Oh, you just can't beat a good old piece of after-market crap to hold up an already tricky repair. This video demonstrates how highly-skilled diagnosis in the first instance can save you hours replacing unnecessary parts. First-class job!

I love the E39. I owned one for 7 years and had very few problems. It did me well and now I miss driving that solid smooth ride.

I have to say I am so happy I stumbled across this video. It described the exact symptoms I experienced. I, however, was leaning towards a faulty airbag module as I could not communicate with the module at all and I've seen problem stem from the K bus on Z4's. So I was actually trying to find the best way to remove an airbag module and your video came up afterwards...The attention to detail was impressive, the wiring diagram made perfect sense, and made me check my vanity mirrors and such. Of course I had much more going on than I thought. So I checked the voltage at the electronic ignition switch, and of course i had low voltage at the accessory wire. Picked up a new switch, installed it myself, cleared all trouble codes, and Voila...everything worked properly!!! Also you saved me $$$, as a new airbag module is approximately $440, but the switch was only $72. so i would have wasted $440 and still had the same problems. Thank you so much for the insight.

just wanted to thank you. I was experiencing these exact same symptoms. your method of diagnostics and proof of work is a great lesson. I performed this exact repair and car is fixed.

Vanity mirror controlled radio... those crafty Germans think of everything! Can't wait until Eric-O sees this one!

1 minute in... I was thinking ground problem. D'oh! Good first step in checking a wiring diagram! I'll be remembering this for sure!

Finding things like you did early on puts you way ahead. Great work Rob. Another video proving OEM parts are sometimes worth the price.

You Tube is far more interesting than regular TV. Fantastic video.

Thank you for taking the time to do this. I found your video a few months ago but somehow lost track of it. I was SOOOO happy to have found it again. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU.

Great work Rob! Glad to see that it wasn't too much of a problem in getting it squared away. Have a good one Rob! 👍

Very good Rob... I had one with different behaviours but same component being the culprit... common problem on this ones...

great video. I'm having the exact same issue on my 99 e39 528 touring. Now I know what to do! THANKS!

Makes a change to see a road test on the left side of the road, so used to seeing ERIC O driving on the right, great repair video, found another good mechanic to watch.i will accept a tenner for my review LOL.

Good video Rob. Way to track down the problem. gotta love those aftermarket part!

Very impressive electrical work there Rob.

Nice diagnosis Rob. Love the weird ones that make you think. Gotta love crap aftermarket parts but you knew that with Lucas.

Great diagnostics Rob, this is the stuff I like to watch. Why are these aftermarket parts such bad quality, there not cheep and they wernt always this bad years ago.

Brilliant job Rob , its issues like that which leaves me thinking what the fudge is going on here ? Nice diag and direction process , this sort of job i tend to leave alone in fear of making things worse !

Great job Rob, look forward to the next.

Rob, funny you should experience that with gsf pattern parts. I bought a 2006 vw Passat 1.9tdi for £100 originally for scrap (it had a 2 week old battery and full tank of derv lol). It had a months mot, so I ran it as my own car had a gear issue. for mot to pass, it wanted 4 tyres, number plate. brakes were sticking but the sliders had seized, and an electric handbrake motor was u/s. I bought a caliper for the rear at considerable expense. I have a diagnostic reader that will cycle the brake. it wouldn't work. took it back, took ages to get refund. went to breaker £80 later job sorted. few months later, the temp gauge was messing about, rough running, I was worried as it had covered 300k. I changed the thermostat with genuine vw as that was cheaper, but the temp sensor was a lot dearer than gsf. I set myself a budget of no more than £600 before I called it a day. Sensor came, with new maf made by v-tech. put them on, cleared codes drove 5 miles it cut out never to re-start. towed it home, remembered an old trick with citroen hdi. pulled wire off new maf bingo it fired. sent parts back, got money back in the end, but it put paid to my bargain banger. I went to breaker 18 miles away and grabbed the 2 sensors off that. put them on, bingo sorted. We had already bought a newer car. l will never buy anything other than named off them again. and its sometimes worth that extra bit more for genuine. bloke I sold it to has plated it as a taxi again and has done 6k trouble free already grrrrrr

Awesome work sir. Love your methodical approach . Thank you

Absolutely terrific video Rob ! Looks like the slogan stays the same over there . N.E.W = never ever works.. Really happy for this video . Cheers 🍻

strange fault Rob glad you sorted it great video as always mate

Great stuff, dude! Thanks for making the vid.

Great video Rob,the first time I watched your video thumb up.Keep in track.I would like see more video from you.

nice vidmate been there done that lol yeah it's surprising sometimes how cheap aftermarket parts can be I've had a couple of cases recently where the aftermarket prices were more expensive than the genuine great vid mate

Thank you I watched your video at least 6 months ago and the same thing just happened to me

Great videos.And gladly for me, showing some good repairs on European models :)

Great diagnosis Rob. I really enjoy the electrical content videos. What in particular gave you direction on this one? I note you did quite a bit of background research off camera. I would have loved to have followed you through the troubleshooting/thought process as this is what swamps many techs who could easily get overwhealmed with all those troublecodes.

