Replacing the trans selector switch

Anyone know how to replace the trans selector switch on a 1993 525it?

I removed the console cover and can see the switch, but because my car has the key interlock with the shift lever, I can not remove the upper allen bolt to remove the trans switch. BMW used a "Shear bolt" to secure the lockout for the key interlock. Don't know of an easy way to remove this bolt without resorting to drilling and using an easy out.

I think it may be easier to replace the entire shift meachnism instead of just the switch.

Any help would be appreciated.

Do you have a functional key? Put the car in run to retract the interlock and then put the car in one of the drive gears(parking brake on). Should give you access to the upper allen bolt. After that put it in neutral(i think) and the switch should pull straight up.
Does the shear bolt affect the removal of the switch?

Yes the shear bolt and the pivot arm for the ignition switch interlock affects the removal of the switch. If BMW had just placed a regular bolt in there I could remove the bolt, remove the interlock pivot arm and remove the bolt that secures the switch to the console.

I don't know what BMW thought were on using the shear bolt, because once you have the top of the console off you can lift the lever arm to release the gear shift lever from the park position.

Another German over engineered detail.

I do have a key and releasing the interlock does not do anything to help in the removal of the switch.

Here is some text from a post on another board:
"You can try to loosen it with a drift punch and a sharp rap with a hammer straight down on the top ofthe nut, then turn it off with vise grips. Or cut a groove accross the top of it and use a screwdriver. Or drill the head off and lift the interlock off, then remove bolt with pliers."
Hope that helps. Are you getting selector errors? You may be able to clean the switch instead of replacing it.

Yes the P for Park is not on. I have already brought a complete selector mechanism including the switch, but I was hoping to just use the switch to replace the existing switch. I did plug in the new switch into the car harness and the P indicator came on.

I am also having some issue with my backup lights. They do not light up when the selector is in reverse. When i tried the new switch, it did not light up the light so I think there is a break in the wire between the light aqnd the switch. It is probably one of the harness that is attached to the tailgate. Anyone know which side the backup light is located?

The backup lights run through a harness on the right arm of the trunk. It is one of the few poorly designed things on this car (I think you allready found the other one ). Due to the movement of the trunk the wires rub and crack and either break or short. Open it up and repair the wiring as needed.

Originally Posted by bimmer dot info

The backup lights run through a harness on the right arm of the trunk. It is one of the few poorly designed things on this car (I think you allready found the other one ). Due to the movement of the trunk the wires rub and crack and either break or short. Open it up and repair the wiring as needed.

I hope it's in the same location for a Touring. I don't have a trunk, but do have a tailgate.

Will check it out tomorrow. Thanks for the help.

The led/lamp next to the P on my Steptronic equpped 540i stays on after shutting the engine off, closing the doors. THought maybe it needs to be locked, but nope, still stays on. Been doing this for a while. Any toughts?

racerock - Cant really help you with that one.. you might have more luck in the e39 section of the forum.

DOH was searching threads while and normally search threads within that forum. Oh well. I try not to just slap a new thread when there may be an answer or my question may help others...

Anyway, the light did turn off last night when I went in and checked it. Not sure what is going on, maybe it is not a problem...

Thanks for the reply.

Replaced the trans selector / neutral safety switch. Follow the advice from another forum. I ended up destroying the switch that was in the car so that i could remove the top half of the switch in order to remove the interlock that was in the way of the upper bolt securing the switch to the console. I took apart the new switch and installed the bottom portion of the switch, install the interlock, and install the remaining portion of the switch.

If any one needs any pictures I can supply them. Got the reverse light to work again.

The reverse light doesn't work in my son's car. Sounds like you might have an answer. I thought it might be a back-up switch. Would you explain what you did to get it to work.
Thanks!

Originally Posted by AnotherBamaFan

The reverse light doesn't work in my son's car. Sounds like you might have an answer. I thought it might be a back-up switch. Would you explain what you did to get it to work.
Thanks!

If your car is an automatic, the backup switch for the light is also built into the trans selector switch. I brought a new trans selctor switch and install it and the reverse light worked.


If both of the reverse lights does not work on your car, chances are that the transelector switch needs to be replaced.

If you have an earlier e34 without the ignition interlock (You can't remove the key unless the car is in park) replacement of the switch is straight forward once you remove the wood veneer console plate.

However, if your car does have the ignition interlock, then it a lot more complicated made even more complicated by the fact that BMW used a "Shear Bolt" to install the interlock.