brakelamp malfunction warning...

hj058 · 10-21-2007, 02:00 AM

my car keeps telling me both of my brakelamp is malfunctioning...however i tested and they work fine, there is nothing wrong with them...has anyone experienced something like this? it is just getting annoying

youyou · 10-21-2007, 03:33 AM

I've gotten this error many times with no bulb actually being burnt.
It's actually giving me an error right now and i'm schedualed to bring my car in on tuesday...
I guess it's just a bug/defect...

tripDHL · 10-21-2007, 11:34 AM

that was happening to me for a long time. took it in last week and had both replaced, problem solved.

Darkclaw13 · 10-21-2007, 03:37 PM

Its a known problem. It has something to do with bad grounds for the Adaptive Brake Lights. This is why you can't see any lights out, they only come on when ABS is engaged or if you have rear fog lights on. Happened to me and the problem was fixed last week with a trip to BMW.

hj058 · 10-21-2007, 08:14 PM

i see thanks for the feedback guys! i guess all i can do is bring the car back to the dealer

Spool · 10-21-2007, 10:40 PM

It's just a loose connection...this is common occurrence on the coupes...

Alan(iX) · 10-22-2007, 12:36 PM

There is a SIB for this (SIB 63 02 07).
It states to replace the bulb.
["The cause of the "Bulb Out" warning is a faulty BFD (Brake Force Display) bulb (1).
If a faulty bulb is found, please check the bulb and contact and repair as required. "]

I did that and the problem came back.

Further investigation showed that there are two contact "fingers" on the light assembly that has a spring under each to apply pressure on the contact.
I used a small metal hook to bend the contact finger out.
The warning is reset when the car is restarted.
It has been over a month and the problem have not come back.
My next option would have been to use two metal hook tools to stretch the springs.

CaptChaos · 11-03-2007, 12:44 AM

I think I'm getting this as well. I am getting the bulb warning intermittently
but all the exterior bulbs look fine to me.

Thanks for the info, looks like I'm off to the dealer.

BMWT.O · 11-11-2007, 09:13 PM

It could be a defective foot well module. take it to dealer to have it short tested.

11-11-2007, 11:42 PM

weird! i just started getting this a week ago and hasnt gone away since....

skim7x · 11-11-2007, 11:53 PM

I had the same thing. The dealership just switched 2 bulbs in my rear-brake cluster and the warning went away. Try that out...

DTRJ · 11-16-2007, 08:03 PM

I started to get an intermittent bulb out warning as well. Could not find any bulbs out. Then finally the warning stayed on for about 3 weeks straight. It turned out it was the right side right brake light. Of course the day before I took it in the warning light disappeared. Told them at service which bulb was the problem. They changed the bulb and the socket which they tell me was defective. Two weeks so far and no more problem

Andrew@ET · 11-17-2007, 12:40 PM

dam same thing is happening to me.

debt negotiator · 11-17-2007, 12:44 PM

same here

Bubbles · 11-17-2007, 01:05 PM

Had the same problem. They replaced the entire assembly on my coupe.

bmw_racer · 05-01-2008, 07:15 PM

this is happening to me now. how did you pop the trunk cover off to get to the bulbs on the coupe? i dont want to damage the snaps