Hi dear, it works prrfectly in my E39 530i. Really appreciated your help! Thaks so much !! Cheers!

The Germany bit made me laugh! My Arse, Definitely China I would say. BMW part made in the Czech Republic... European quality. E46 suffer from ignition switches also I believe! Great video as ever.

great video mate. you deserve way more subscribers. keep em up! 👍

Hmmmm. A 20 year old BMW with electrical gremlins! Well i never. Keep up the good work Rob. Stay frosty.

done few bmw ignition switches over last few years, ones I normally use are febi bilstein branded and made by SWAG germany, they between 30 and £40 pending on the day and status ... Has to be online and next day or 2 day delivery as none of my local factors stock that brand or can match price and local stocked options from gsf ecp barum autoquip etc seem junk :-/ quite annoying have part option local same day but always junk :-( Least online parts options and shipping improved massively which tends help offset the standard autofactor poor quality and poor stock range/prices to some extent .

Great video, love the vanity mirrors taking out the radio :D

Just watch and did the work to my bmw. Great advice it worked great. Thx

Purple wire (5v measurement) was a 12v return from the switch? Was trying to work out how you were condemning the switch from what the meter was saying

Nice SAM sticker on your tool box!

Impressive that the radio worked at all with 5 volts.

i have been surprised a few times with genuine parts being cheaper from Honda.

Awesome vid Rob. I wouldn't have a clue if I seen that . This will help a lot of people plus teach everyone not to buy aftermarket dodgy parts. LOL

Dammit just fitted a Vemo cam sensor to my v12 BMW 760, haven't even tested it on the road yet. Looks like I will be doing it again very soon. I've had bad luck with some aftermarket parts except for the known quality brands like Delphi or Bosch etc.

Great vid Rob Cheers Jamie

Hi there,I think your troubleshooting skill are very excellent because the problem was huge, I need to ask you something i have a 2007 bmw 530i that the emergency lights go on every 5 min if you happen to have one of these problems can you make a video about it?

Great that! Exactly what I was looking for! Thanks

Good work Rob !

having such problems on your car should just make you laugh lol

Great repair!

I have a 2001 530i with the ⚙symbol on car jerk when braking and jerks when shifting to drive and reverse

99 528i driver seat and steering column stop working, Can you please make a video of it.?

I disassembled the piece and found it dirty and had carbon traces to prevent the connection. After cleaning it now works well and naturally

I hate the long technical videos, but yours I did watch to the end, thank you for the video. Please can you tell me what is your diagnostic device ? It is a wireless ?

Nice one Rob. Do you get your wiring diagrams from a subscription source?

I have a problem with my car 1999 bmw 528i it has the transmission light on and the code I have is P0600 what should I do

Great job

Anyway to get ride of transmission code without putting it on a machine?

Eric o will be screaming....dorman parts re-labeled...lol

Hi, i have a traction control light and the gear with ( ! ) this in the middle of the gear light is on. “Transmission warning light” and stuck on 4th gear. Any idea?

Where do you source your wiring diagrams Rob ! Brilliant video by the way

it is the same like m54 e39 the swicth ?

interesting job. I enjoyed a lot

Good job man thanks 🙏🏻

What Part OfThe Vountry Are You M

please did the transmition light come again ? because I have the same problem I drive my car e39 I get this warning light transmition warning light ,but what happens afterwards when turn off ignition and then turn back again the warning light dissapears and the shifts normal do you have any idea thank you Regards Saleh

it is will work for e46 m43tu "01 ?

Lol, I wonder how accurate that MPG dial is

I have transmission light on after I changed my intake hoses anyone know why ??

What is the part called

So BWD has a European subsidiary?

Hi Rob, Where do you find your wiring diagrams? I find autodata leaving me down lately with wrong wire colours, pin outs.

such a common issue that vanity mirror airbag interface controller 😂

What Part Of The Country Are You m8 👍

hello Rob.. nice video. can u tell me the name of broken switcher? I am from Serbia so I need to now the right term if I need to buy this switcher, so they need to know what I'm looking for. sorry for my broken English. cheers mate

Under 12V seems a bit low, is the battery on the way out?

VEMO is an OEM supplier to BMW so the factory part could be the same except for the logo. I'd still go for OEM anyway. How many times do you replace the switch in the life of the car?

May i ask what kind of computer scanner you use?

is obd common in europe?

What is this switch called

Hi 👋 my car bmw e38 2001 start car no light in dashboard when I drive speed 40 warning ⚠️ light traction light cam in dashboard can help me tanx

this is the reason I always buy/ insist on genuine BMW when my mechanic does any work on BMW.

HaHa Vemo is the Dorman of the UK.

GREMLINS, HAHAH

Touch wood, I've never had a car with electrical gremlins. I think it would freak me out haha lesson of the day, don't put shit in your BMW! They don't like it :)

All you need when you are trying to work out an electrical problem. Faulty "new" parts.I will steer clear of vemo cheap shite.

I Need To Bring My 1999 e39 Auto BMW to You. Re Auto box Yellow Cog light Coming on. Going into Slow Mod. Please Get In Touch Rob.👍🫵🙏