white smoke coming out of the gear shift lever

[632 Regal]

Extinguisher wont stop the short, just the resulting fires.

[525e34]

I'm also having a "smoke" problem with my neutral safety switch in my '95 525i. I've been able to partially loosen the switch and can see where it has burned some but cannot remove it completely. The problem is the top allen screw is blocked by an "extra" pawl/lever that does not appear in the Bentley manual. My guess is that it is part of the shift interlock that the manual mentions is in 1993 and later cars? How can I get the top allen screw and the switch out? I can't afford a burned up mess like the earlier picture!

[Scott C]

I'm also having a "smoke" problem with my neutral safety switch in my '95 525i. I've been able to partially loosen the switch and can see where it has burned some but cannot remove it completely. The problem is the top allen screw is blocked by an "extra" pawl/lever that does not appear in the Bentley manual. My guess is that it is part of the shift interlock that the manual mentions is in 1993 and later cars? How can I get the top allen screw and the switch out? I can't afford a burned up mess like the earlier picture!

I have the same one. I was fortunate in that I was able to clean mine. Last I remember, the switch is available (same as 94) but you need to buy the bolt (since I believe you will need to cut the existing one off). Again, If I remember correctly, the bolt is put in and when it reaches the correct torque, the fastening head tears off at the factory. Therefore, get the bolt, the new switch and grind that old puppy off. Make sure this is logical (look at new parts) before you DO anything as I didn't actually have to go through with this approach.

Scott

[George Davis]

My guess is that it is part of the shift interlock that the manual mentions is in 1993 and later cars? How can I get the top allen screw and the switch out? I can't afford a burned up mess like the earlier picture!

I have a '94 525i and have taken things apart a couple of times. Looks like maybe I'll do it again to check the neutral safety switch? At any rate, I recall there being a metal arm that blocks one of the allen screws. I found I could remove the metal arm only after removing the curved upper section of the white plastic shift housing. Look closely and you'll see it's held to the lower section by a number of clips. Use a small thin-bladed screwdriver to pry each of the clips loose and the top section will come off. Then the metal arm can be removed. I don't remember exactly how, but I think it involves removing a clip on the end of the shaft the arm pivots on, and maybe also the end of the lock cable that runs to the ignition key. You'll see it, or run into it, but it's fairly easy to deal with.

[525e34]

I found I could remove the metal arm only after removing the curved upper section of the white plastic shift housing.

Thanks - Do you mean pry apart the cover of the neutral switch itself? That occurred to me, however I was worried that the switch might have "innards" that couldn't be aligned/put back together without having it out of the car. I was espescially concerned there might be a spring or something pop out when the cover is opened. Is this not the case?

[George Davis]

No, I don't mean pry the switch apart, I though you wanted to get that arm out that is in the way of one of the allen screws. To get the arm out, I removed the upper curved section of the white plastic icky (shift quadrant, maybe?) that is right next to the shifter. I have little memory left, so I can't recall if it has the gear indicator or PRND321 on it or not, but it might have. I'm probably just confusing the issue, sorry if I am.

[525e34]

Was able to remove the metal lever and pull out the switch ( with the help of George - see earlier posts ). The attached picture says it all. Needless to say I'm getting a new replacement. This was working properly after it "smoked" the first time last week but who knows how long until it melted/burned completely.