Bulb replacement and slow blinker.

[Dash808]

I just replaced most of my bulbs in the head and tail lights.  I used a 21 watt bulb (7506) for the brake, reverse, and turn signal.  Funny thing is when I tested the left blinker it blinked really slowly.  So I switched out the bulb with the former 18w bulb and it returned to its normal blink rate.  BUT, the right side did not cooperate like the left side.  No matter which bulb I tried it still blinks extremely slowly.
 
I did a search and came up with a possible bad ground so I guess I will start there.

I will say that the German engineering for once is not so impressive when it comes to changing headlight bulbs, but we already knew that

Any other thoughts?

[scoot]

I just replaced most of my bulbs in the head and tail lights.  I used a 21 watt bulb (7506) for the brake, reverse, and turn signal.  Funny thing is when I tested the left blinker it blinked really slowly.  So I switched out the bulb with the former 18w bulb and it returned to its normal blink rate.  BUT, the right side did not cooperate like the left side.  No matter which bulb I tried it still blinks extremely slowly.
 
I did a search and came up with a possible bad ground so I guess I will start there.

I will say that the German engineering for once is not so impressive when it comes to changing headlight bulbs, but we already knew that

Any other thoughts?

I would check both of the right turn signal bulbs for correct wattage.   And I would look really closely at the bulbs to make sure that what you think is an 18W bulb really is, and I would try a different 18W bulb.

Regarding "German engineering for once is not so impressive when it comes to changing headlight bulbs, but we already knew that", I would say that German engineering on the car in general is really nice, but designed such that there was no worries about how much the customer would have to spend to keep the car maintained.  Case in point, replacing the thermostat yesterday.   Somewhat of a mild pain for no reason that I could see.   How about the hose UNDER the thermostat?  I've heard that is very difficult but haven't researched it myself yet.

[Martijn]

Scoot,

A bit off topic, but the short hose under thermostat I found it rather easy to replace. When you have drained the coolant you can remove the two clamps which hold this hose in place. I had to cut this old hose a little in order to remove it. Meanwhile I put the new one in a bucket with hot water. After a few minutes the hose was soft so that I could mould it easily. Then it is a simple job to put it in place.

Martijn

[Dash808]

Thanks Scoot.
I'll try some more swapping. 
Funny how by using two new (21w) bulbs in the front and two new identical bulbs (21w) in the rear can create a slow blink condition on both sides.  Then by using an 18w bulb in the rear speeds up the blink on the left side.  That same 18w bulb has no effect on the right side blink.  Still just as slow.   Not sure if the make of the bulb matters but the 18w bulbs that I have are all Phillips, made in Germany bulbs.

It could just be "one of those things" so I'll try some other bulbs and see what happens...

As far as German engineering, maybe I should have said over engineering 

[Peter van Es]

It could be a grounding issue, and it could be a connector issue.

If your connectors have been apart, and have been rewired, this could also cause the slow blinking. That's what I had. To verify your connectors, there's this in the Wiki: http://www.sl113.org/wiki/pmwiki.php?n=Electrical.Connectors, and then specifically the document next to the lightbulb (pun intended -- I put it there!)

Peter