Beware of Permanent Bulb Outage

Cooper35 · 10-16-2010, 09:19 PM

i had one of the two brake light bulbs out on the rear of my car for some time now. it needed a bulb carrier and i just took my time getting around to buying a replacement. i finally did and when i installed it the bulb still didnt work. i hooked my car up to the computer to see what was wrong. there was a fault showing for the brake light bulb. the computer told me that the car automatically turns off the power to that bulb permanently after 50 power cycles and i will now have to buy a footwell module to get the light workling again. just a warning out there to get your bulbs replaced as soon as possible. otherwise itll cost more in the long run.

moto_noob · 10-17-2010, 12:07 AM

you have to get the module replaced? it can't be coded back in for something?

///M3NACE · 10-17-2010, 12:09 AM

Thanks Good To Know!

slimysnails · 10-17-2010, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cooper35

i had one of the two brake light bulbs out on the rear of my car for some time now. it needed a bulb carrier and i just took my time getting around to buying a replacement. i finally did and when i installed it the bulb still didnt work. i hooked my car up to the computer to see what was wrong. there was a fault showing for the brake light bulb. the computer told me that the car automatically turns off the power to that bulb permanently after 50 power cycles and i will now have to buy a footwell module to get the light workling again. just a warning out there to get your bulbs replaced as soon as possible. otherwise itll cost more in the long run.

the dealer can reset the frm. had this done for angel eyes that were on the fritz.

Cooper35 · 10-20-2010, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moto_noob

you have to get the module replaced? it can't be coded back in for something?

one the module deletes the circuit it is permanently deleted. i tried reprogramming my car the other day and no luck

donsgolf2012 · 05-14-2011, 12:25 PM

scammer ^

sexymexy · 05-14-2011, 01:52 PM

That's true. The computer will permanently shutt off that light I know that becaue my best friend is one of the top mecs in the dealer. He told me that long time ago when I had a burn light bulb. Why he would tell me a lie?

rollinstone157 · 05-14-2011, 02:03 PM

That doesn't seem right to me...I think you're misinformed. I'm sure the dealer can reset the bulbs.

Dark_Knight_335 · 05-14-2011, 07:36 PM

Donsgolf, I see what you did there!

Agent11br · 09-20-2011, 02:33 PM

Not to dig up an old thread but I had read this when I was trying to figure out my bulb out issue. Maybe this was an early build deal? I have a late build '07 e92 and had the bulb out for a while. Finally figured it all out today and replaced it, works like a champ and the warning went away.

tldoxmf87 · 09-21-2011, 01:27 AM

I had this issue fixed by dealer. They replaced the bulbs but it burnt out shortly and when I went back they replaced some kind of bracket and the module.

J335i · 09-21-2011, 02:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Agent11br

Not to dig up an old thread but I had read this when I was trying to figure out my bulb out issue. Maybe this was an early build deal? I have a late build '07 e92 and had the bulb out for a while. Finally figured it all out today and replaced it, works like a champ and the warning went away.

So what you do? Just change the bulb ?

AndreyT · 09-21-2011, 07:27 AM

The theory about the computer shutting off power to a burnt out bulb permanently (even after a large number of power cycles) does not hold water, of course. If something like that happend because the module was defective then it would be understandable. In that case the module would indeed have to be replaced (again, becuse it is defective, not becuase there no way to restore power to the bulb by design). By design though, even if the computer decided to disable some burnt-out bulb after a large number of cycles, the power to that bulb can always be re-enabled without replacing any modules.

fdriller9 · 09-21-2011, 08:31 AM

It doesn't make sense that a vehicle that MUST abide by US and DOT regulations would automatically disable a safety device.

You need your rake lightsto warn other drivers that you are stopping or slowing down.

You need all bulbs functional during state inspection.

I don't believe you one bit. Most likely this was a coincidence and your frm module is faulty.

Agent11br · 09-21-2011, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J335i

So what you do? Just change the bulb ?

Yes.

If you do some research, there was also a TSB for the rear taillight assemblies in early builds. I'm going to ask my SA about this when I'm in next.

If anyone knows were that TSB is and can provide a link I would GREATLY appreciate it.