10-21-2007, 02:00 AM	#1
hj058 Colonel 81 Rep 2,017 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Richmond, BC iTrader: (4)	brakelamp malfunction warning... my car keeps telling me both of my brakelamp is malfunctioning...however i tested and they work fine, there is nothing wrong with them...has anyone experienced something like this? it is just getting annoying __________________ F30 335i Xdrive Black Msport E92 335i Black/black (Missed)
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10-21-2007, 03:33 AM	#2
youyou Banned 101 Rep 2,453 Posts Drives: Porsche 997 C4S Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Montreal iTrader: (0)	I've gotten this error many times with no bulb actually being burnt. It's actually giving me an error right now and i'm schedualed to bring my car in on tuesday... I guess it's just a bug/defect...
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10-21-2007, 11:34 AM	#3
tripDHL Trey 0 Rep 15 Posts Drives: SG e92 335i Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Dallas, TX iTrader: (0)	that was happening to me for a long time. took it in last week and had both replaced, problem solved.
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10-21-2007, 03:37 PM	#4
Darkclaw13 ----------- 13 Rep 142 Posts Drives: 2007 335i coupe Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Northern VA iTrader: (0)	Its a known problem. It has something to do with bad grounds for the Adaptive Brake Lights. This is why you can't see any lights out, they only come on when ABS is engaged or if you have rear fog lights on. Happened to me and the problem was fixed last week with a trip to BMW. __________________ 2007 335i Coupe. Montego Blue
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10-21-2007, 08:14 PM	#5
hj058 Colonel 81 Rep 2,017 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Richmond, BC iTrader: (4)	i see thanks for the feedback guys! i guess all i can do is bring the car back to the dealer __________________ F30 335i Xdrive Black Msport E92 335i Black/black (Missed)
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10-21-2007, 10:40 PM	#6
Spool ****** 589 Rep 6,169 Posts Drives: A few Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: DC Metro iTrader: (24)	It's just a loose connection...this is common occurrence on the coupes... __________________ MKIV 6spd 1000hp Club
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10-22-2007, 12:36 PM	#7
Alan(iX) Private First Class 5 Rep 159 Posts Drives: 2013 F10 535 Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Connecticut iTrader: (2)	There is a SIB for this (SIB 63 02 07). It states to replace the bulb. ["The cause of the "Bulb Out" warning is a faulty BFD (Brake Force Display) bulb (1). If a faulty bulb is found, please check the bulb and contact and repair as required. "] I did that and the problem came back. Further investigation showed that there are two contact "fingers" on the light assembly that has a spring under each to apply pressure on the contact. I used a small metal hook to bend the contact finger out. The warning is reset when the car is restarted. It has been over a month and the problem have not come back. My next option would have been to use two metal hook tools to stretch the springs. __________________ Alan(iX) 1988 BMW E30 325iX Ordered 6/29/2006, Built 9/6/2006, Delivered 9/29/2006: 2007 BMW E92 335i Coupe, 6MT, space grey, black leather, dark burl, CWP, ZPP, ZSP, Comfort Access, Nav, Power Rear Sun Shade, Park Distance Control, Sirius
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11-03-2007, 12:44 AM	#8
CaptChaos Captain 57 Rep 817 Posts Drives: 2017 M2 - Mineral Grey Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Richmond, BC, Canada iTrader: (0)	I think I'm getting this as well. I am getting the bulb warning intermittently but all the exterior bulbs look fine to me. Thanks for the info, looks like I'm off to the dealer.
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11-11-2007, 09:13 PM	#9
BMWT.O Registered 0 Rep 4 Posts Drives: 08 E90 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto iTrader: (0)	It could be a defective foot well module. take it to dealer to have it short tested.
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11-11-2007, 11:42 PM	#10
nico335 Guest 0 Rep n/a Posts Drives:	weird! i just started getting this a week ago and hasnt gone away since....
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11-11-2007, 11:53 PM	#11
skim7x Colonel 213 Rep 2,558 Posts Drives: 335i, C63 AMG Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: USA iTrader: (4) Garage List 2007 335i [10.00]	I had the same thing. The dealership just switched 2 bulbs in my rear-brake cluster and the warning went away. Try that out... __________________ '07 Space Gray 335i coupe - R.I.P. COBB ProTuned \| AMS \| CP-e \| BMS \| Quaife
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11-16-2007, 08:03 PM	#12
DTRJ First Lieutenant 65 Rep 351 Posts Drives: 2024 X4 M40I Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: EAST COAST iTrader: (0)	I started to get an intermittent bulb out warning as well. Could not find any bulbs out. Then finally the warning stayed on for about 3 weeks straight. It turned out it was the right side right brake light. Of course the day before I took it in the warning light disappeared. Told them at service which bulb was the problem. They changed the bulb and the socket which they tell me was defective. Two weeks so far and no more problem
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11-17-2007, 12:40 PM	#13
Andrew@ET Brigadier General 192 Rep 4,037 Posts Drives: Red thing Join Date: May 2007 Location: Earth iTrader: (9)	dam same thing is happening to me.
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11-17-2007, 12:44 PM	#14
debt negotiator New Member 2 Rep 29 Posts Drives: 328 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: NYC iTrader: (1)	same here
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11-17-2007, 01:05 PM	#15
Bubbles Brigadier General 2824 Rep 4,445 Posts Drives: Green Bastard Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Bishop Bend iTrader: (3)	Had the same problem. They replaced the entire assembly on my coupe. __________________
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05-01-2008, 07:15 PM	#16
bmw_racer Private 0 Rep 88 Posts Drives: 2007 328i coupe Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: so cal iTrader: (0)	this is happening to me now. how did you pop the trunk cover off to get to the bulbs on the coupe? i dont want to damage the snaps
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