280i. Relays. Really?

[m2500tvr]

My '85 280i has been giving some funky electrical issues lately. It really had been very well behaved. Recently, though, headlamp pods have been bouncing up and and down, then not wanting to go down at all, and the horn has decided work when it wants.

Digging into this, tapping on the relays controlling the the horns and headlamps (the main headlamp control relay), everything works. It does look like the relays are "sticky", or a least not working as they should. I kinda thought that relays were sealed and otherwise functional forever, but it appears this isn't the case.

The relay box is filled with Lucas 33375 type relays. There is one Bosch, which is also doing duty as the main headlamp control relay, number 0 322 204 150.

Any thoughts on replacing these? Find more of the Lucas relays? Go with all Bosch? Something else.

Thanks.

- SJ

[Wedg1e]

They're nothing special in relay terms. Have a look at the terminal arrangement, they're usually numbered. Find a replacement relay with the same size and spacing of terminals with the numbers in the right places (and with 12v coils, obviously) and away you go. Contacts need to be rated for 10A minimum, 20A is better and maybe even 30A if you can find them for the main ignition relay, fuel pump and any fans.

[m2500tvr]

I've found a lot of relays, but not sure which have the exact same schematic. Some have a resistor across the coil/85 and 85 on the schematic. What is the function of the resistor?

Any x-reference information. Bosch to Lucas to Cibie to Hella to ??