[Outlaw]

Evening all, I've tried searching this online a few times but can't seem to find any advice.

For the last couple of weeks my cars been throwing up a message saying that the right rear brake light is out.
First things first, I changed the bulb but after about ten minutes the message started showing again.
I've checked the bulbs and they do actually work fine unless the "rear right brake light" message is showing.

Could it be a problem with the contacts or the entire tail light unit?
Or possibly an error in the coding?

I'm almost certain that it won't be covered under any warranty though as my car is over five years old now.

Any help would be appreciated.

[ukbeemerboy]

New light unit I expect. They get damp inside and corrode the tracks of the circuit board inside the unit. This throws up the errors due to the corrosion.

[Outlaw]

Damn, thats what I suspected.
Looks like it's time for an LCI upgrade.

[rhysh1990]

I had this issue intermittently also causing permanently flickering angel eyes and interior lights. My car went into bmw for some injector work and shortly after realised that the problem had gone away i dont know whether they had updated or reset something but 3 months on and everything is still working fine

[Outlaw]

It's due in for its service next month so I'll get them to have a look at it whilst it's in.

[AlanYoro35i]

You do know there is 2 brake light bulbs in each side, chance is you only replaced one?

[mistryn]

As above there is a high brake level light which is a 2 part filament bulb (combined fog/emergency braking) bulb

I had the same issue on mine, replaced the normal brake light bulb, after a few miles still got the same error message. found out it was the fog light bulb that had gone and replaced that

it was all fine for a day then same erro came back, my cousin had a look and one of the spring metal tab contacts was not fully in contact with the unti so the tab was bent foward and its been fine since then

[scaryprowler]

I had exactly the same message thrown yesterday also. I didnt have anyone to check which light it was (I was in my works carpark late at night). I held my foot on the brake for a few mins, took the rear right cluster out and could feel that only one of the two bulbs was hot. Took the cool one out, checked it over (filament was fine), swapped over the bulbs, started the car up, same message! It was the same holder again, did as above and pinched the metal tabs with the bulb out and re-seated it. The error went away.

[Outlaw]

Originally Posted by Yoro35i

You do know there is 2 brake light bulbs in each side, chance is you only replaced one?

Yeah I'm aware of that, I replaced both bulbs to be sure.

Originally Posted by scaryprowler

I had exactly the same message thrown yesterday also. I didnt have anyone to check which light it was (I was in my works carpark late at night). I held my foot on the brake for a few mins, took the rear right cluster out and could feel that only one of the two bulbs was hot. Took the cool one out, checked it over (filament was fine), swapped over the bulbs, started the car up, same message! It was the same holder again, did as above and pinched the metal tabs with the bulb out and re-seated it. The error went away.

I'll have to check the metal tabs to make sure they're all good and tight. Will do it this weekend whilst I'm detailing the car.

Bit of advice, I checked mine by myself too, took the bulb holder out and put it in the boot (trunk) then folded the rear seat forwards so I could see which bulbs were working.

[ukbeemerboy]

Originally Posted by Silver_Fox

There is a SIB for this and covered if you are under warranty. The bulb holder units are to be replaced.

Wasn't that for the Saloon and Touring?