Headlights momentarily turning off

[123boy]

'83 240D 205K mi, have owned approx 3 yrs.
Since I've had the car, the headlight flash feature (pulling the stalk) has never worked. Recent and somewhat worrisome development, when switching between high and low beams, using the turn signals and also activating the wipers, sometimes the headlights will turn off. It's only for a moment and, so far, the headlights come back on.
All lights work normally, other than this "new" problem. Turn signals, flashers, high/low beam, and fogs all work as advertised (save for the preexisting "flash" feature).
I'm assuming this is a worn turn signal stalk malfunction but many times these things aren't so obvious. Any ideas?
Also wondering, does the steering wheel have to come off to change the stalk switch?