2003 E46 318ti Compact Sport

[Davies84]

Hi all,

I'm having some electrical faults with my car, all of which are intermittant. Any advice or suggestions on possible cause would be much appreciated.

It started off effecting my indicators-these would not cancel internally but did on the outside and my internal dash lights would go dim. These faults then cleared by themselves and new ones started.

They were the central locking would not work and could only open the drivers door manually, the wipers would not work, the interior lights did not work and the electric windows would not work. Then everything started working again a long while after.

The most recent fault is now that i get the dsc, abs and handbrake light in yellow appear, the radio/heater turn off and it cuts out. When i try to re start it just clicks as if a dead battery. When jump started it works fine....until next time.


I havent got a clue and the mechanic basically wants a blank cheque to attempt the work.

Thanks for any help in advance.

[Deano16v]

get the fault codes read mate, ideally the ones from the LCM

[Fixedwheelnut]

Check the voltages out of the ignition switch and the charge rate from the alternator.

[Davies84]

Checked the charge rate and it was spot on, somebody did mention the ignition switch?! not an intermittant alternator then? Something about a variable clutch?