Center storage light stuck on

Dine · 11-20-2013, 09:31 PM

So the light in the storage compartment between the seats stays on 24/7. The latch that opens and closes the door works fine but the mechanism that pushes in when closed that operates the light obviously is broken. This hasn't killed my battery YET but I do notice its slow to start in the morning after it sits overnight. So until I can get that latched repaired what are my options to turn it off?

seank · 11-20-2013, 10:08 PM

Stuff something in the hole.

Dine · 11-20-2013, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seank

Stuff something in the hole.

Tried this. I can't even get it to shut off temporarily. The latching mechanism works perfectly. It doesn't appear broken. If you press it in it rebounds just like it should but the light stays on. I was thinking about pulling the fuse but I'm not sure which one and what else I might lose...

jmilt13 · 11-20-2013, 10:35 PM

There's a tab on the bottom of the swing down cover, it's probably broken off. So there's nothing to press the switch. I thought about putting a small screw halfway in where the tab was, but decided to procure another lid. Or you could take the bulbs out if you don't care about the lighting.

StickMon · 11-20-2013, 10:45 PM

All too common problem:
Center Storage Compartment - Light always on?

Dine · 11-20-2013, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmilt13

There's a tab on the bottom of the swing down cover, it's probably broken off. So there's nothing to press the switch. I thought about putting a small screw halfway in where the tab was, but decided to procure another lid. Or you could take the bulbs out if you don't care about the lighting.

Bingo. That was exactly the problem. Now that I've pin pointed it it was an easy fix until I can get a more permanent one. (Terrible design by the way)

Thanks guys!

Anybody have a part number for the replacement piece? My phone is not allowing me to pull up the diagram I need to see

StickMon · 11-20-2013, 11:25 PM

That gets a little complicated. It's based on your trim package.
If it's Black, probably 51466978109.

Here's the RealOEM page.

I almost broke my tab a couple of times.
Stuff in the compartment falls to the front under braking.
When you open the door, it falls down to the base of the door.
When you close the door, the tab hits whatever fell down there and snap. $80.

Nate4641 · 11-21-2013, 01:33 PM

I had the opposite happen, the tab on the door was fine, but the tab that holds the switch got bent and broke off. I just pulled the switch out which turned off the light and called it a day.

Dine · 11-21-2013, 01:52 PM

for now I have a piece of paper towel rolled up and slid down into the slot. I may just try a screw in place of the tab as i just see a replacement tab breaking again...

Huz-Z · 11-21-2013, 01:53 PM

I'd definitely pull the bulb while I was waiting to get the issue fixed, particularly as you may not be driving the car as much (or at all) this time of year.

Clearancediver · 11-25-2013, 05:27 PM

The drill hole/screw in screw works perfectly... Is easy to do and dead cheap. It can't be seen when closed and isn't going to break off in the future.

Nate4641 · 11-26-2013, 05:50 AM

Don't forget, there is a cover you can get to block the hole. Its part #6 http://realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?...39&hg=51&fg=35

Living Dead · 11-26-2013, 04:23 PM

I just pulled the lights out.

I never actually look in there since it is behind me, I usually just feel around until I get my hand on what I want.

Um, that can be taken a couple ways.

11-20-2013, 09:31 PM	#1
Dine Private 4 Rep 84 Posts Drives: 2007 silver Grey Z4mc Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: atlanta iTrader: (0)	Center storage light stuck on So the light in the storage compartment between the seats stays on 24/7. The latch that opens and closes the door works fine but the mechanism that pushes in when closed that operates the light obviously is broken. This hasn't killed my battery YET but I do notice its slow to start in the morning after it sits overnight. So until I can get that latched repaired what are my options to turn it off?
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11-20-2013, 10:08 PM	#2
seank enthusiast 48 Rep 1,695 Posts Drives: e30 m3,e90 wagon,sprinter,z4m Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: sacramento, ca iTrader: (4)	Stuff something in the hole.
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11-20-2013, 10:35 PM	#4
jmilt13 Private 19 Rep 86 Posts Drives: 3.0si Coupe Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Indy iTrader: (0) Garage List 2007 Z4 3.0SI Coupe [9.00]	There's a tab on the bottom of the swing down cover, it's probably broken off. So there's nothing to press the switch. I thought about putting a small screw halfway in where the tab was, but decided to procure another lid. Or you could take the bulbs out if you don't care about the lighting.
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11-20-2013, 10:45 PM	#5
StickMon My other car is on Mars 636 Rep 3,124 Posts Drives: 2006 MR Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Lo-Cal iTrader: (1)	All too common problem: Center Storage Compartment - Light always on? __________________ Warning: May contain traces of nuts.
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11-20-2013, 11:25 PM	#7
StickMon My other car is on Mars 636 Rep 3,124 Posts Drives: 2006 MR Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Lo-Cal iTrader: (1)	That gets a little complicated. It's based on your trim package. If it's Black, probably 51466978109. Here's the RealOEM page. I almost broke my tab a couple of times. Stuff in the compartment falls to the front under braking. When you open the door, it falls down to the base of the door. When you close the door, the tab hits whatever fell down there and snap. $80. __________________ Warning: May contain traces of nuts.
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11-21-2013, 01:33 PM	#8
Nate4641 Major 151 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]	I had the opposite happen, the tab on the door was fine, but the tab that holds the switch got bent and broke off. I just pulled the switch out which turned off the light and called it a day. __________________ My build/adventure thread
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11-21-2013, 01:52 PM	#9
Dine Private 4 Rep 84 Posts Drives: 2007 silver Grey Z4mc Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: atlanta iTrader: (0)	for now I have a piece of paper towel rolled up and slid down into the slot. I may just try a screw in place of the tab as i just see a replacement tab breaking again...
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11-21-2013, 01:53 PM	#10
Huz-Z Brigadier General 851 Rep 4,057 Posts Drives: Z4 3.0si, 328 XDrive, X5 35i Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Canada iTrader: (0)	I'd definitely pull the bulb while I was waiting to get the issue fixed, particularly as you may not be driving the car as much (or at all) this time of year. __________________ Huz-Z BMW Z4 3.0si Roadster. Montego Blue Metallic. Premium and Sport Package.
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11-25-2013, 05:27 PM	#11
Clearancediver Lieutenant 90 Rep 406 Posts Drives: 2004 Z4 Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Victoria, BC Canada iTrader: (0)	The drill hole/screw in screw works perfectly... Is easy to do and dead cheap. It can't be seen when closed and isn't going to break off in the future. __________________ Sent from my smart phone...
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11-26-2013, 05:50 AM	#12
Nate4641 Major 151 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]	Don't forget, there is a cover you can get to block the hole. Its part #6 http://realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?...39&hg=51&fg=35 __________________ My build/adventure thread
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11-26-2013, 04:23 PM	#13
Living Dead Zed Head 314 Rep 233 Posts Drives: 2020 BMW Z4 M40i Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Long Island iTrader: (0) Garage List 2020 BMW Z4 M40i [0.00]	I just pulled the lights out. I never actually look in there since it is behind me, I usually just feel around until I get my hand on what I want. Um, that can be taken a couple ways.
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