Why is my turn signal socket like this?

suspenceful · 06-25-2014, 01:49 AM

Ever since I bought the car a couple months ago, my driver's side orange corner light has been noticeably dimmer than the passenger side.

This morning I woke up and noticed my left blinker was blinking twice as fast, along with a warning for a burnt out bulb. After work, the warning went away and the blinker blinked just fine.

When I got home, I pulled the socket for the turn signal out of the headlight and found this:

The light is dim, but it works. I tried swapping bulbs, but the light is still dim. I swapped sockets and the problem followed the socket.

Why would it be like this? Is it a danger to continue to use this?

Andrewcoja · 06-25-2014, 07:56 AM

Looks like it was arcing. I'd get a new socket and new bulb.

Gtxracer · 10-07-2015, 03:38 PM

Any update on this? I need to replace the socket but cannot find a part number. Anyone have it?

suspenceful · 10-07-2015, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gtxracer

Any update on this? I need to replace the socket but cannot find a part number. Anyone have it?

I replaced the bulb and socket and it's been fine. I just called my local dealership and they got the part in for me. Didn't need a PN, just described it to the guy.

schmidtp · 10-09-2015, 02:55 PM

Mine has done this twice in 1 year now, pretty frustrating since it costs $30 with shipping and takes over a week.

motley2012 · 10-12-2015, 02:27 AM

Just a quick note on this. I had a very similar issue with a bulb in a cooker hood(bulb kept blowing), mentioned it in passing to a friend one night said he'd had the same but had been told to smear the exposed metal contacts with Vaseline. I did it that night and same bulb in place 7 years later!

bmw1racer · 10-12-2015, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by motley2012

Just a quick note on this. I had a very similar issue with a bulb in a cooker hood(bulb kept blowing), mentioned it in passing to a friend one night said he'd had the same but had been told to smear the exposed metal contacts with Vaseline. I did it that night and same bulb in place 7 years later!

Ah, must be that the contacts are tarnishing/corroding, which causes the arcing... The Vaseline (though I'd rather use something made for electrical contacts) is probably preventing that from happening.

06-25-2014, 01:49 AM	#1
suspenceful Major 1024 Rep 1,264 Posts Drives: 2015 M3, 2008 135i, 2009 335i Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: WI iTrader: (9)	Why is my turn signal socket like this? Ever since I bought the car a couple months ago, my driver's side orange corner light has been noticeably dimmer than the passenger side. This morning I woke up and noticed my left blinker was blinking twice as fast, along with a warning for a burnt out bulb. After work, the warning went away and the blinker blinked just fine. When I got home, I pulled the socket for the turn signal out of the headlight and found this: The light is dim, but it works. I tried swapping bulbs, but the light is still dim. I swapped sockets and the problem followed the socket. Why would it be like this? Is it a danger to continue to use this? __________________ 750whp 135i Build \| Budget 335i Build \| F80 M3 Build 🎬 YouTube channel (35K+ subs): youtube.com/jakespence135 📷 Follow me on Instagram: instagram.com/jakespence 🏁 Shop BMW merchandise: bimmerstreet.com Last edited by suspenceful; 06-25-2014 at 01:54 AM..
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06-25-2014, 07:56 AM	#2
Andrewcoja First Lieutenant 9 Rep 385 Posts Drives: 2011 135i MSport Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Texas iTrader: (0)	Looks like it was arcing. I'd get a new socket and new bulb.
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10-07-2015, 03:38 PM	#3
Gtxracer New Member 1 Rep 15 Posts Drives: 08 135i Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Olympia, WA iTrader: (1)	Any update on this? I need to replace the socket but cannot find a part number. Anyone have it?
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10-09-2015, 02:55 PM	#5
schmidtp Lieutenant 59 Rep 469 Posts Drives: 2008 BMW 135i 6MT Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Madison, WI iTrader: (2) Garage List 2008 BMW 135i [0.00] 2019 Ram 1500 [0.00]	Mine has done this twice in 1 year now, pretty frustrating since it costs $30 with shipping and takes over a week. __________________ 2008 TSM 135i N54
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10-12-2015, 02:27 AM	#6
motley2012 Private 3 Rep 74 Posts Drives: E88 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: United Kingdom iTrader: (0)	Just a quick note on this. I had a very similar issue with a bulb in a cooker hood(bulb kept blowing), mentioned it in passing to a friend one night said he'd had the same but had been told to smear the exposed metal contacts with Vaseline. I did it that night and same bulb in place 7 years later!
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