Indicator / Turn Signal blinking rapidly

[PeterPortugal]

Hi Guys,

I finally collected my Z8 yesterday, I will cover this on a separate post.

The car is a US version and I imported it into Europe and had a brand new pair of EU spec tail lights fitted.

When I collected it the garage owner (not BMW dealer) explained that the right turn signals were all blinking rapidly but the technician believes it is related to the indicator stalk and wasn't going to start messing with it. This isn't as bad as it sounds because the scope of work was just to do the conversion for a fixed price. However, he only elected to tell me this when I turned up to collect the car and I had to take it because I had already organised a 400 mile drive.

I have read the other posts on the forum and this is the info I can provide.
1. The left side works fine, only the right side blinks rapidly (so I assume it is not the relay?)
2. Both neon indicator tubes are fully lit (so I pray it is not the new tail light?}
3. All turn signal lights function

Any recommendations on where to start?

Best Regards

Peter

[EDEZ8]

I've read on this forum that the rapid flashing turn signal indicator is a precursor to taillight failure. Seven years ago I replaced the battery in my car and for a brief time I had the rapid turn signal indicator flashing albeit with both sides and then it just went away. You mentioned the rear lights, and is the right front turn signal indicator working too? My recommendation is to enjoy the car on your road trip and monitor for now.

[PeterPortugal]

Hi Ed,
Thanks for replying. The light unit is brand new so I am hoping failure is not an option !

Because the car spent so long in transit the battery will certainly have benn fully discharged and rapidly recharged a number of times so you may have a point.

i can't leave this too long though because if it is the light unit I need to get it replaced while still under warranty.

Regards

Peter

[Z-acht]

Hi Peter, is the flashing permanent? It sometimes happens to my car when it has been standing in the sun for a long time.

[PeterPortugal]

Hi Ton,

The rapid flashing is only when I operate the right turn signal but yes 100% of the time when I do this.....and it is definitely not related to the sun. There has been no sun in the UK since I collected the car, only rain

Regards

Peter

[Z-acht]

Than I hope it is not the unit. BTW did you check the date stamp on the light unit?

[lamakdaddy]

I had exactly the same thing happen when the dealer replaced my rear lights around 6 months ago. The replacements were from the new batch.

In the end they once again replaced the right light (under warranty) and it has been fine since.

[PeterPortugal]

Hi Kamal,
Thanks for your response....but it was the one I feared !
Regards
Peter

[2112]

I had exactly the same thing happen when the dealer replaced my rear lights around 6 months ago. The replacements were from the new batch.

In the end they once again replaced the right light (under warranty) and it has been fine since.

There have a couple of production runs that I know of. Do you have a production date for your failing unit?
.

[PeterPortugal]

I don't know the date. I did look for it but then realised you would have to take things apart to see it so I left it alone.

is their known problems with a batch? I know we had this discussion on the other thread with Karsten but that was a different problem which he described.

[lamakdaddy]

There have a couple of production runs that I know of. Do you have a production date for your failing unit?
.

The lights were fitted in July 2016 and under goodwill. The red lamp on one of the original units was intermittently failing but the indicator was fine.

I had to wait for the lights for six weeks. The right indicator started to flash erratically on the way home from the dealer. It was over 45 deg C and I thought it may have something to do with the car being left out in the sun.

The problem persisted and so I gave the car back to the dealer. They diagnosed a faulty lamp unit and replaced it with another new unit which has been fine since.

[2112]

Thank you

I guess need to bench test mine before going thru all the labor to R&R.
.

[bclaude]

Definitely a good idea to bench test the new tail lights before proceeding with the installation. My dealer maintains Z8/Alpina's for 60 customers and has done many replacements under the goodwill campaign. He confirmed that several new units were defective right out of the box.

I guess we got the first set for free but BMW will get its investment back with future replacements

[2112]

I guess we got the first set for free but BMW will get its investment back with future replacements

Well, my ECU lights were $4000 so I do expect them to work.

Are they prone to immediate failure, meaning something bench testing will catch?

[bclaude]

There is another thread discussing potential issues with the new tail lights. My dealer confirmed some of them come out of the box with issues. I have to say I haven't experienced it first hand as mine have been perfect. Given the reported issues, the price BMW makes us pay for these units and the fact our cars are for the most part garage queens, it is a good idea to find ways to work and regularly check the tail lights units before the warranty on them expires. That is the only conclusion we can draw at this stage.

See the posts here
http://www.bmwz8.us/forum/showthread...3385#post53385

[PeterPortugal]

Hi all,

I am having my US spec rear bumper replaced with the ECE version to delete those pesky side markers....

Whilst at the BMW dealership they will troubleshoot my rapidly blinking turn signal. I will give feedback when I have it.

In the mean time the dealership has been able to send me some photos of my new tail lights which were ordered in March 2017 at full cost from BMW. I would welcome feedback from the forum on the build dates of the "new" light units which appear to be Oct 15 and Mar 16.

Have they palmed me off with some older version or is this the latest and greatest ??

Regards

Peter

[Z-acht]

This was the news in May 2016

"delivery has been delayed for a couple of months, because at first the production quality turned out to be insufficient, and then the units had to pass a complete QA program including long term tests. The last test has been concluded successfully on April 25, 2016. Intentionally we have waited for the final release of the tail lights to avoid another situation where we would have to put you off again."

