Re: headlight warning

["Ron Buchalski" <rbuchals@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Bob,

Doesn't the 325iS have terminals under the hood to jump start the car, so 
you don't need to uncover the battery?  Both my '95 E36 M3 and '93 525iT 
have them...

Anyway, I built a real cheapo "device" to warn when the headlights are on.  
It will cost under $5.00 to get the parts from Radio Shack.

Parts consist of one diode and one buzzer, wired in series, and connected 
like this:

+12 volts (switched on when lights are On)
     |
     |
     |
    ---
   |   |
   |   | Buzzer
   |   |
    ---
     |
     |
     |
   ----
   \  /  Diode (50 volts reverse voltage is more than enough)
    \/
   ====
     |
     |
     |
+12 volts (switched on when ignition is On)


- - When you turn the ignition ON, the diode is reverse-biased, so current 
doesn't flow.

- - When you turn the lights ON and the ignition is ON, there is equal voltage 
on both ends, so current doesn't flow.

- - When you turn the ignition Off and the lights are ON, there is a positive 
voltage drop across the diode, so current flows, and the buzzer will buzz.

I can get a "parts list" together if you're interested.

- -rb


>
>Date: Thu, 29 Jul 99 13:12:07 PDT
>From: "Robert Sutterfield" <Bob@domain.elided>
>Subject: headlight warning
>
>Because of geography and weather, there's often haze or fog along the way 
>to work in the morning, so I turn on my headlights to be seen.  Then it's 
>clear enough around the office (and light enough this time of year) that I 
>forget to turn them off again.
>
>At 5:00pm it's a familiar drill: pop the hood, remove fuse 21, pop the 
>trunk, uncover the battery, find someone passing by who has jumper cables.  
>Endure some comments from the Camry and Taurus drivers about our respective 
>cars' reliability and suitability for use as a daily driver.  Start the 
>car, unhook the cables, re-insert fuse 21, and dig out the owner's manual 
>to reprogram the computer with date/time, miles, and Fahrenheit.  Watch the 
>"inspection" light in permanent-on mode until the next oil change interval 
>comes along when my favorite mechanic will reset it.  Sigh...
>
>When the Sentra and Accord drivers tell me how their cars at least have 
>headlight warning bells, I resist the urge (at least until I'm done with 
>their jumper cables :-) to point out that a BMW's design presumes a 
>competent driver, and this problem is the idiot driver's fault, not the 
>car's.
>
>I'm tired of repeating this routine every few weeks.  Is there any such 
>thing as an aftermarket add-on headlight idiot-warning bell?
>- --
>Bob Sutterfield <Bob@domain.elided>
>87 E30 325iS/CA plates "DAS KAR"
>BMWCCA #169277
>


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