Brake Lights Driving You Nuts....

[NC_X5_Guy]

There is several posts on here dealing with the simple repair of fixing brake lights, or the tail lights/turn signals. About 2 months back my wife had a bulb out indicator, it was the brake light. Guy at a local shop fixed it and sent her on her way while I was out working. She had told me that a time or two it wasn't doing right, so today I went out and checked over it......found a couple of issues, first there was a bit of corrosion on the contacts, cleaned all of the contacts with a fingernail file and got all points of contact clean as well. Second, it looked as if at one time some idiot didn't line up the notches to slip the bulb holder into place and had pushed really hard and made the point of contact between the bulb and the base it wasn't making a full connection. I could tap on the light with my hand and it would work every now and then. My fix was simple....cleaned it all up good and bent up on the base of the bulb holder where the notches are so it would lock in firm.....problem solved, and only took about 45 minutes.

So....before you go and spend a few hundred on AM lights or repairs, try the methods listed here, they work!

[CharlieHustleX5]

http://www.bmwmotorsports.org/pdf/e5...y%20Repair.pdf

Here's another way of repairing the issue...

[Tleong]

I have none of the materials such as a smolder iron or sandpaper, etc. How do you reckon an indy shop would charge if i brought them this?

[ARTRIGA]

Originally Posted by Tleong

I have none of the materials such as a smolder iron or sandpaper, etc. How do you reckon an indy shop would charge if i brought them this?

Why even think about paying some one for such a primitive fix
Sanpaper is still available in some places and most of the time that's all you need .. and maybe a pair of pliers. I can probably do it with a rock and a stick.

[Tleong]

Whats this talk about the smolder iron, dremel tool, and electrical solder then. It seems really complicated.

[CharlieHustleX5]

Its really not.

Pick up a general soldering iron and solder at your auto parts store or electronic components shop. Sand the area of the tail lamp that makes contact with the bulb holder. Then apply solder to the contact area on the tail lamp. Sand that area down as much as needed to come close to flush with the original contact metal.

OR

If your instance isn't severe enough where you need to add solder to provide a contact for the bulb holder, you can follow instructions provided by NC X5 Guy.

OR

Do it the easy and less complicated way...buy a new bulb holder/tail lamp (Whichever is the culprit in your situation.)

[NC_X5_Guy]

Originally Posted by Tleong

I have none of the materials such as a smolder iron or sandpaper, etc. How do you reckon an indy shop would charge if i brought them this?

Yeah, you can do it with no problem....three nuts holding each in, take the tail lamp out and remove bulbs, clean surface areas where bulb contact the lamp and if the bulb holder does not fit in tight, bend up gently with a pair of needle nose pliers on the edges of the tail lamp bulb contact area.

[Tleong]

I might try and attempt this soon.... I'm a tad nervous though.

[RMak]

Just recently had an issue with my rear right brake light as well. Bulb blew out, changed the bulb but the light would dim dark then bright... etc. Went to BMW, bought a new bulb socket for $13 dollars and it works fine now.

[Tleong]

unfortunately, i think my problem is the corrosion. I have a 2001 3.0i and it has been a noted defect. It is the left brake light and after replaced the bulb many times or even rescrewing the same one in, it would work.... only to go out days or weeks later.