HELP...both reverse lights are out!

[gfarn1]

Not sure what happened and certainly how to fix it. I was playing around with LED bulbs in my taillights and reverse lights. I was able to get the tail lights to work but now both reverse ligts don't work at all. I couldn't find a fuse just for the reverse lights, the license plat lights DO still work.....HELP FAST PLEASE!!

Thanks experts!!!

[JCL]

Use a test light.

Do you have power to the sockets? To the fuse? Hopefully you didn't damage the lighting control module

[x3oiler]

In my forum reading, LED trailer light upset the trailer light module so maybe same here?

[gfarn1]

How do I know if its the module?

JCL, why do you say "Hopefully you didn't damage the lighting control module"? Expensive and/or hard to replace?

Thank you!

[x3oiler]

Originally Posted by gfarn1

How do I know if its the module?

Ah sorry. Too brief. The fact that the standard BMW trailer lighting module cannot run LED trailer lights suggests to me that the BMW car lighting cannot run LED lighting either. That was my inference.

[JCL]

Originally Posted by gfarn1

How do I know if its the module?

JCL, why do you say "Hopefully you didn't damage the lighting control module"? Expensive and/or hard to replace?

Thank you!

By troubleshooting with a test light. Check fuses, check power at the bulbs.

I don't know what you meant by 'playing around' but the lighting circuits are not straightforward. BMW multi-plexes the signals, meaning they send multiple control signals down the power wires. It is possible to damage the computerized lighting control box that runs all the lighting (the LCM) by playing around. Imagine what could happen to a computer circuit board if you applied power to it at the wrong voltage. Worst case is having to replace the LCM. Yes, that can get expensive. But the first step is to troubleshoot the actual problem, instead of speculating.

[gfarn1]

OK, there is no power going to the bulb. Now what kind sirs?!?

Thanks,
g

[JCL]

Trace the circuits back using the test light. Check the reverse switch that turns on those lights.

Good luck.

[gfarn1]

Originally Posted by JCL

Trace the circuits back using the test light. Check the reverse switch that turns on those lights.

Good luck.

Any chance you can put this in 'dummy' terms?

My sincere thanks!!
Greg

[x3oiler]

Using this link: SP0000025324 - WDS

By clicking the green connector numbers and following up with the model number of x3 you can find where the connectors are and the connection details but on looking there is not much to trace. The AT output is on the AT chassis under the car - very hard to test. The relay that the AT outputs drive is in the A6009 module (WDS Wiring Diagram System) and may be faulty but I would think that the fuse F27 driving the reversing lights should blow before the relay gets damaged.

So first up check fuse F27. It only drives the reversing lights.