Center console storage box light stays on too long?

Flycaster · Post by **Flycaster** » Fri Oct 14, 2011 2:03 am

Haven't timed it, but after the car is shut down, the lights (3) in the center console box stay on for at least 10-15 minutes. I'd like the lights to go off when the car is shut down.

PawnSacrifice · Post by **PawnSacrifice** » Fri Oct 14, 2011 8:31 am

It's more than likely the microswitch has come loose. If you look at the bottom of the lid, in the centre, you will see a plastic lever sticking out, follow this forward and there is a little switch that it pushes in to turn the console light off. If you remove the plastic cover above the switch you should be able to dig out the switch and relocate it.
A few people have had this same problem so if you do a search you should find some more detailed help.

The 15-20 minutes before the light goes off, this is the car switching off. The car initially goes into a "standby" mode and then shuts down fully after 15-20 minutes.

ADD: BMW TIS - 61 31 345 Removing and installing/replacing microswitch for storage box lighting
Although I managed to do it without removing the lid first, extra faff though.

Flycaster · Post by **Flycaster** » Fri Oct 14, 2011 1:06 pm

You've hit the hail on the head. I probably mucked up the switch when installing either my alarm system or my Dice Silverline ipod control. Anyway, I'll be taking a look see at the switch fitting. Thanks.

Flycaster · Post by **Flycaster** » Fri Oct 14, 2011 4:38 pm

Hold on! I checked for the place where there the switch should have been and found nothing. Is it possible that there is no switch? I guess I'll have to remove the console door to get a better look...although by opening the door half way one can readily see what's there and can feel around for the switch and I found nothing???

EDIT: OK, I've taken a better look at the cover (Picture #2) and it does seem that mine is quite damaged. Clips are broken and so is the and so is the part that lies between the "1" arrows in picture 2. I still haven't taken the lid off to gt a better look to find the switch...hope I find it, but i feel that I must have really screwed things up.

pvr · Post by **pvr** » Fri Oct 14, 2011 5:23 pm

Lid off is easy:

2 little screws out, and yank it.

PawnSacrifice · Post by **PawnSacrifice** » Fri Oct 14, 2011 5:26 pm

pvr, I've taken to that approach - putting the wire in the hole at the side seemed a lot of messing about and ulimately didn't seem any smoother. Although, kids, that is the official removal method anything else is at your own risk

pvr · Post by **pvr** » Fri Oct 14, 2011 5:29 pm

There was another method?

Done 4 of the buggers so far, not broken anything yet ...

PawnSacrifice · Post by **PawnSacrifice** » Fri Oct 14, 2011 5:45 pm

Yeah, is odd... considering the microswitch is almost held on by gravity the lid config seems completely over engineered.

Flycaster · Post by **Flycaster** » Fri Oct 14, 2011 6:54 pm

PawnSacrifice wrote:pvr, I've taken to that approach - putting the wire in the hole at the side seemed a lot of messing about and ulimately didn't seem any smoother. Although, kids, that is the official removal method anything else is at your own risk

What do you mean about "putting the wire...?"

Greeno · Post by **Greeno** » Fri Oct 14, 2011 7:00 pm

It could be that the little tab in the flap that shuts off the micro switch has snapped off. This is fairly common.

Mine has. Think folks have fixed by sticking bits of plastic on to replace.

The light will stay on for sometime after you lock up.

Nothin to really worry about as it doesn't stay on permanently.

PawnSacrifice · Post by **PawnSacrifice** » Fri Oct 14, 2011 8:27 pm

Flycaster wrote:
PawnSacrifice wrote:pvr, I've taken to that approach - putting the wire in the hole at the side seemed a lot of messing about and ulimately didn't seem any smoother. Although, kids, that is the official removal method anything else is at your own risk
What do you mean about "putting the wire...?"

There's a small hole in the side of the lid that you're meant to push a strong wire through, as in the instructions below...
BMW TIS - 51 16 239 Removing and installing/replacing lid on rear storage box

Flycaster · Post by **Flycaster** » Fri Oct 14, 2011 9:30 pm

From looking at your nicely supplied TIS 5116239, I can tell that I definitely didn't use any wires when I removed the console to install my alarm and ipod stuff. So, I must have broken off the slotted cover from its mounting and the switch apparently dropped down deeper into the abyss below it (?) Stilll haven't had a chance to open things up to see just where the switch is, but assuming I'm right, how difficult would it be to set things right? Or, I have no problem just shutting the box light off--how would that be done?

pvr · Post by **pvr** » Fri Oct 14, 2011 9:39 pm

As said, I removed a number of these now and just pull straight off, no problem. Was not even aware of this wire but not done any damage to the door or connections removing it by pulling it straight off.

PawnSacrifice · Post by **PawnSacrifice** » Fri Oct 14, 2011 9:43 pm

Flycaster, I do the same as pvr, these days, I don't think you have irreparably damaged anything. Just get the little cover off off, above where the switch is, and you'll soon find it - the microswitches are known to just come off over time, shocking design from BMW on that one.

Fanatic · Post by **Fanatic** » Wed Aug 10, 2016 10:40 pm

Hi,

Can someone give me the part number for the microswitch for the light of the storage compartment?

Thanks

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