The first light has the "normal" production code the second one has a "goodwill " production code. Production date ( a few weeks before final testing) looks to me that both lights were very well tested

[bclaude]

I think you are fine, my new EU lights were produced in June and August 2016 and they have worked just fine so far. The real pain is to have the ECU reprogrammed so that they behave as they should on a US car. I am very interested to know how you get on with that part of the conversion.

[Z803]

Hi Peter,

I can not help you right away, because my new lights are already in place. I will have a look on the invoice which number is listed there. From here it looks a bit odd.

[PeterPortugal]

Bruno / Ton,
Thanks for the responses which make me feel a bit more positive.
The reprogramming of my module went fine I believe. I was told that the rapidly blinking turn signal is not related to the module or it's re-programming.....but I am still waiting confirmation from the dealer as to what the problem actually is.
I am not sure how BMW will respond if they find it is the light unit. After all I had a third party fit the new ECE lights and reprogram the module. I am hoping it is a relay or the turn signal stalk on the steering column. These have both been listed as a possibility. I will update when I get the feedback. Should be this week.
Regards
Peter

[Peter Koh]

Bruno / Ton,
Thanks for the responses which make me feel a bit more positive.
The reprogramming of my module went fine I believe. I was told that the rapidly blinking turn signal is not related to the module or it's re-programming.....but I am still waiting confirmation from the dealer as to what the problem actually is.
I am not sure how BMW will respond if they find it is the light unit. After all I had a third party fit the new ECE lights and reprogram the module. I am hoping it is a relay or the turn signal stalk on the steering column. These have both been listed as a possibility. I will update when I get the feedback. Should be this week.
Regards
Peter

Thanks Pete, my ECE taillights just recently installed and is now waiting to get reprogram at BMW and hopefully no big drama. Sorry did not check batch number on lights before installation. Cheers Peter Koh

[PeterPortugal]

Peter,
Good luck with the reprogramming. It seems that for most of us this aspect went OK.
Regards
Peter

[Peter Koh]

Hi Peter / Karsten / Bruno,

Just done the reprogramming, took less than minute. When log on, just select US to ECE and the all done instantly!! Hope all yours are that easy! Cheers PK

[PeterPortugal]

Peter,
Some companies in the UK are asking 500 GBP for that. Knowledge is power !!
Glad it worked out well for you.
Regards
Peter

[Z803]

Great that it works now.
In Germany they are not doing the reprogramming from US to ECE because they are afraid of the mixer. If you will find one doing this procedure they will charge a lot more than 500 GBP.
They told me, that they do not know what will happen, if the main modul is now ECE while the rest is still US. Never mind, yours is working, congratulations

[PeterPortugal]

Gents,

Great news. The dealer believes the problem was just a poor connection / loose wire. After re-assembly of the lights in the new bumper they are working. He even sent a video..

https://video.citnow.com/vtJL3F19gQt

Regards

Peter

[PeterPortugal]

Collected the car and everything works great. Lesson learned, faulty indicators are not necessarily expensive neon light failures. They could just be an innocuous loose earth connection.

[jc.guilbaud]

Collected the car and everything works great. Lesson learned, faulty indicators are not necessarily expensive neon light failures. They could just be an innocuous loose earth connection.

Hi everyone,
i just imported my Z8 from USA to France, and I need to adjust to the EU version of lights (orange-red).

On top of that, I also need to reprogram the way these lights work, because in Europe, the turning lights must only be lit when you want to turn.
Meaning the lights for turning must be off (even with all lights on at night) and only light up when you activate them.

I guess this means reprogramming the EC or something else to make the change. And BMW France does not do it anymore (like Germany it seems).

Does anyone know how to reprogram this ? I read a post on it but could not see the name of the tools / software.

Thank you very much !!

Cheers

- - - Updated - - -

Hello Peter,
I hope you are ok.
do you remember which software - hardware you used to reprogram US to ECE turning lights ?
I need to do this on my Z8 that I just brought from USA to France.
Thanks a lot
JC

[Z803]

The only way I know to do this is to go the BMW Classic in Munich, they will do the job.

[Peter Koh]

Hi everyone,
i just imported my Z8 from USA to France, and I need to adjust to the EU version of lights (orange-red).

On top of that, I also need to reprogram the way these lights work, because in Europe, the turning lights must only be lit when you want to turn.
Meaning the lights for turning must be off (even with all lights on at night) and only light up when you activate them.

I guess this means reprogramming the EC or something else to make the change. And BMW France does not do it anymore (like Germany it seems).

Does anyone know how to reprogram this ? I read a post on it but could not see the name of the tools / software.

Thank you very much !!

Cheers

- - - Updated - - -

Hello Peter,
I hope you are ok.
do you remember which software - hardware you used to reprogram US to ECE turning lights ?
I need to do this on my Z8 that I just brought from USA to France.
Thanks a lot
JC

Hello JC
The ECE programming is straight forward if you bring it down to a BMW specialist in your area. They should have programming or diagnostic tools to change from US to ECE.
Hope this helps. Cheers