10-16-2010, 09:19 PM	#1
Cooper35 Enlisted Member 4 Rep 34 Posts Drives: 330i E90 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Oklahoma City iTrader: (0)	Beware of Permanent Bulb Outage i had one of the two brake light bulbs out on the rear of my car for some time now. it needed a bulb carrier and i just took my time getting around to buying a replacement. i finally did and when i installed it the bulb still didnt work. i hooked my car up to the computer to see what was wrong. there was a fault showing for the brake light bulb. the computer told me that the car automatically turns off the power to that bulb permanently after 50 power cycles and i will now have to buy a footwell module to get the light workling again. just a warning out there to get your bulbs replaced as soon as possible. otherwise itll cost more in the long run.
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10-17-2010, 12:07 AM	#2
moto_noob Private First Class 3 Rep 149 Posts Drives: '06 e90 325i Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Louisiana iTrader: (1)	you have to get the module replaced? it can't be coded back in for something?
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10-17-2010, 12:09 AM	#3
///M3NACE Banned 184 Rep 3,900 Posts Drives: E36 M3, E36 Vert , E90 N52 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Downers Grove, IL iTrader: (5)	Thanks Good To Know!
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05-14-2011, 12:25 PM	#6
donsgolf2012 First Lieutenant 22 Rep 382 Posts Drives: 2007 BMW 335i Coupe Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: San Diego iTrader: (0) Garage List 2007 335i [0.00]	scammer ^
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05-14-2011, 01:52 PM	#7
sexymexy Second Lieutenant 4 Rep 219 Posts Drives: 2006 e90 jet black Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Tx iTrader: (1)	That's true. The computer will permanently shutt off that light I know that becaue my best friend is one of the top mecs in the dealer. He told me that long time ago when I had a burn light bulb. Why he would tell me a lie?
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05-14-2011, 02:03 PM	#8
rollinstone157 Brotographer 95 Rep 1,742 Posts Drives: F30 335xi Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: US iTrader: (0)	That doesn't seem right to me...I think you're misinformed. I'm sure the dealer can reset the bulbs.
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05-14-2011, 07:36 PM	#9
Dark_Knight_335 Came to the N55 Darkside 1140 Rep 12,740 Posts Drives: 2011 335 E93 M-Sport Join Date: May 2010 Location: NY/NJ iTrader: (28)	Donsgolf, I see what you did there!
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09-20-2011, 02:33 PM	#10
Agent11br Major 451 Rep 1,369 Posts Drives: F80 M3 6MT Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Birmingham, MI iTrader: (39) Garage List 2019 Jeep Wrangler ... [0.00] 2015 BMW F80 M3 [0.00]	Not to dig up an old thread but I had read this when I was trying to figure out my bulb out issue. Maybe this was an early build deal? I have a late build '07 e92 and had the bulb out for a while. Finally figured it all out today and replaced it, works like a champ and the warning went away. __________________ 15 F80 M3 Mineral Grey/Black 6MT
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09-21-2011, 01:27 AM	#11
tldoxmf87 Captain 46 Rep 720 Posts Drives: e92 TiAg Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Bellevue iTrader: (14)	I had this issue fixed by dealer. They replaced the bulbs but it burnt out shortly and when I went back they replaced some kind of bracket and the module. __________________ E92 TiAg Last edited by tldoxmf87; 05-15-2014 at 11:19 PM..
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09-21-2011, 07:27 AM	#13
AndreyT Major 59 Rep 1,038 Posts Drives: 2011 335i Sedan, Sport Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Northern California iTrader: (0)	The theory about the computer shutting off power to a burnt out bulb permanently (even after a large number of power cycles) does not hold water, of course. If something like that happend because the module was defective then it would be understandable. In that case the module would indeed have to be replaced (again, becuse it is defective, not becuase there no way to restore power to the bulb by design). By design though, even if the computer decided to disable some burnt-out bulb after a large number of cycles, the power to that bulb can always be re-enabled without replacing any modules.
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09-21-2011, 08:31 AM	#14
fdriller9 Banned 263 Rep 7,089 Posts Drives: '06 AW 330xi Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: North Jersey/Philly/NYC iTrader: (4) Garage List 2006 330xi [6.44]	It doesn't make sense that a vehicle that MUST abide by US and DOT regulations would automatically disable a safety device. You need your rake lightsto warn other drivers that you are stopping or slowing down. You need all bulbs functional during state inspection. I don't believe you one bit. Most likely this was a coincidence and your frm module is faulty.
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