Easy way to unstick E30 console buttons?

[Cordovero]

I can't be the only one whose E30 console buttons -- especially the
Fog Lights button and the Rear Defroster button stick terribly.
Sometimes it takes me 10 minutes of fiddling to turn the Rear
Defroster off (i.e. get the button to pop out).

Is there an easy and SAFE way to lubricate these?

Thanks,
N.

[John Burns]

> I can't be the only one whose E30 console buttons -- especially the
> Fog Lights button and the Rear Defroster button stick terribly.
> Sometimes it takes me 10 minutes of fiddling to turn the Rear
> Defroster off (i.e. get the button to pop out).

So it's NOT just me! The rear fog light button on one on my E30s sticks
really badly.

--
Who needs a life when you've got Unix? :-)
Email: jo...@unixnerd.demon.co.uk, John G.Burns B.Eng, Bonny Scotland
Web : http://www.unixnerd.demon.co.uk - The Ultimate BMW Homepage!
Need Sun or HP Unix kit? http://www.unixnerd.demon.co.uk/unix.html

[LiamDC]

Hi,

Can you not dismantle them?

My Fog light buttons were not working when I got the car. I was
thinking that all four bulbs could not be gone - maybe it was the
logic relay (you know the one that says NO you cant' have your fogs on
as the side lights are off or Yes you can as your side lights are ON).

I'd read somewhere that the reason that some electric windows fail is
because the opperating switch needs cleaning out and it is easy to
dismantle the switch and clean it out.
Well I though the fog light switch looked very similar to the window
switch, so I took it apart and cleaned it (ie lightly sanded the
contacts) It worked first tiome after that.

However I digress, Your problems seem to be sticking. Have you tried
to dismantle the switch? the latching bar may be out of of position
and just needs re assembly. i could be bent or something.

Though I haven't dismantled the rear demister button I would guess
that it works similar to the fog light button - only a wider button
than the twin buttons.

Believe me they are fairly simple to take apart, just be carefull to
not lose the parts.

Let us know how you get on.

[Mike]

Cordovero <Cord...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:3a073659...@nntp.stanford.edu...

> I can't be the only one whose E30 console buttons -- especially the
> Fog Lights button and the Rear Defroster button stick terribly.
> Sometimes it takes me 10 minutes of fiddling to turn the Rear
> Defroster off (i.e. get the button to pop out).
>

> Is there an easy and SAFE way to lubricate these?
>
> Thanks,
> N.

Servisol do a product in the UK called 'switch lubricant'

HTH

Mikey :o)

[Dog-n-Hog]

Once you have them disassembled, spray a little silicone
lubricant around inside the switch housing (not the electrical
portion). Then reassemble.

Norm

LiamDC wrote:
>
> Hi,
>
> Can you not dismantle them?
>
> My Fog light buttons were not working when I got the car. I was
> thinking that all four bulbs could not be gone - maybe it was the
> logic relay (you know the one that says NO you cant' have your fogs on
> as the side lights are off or Yes you can as your side lights are ON).
>
> I'd read somewhere that the reason that some electric windows fail is
> because the opperating switch needs cleaning out and it is easy to
> dismantle the switch and clean it out.
> Well I though the fog light switch looked very similar to the window
> switch, so I took it apart and cleaned it (ie lightly sanded the
> contacts) It worked first tiome after that.
>
> However I digress, Your problems seem to be sticking. Have you tried
> to dismantle the switch? the latching bar may be out of of position
> and just needs re assembly. i could be bent or something.
>
> Though I haven't dismantled the rear demister button I would guess
> that it works similar to the fog light button - only a wider button
> than the twin buttons.
>
> Believe me they are fairly simple to take apart, just be carefull to
> not lose the parts.
>
> Let us know how you get on.
>
> On Tue, 07 Nov 2000 00:00:50 +0000, John Burns
> <jo...@unixnerd.demon.co.uk> wrote:
>

[HK]

I wouldn't sand any contacts. Contacts are generally coated or plated
lightly to retard corrosion. Sanding off this plating will cause your
contacts to corrode very quickly. I know this from servicing old pinball
machines which are nothing but contacts and relays. What I do with pinball
machines is run a business card between the contacts. This usually removes
and corrosion or dirt and restores the contact without abrading it.

Henry

"LiamDC" <XXXL...@nospam.comXXX> wrote in message
news:mjef0t021oakocgf6...@4ax.com...

> Hi,
>
> Can you not dismantle them?
>
> My Fog light buttons were not working when I got the car. I was
> thinking that all four bulbs could not be gone - maybe it was the
> logic relay (you know the one that says NO you cant' have your fogs on
> as the side lights are off or Yes you can as your side lights are ON).
>
> I'd read somewhere that the reason that some electric windows fail is
> because the opperating switch needs cleaning out and it is easy to
> dismantle the switch and clean it out.
> Well I though the fog light switch looked very similar to the window
> switch, so I took it apart and cleaned it (ie lightly sanded the
> contacts) It worked first tiome after that.
>
> However I digress, Your problems seem to be sticking. Have you tried
> to dismantle the switch? the latching bar may be out of of position
> and just needs re assembly. i could be bent or something.
>
> Though I haven't dismantled the rear demister button I would guess
> that it works similar to the fog light button - only a wider button
> than the twin buttons.
>
> Believe me they are fairly simple to take apart, just be carefull to
> not lose the parts.
>
> Let us know how you get on.
>
>
> On Tue, 07 Nov 2000 00:00:50 +0000, John Burns
> <jo...@unixnerd.demon.co.uk> wrote:
>

[C.R. Krieger]

Cordovero wrote in message <3a073659...@nntp.stanford.edu>...

>I can't be the only one whose E30 console buttons -- especially the
>Fog Lights button and the Rear Defroster button stick terribly.
>Sometimes it takes me 10 minutes of fiddling to turn the Rear
>Defroster off (i.e. get the button to pop out).
>

>Is there an easy and SAFE way to lubricate these?

Go to Radio Shack. Buy 'Tuner Cleaner' in the aerosol can for $6 ($7 if you
want the SCENTED version). Shoot it directly into the switches (no disassembly
required). If that doesn't help, then you CAN take things apart.
--
C.R. Krieger
"Ignore 'em, m'dear, they're beneath your dignity." -W.C. Fields

[dragon1]

On my car the buttons were hanging up on the face plate.
a little enlarging of the hole solved the problem.
it required removing the switch first.