be able to fish it out with a magnet on a stick. Last edited by StickMon; 05-12-2013 at 12:47 AM..
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05-12-2013, 05:01 AM	#3
Nate4641 Major 155 Rep 1,134 Posts Drives: '07 M Roadster Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Warner Robins, GA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2007 BMW Z4 M Roadster [0.00]	this seems to be a weak spot of engineering from BMW. First, stuff easily slides off from the shelves, second they fall into the hole if you dont have that cover in place. if you do have that cover, the object probably helps in ripping off the tab from the door that hits the switch. In my car, I didn't have the cover at the bottom and the tab holding the switch in place got bent 90º to the side and the metal part of the switch got ripped off. I bought a replacement cover and switch, but I dont think I can reattach the switch due to the damage on its mount. At least with the cover in place I wont be losing stuff down that hole anymore. __________________ My build/adventure thread
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05-12-2013, 10:20 AM	#4
3002 tii Lieutenant General 2387 Rep 12,635 Posts Drives: Z4 M, X5, GX460 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: CT iTrader: (100) Garage List E86 Z4 M [10.00] F15 X5 xDrive35i [9.17] F10 550i (Retired) [9.17] F25 X3 xDrive35i (R ... [9.43] E82 135is (Retired) [9.53] E85 Z4 M (Retired) [9.41] E90 328i xDrive (Re ... [9.25] E86 Z4 3.0si (Retired) [8.93]	Hmm, so it seems I'm missing both the plastic tab on the bottom of the door/flap as well as the metal piece off the switch lol. __________________ Follow for latest mods
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05-21-2013, 06:56 PM	#5
3002 tii Lieutenant General 2387 Rep 12,635 Posts Drives: Z4 M, X5, GX460 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: CT iTrader: (100) Garage List E86 Z4 M [10.00] F15 X5 xDrive35i [9.17] F10 550i (Retired) [9.17] F25 X3 xDrive35i (R ... [9.43] E82 135is (Retired) [9.53] E85 Z4 M (Retired) [9.41] E90 328i xDrive (Re ... [9.25] E86 Z4 3.0si (Retired) [8.93]	This is hilarious, so I ordered a new switch, installed everything only to realize the bulb died out. In trying to pull the bulb housing out, I cracked one of the tabs so I now need to order the lamp replacement... yes the irony Looking at realoem however, I couldn't find the center console lamp, anyone have a p/n for me? It didn't look like parts 1 nor 8 in the picture below. __________________ Follow for latest mods Last edited by 3002 tii; 05-22-2013 at 11:38 AM..
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05-26-2013, 02:34 PM	#6
StickMon My other car is on Mars 639 Rep 3,124 Posts Drives: 2006 MR Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Lo-Cal iTrader: (1)	I can't find that socket, either. Just like I can't find the sockets for the front corner marker lights that go into the headlight assembly. I broke some pieces off one of those while playing with LEDs. Easy to do. They get brittle from the heat of the bulbs.
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05-26-2013, 05:58 PM	#7
jeebus87 Second Lieutenant 33 Rep 293 Posts Drives: '11 atacama yellow Z4 35i Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: USA iTrader: (4)	I actually had the same exact problem on mine - switch worked fine to turn the light off, but the console door tab had broken off and the light would stay on. Rather than spending $70 on a new console door, I took a small screw, drilled a tiny hole into the bottom of the console door where the tab should be (so that the screw head sticks out far enough to contact the switch when closed) and it works great. Call it a redneck hack, but it was free and took about 5 minutes of my time.
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09-26-2013, 10:32 AM	#9
Vanne Down Under!! 1654 Rep 4,318 Posts Drives: 2007 Z4MC Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Dubai iTrader: (4)	And just now I find out what that thing is actually used for... Of all things.... A pen holder... __________________ 2007 EuroSpec Z4///MC - Building/Developing Z4 GT3 Powered by
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05-15-2024, 12:26 AM	#11
Robert McCutcheon Registered 0 Rep 1 Posts Drives: 2006 bmw z4 + 2013 bmw f30 Join Date: May 2024 Location: minnesota usa iTrader: (0)	center console light switch Thanks for the Ideal - i am ashamed that I did not think of that - Thanks
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