2002 X5 Brake/Parking Lights Just went out

[fygar]

Could use some advice from the subject matter experts. My tail lights are both out on my 2002 X5 4.4i.

Facts and Data:

1. The left tail brake light went out some time ago and the computer was warning me that the tail lights were out. I checked the bulb and swapped it out the bulb holder and bulb with the right side, and the bulb and socked working on the right side. (Note that this pre-facelift model taillight has a dual parking/brake light and a separate brake light. The brake system on the left side wouldn't illuminate, i.e. the dual parking/brake light would not light for brake but the parking light would work just fine.
2. Recently, the parking and brake lights have gone out on both the left and right sides. The high mount center brake light works (and is the only thing keeping me from being rear ended. No parking lights on either lamp either. I checked all the bulbs and they are good. Contacts looked a bit worn, but seemed okay.
3. Turn signals and reverse lights are good on both sides.

Proposed Fix Options

1. Convert to LEDs and swap out the light modules. I searched and read that the modules themselves are problematic, I read that BMW has swapped manufacturers (I thought these were Hella, why swap from Hella?)
2. Replace lamp modules with OEM stock replacements. The OEM units are always better quality than the aftermarket units.
3. Replace the bulb sockets. This might have solved the single brake light outage, but doesn't make sense when the whole left side brake circuit was out? Why didn't the parking/brake light still work? This really doesn't explain why both sides have now gone out.
4. Clean the contacts. I searched and read that there is a poor connection/corrosion issue and that cleaning the bulb and connector contacts might improve things. Not clear if it's the bulb socket connection to the light or the connector from the car that is posing the most problems.

Help wanted (need some ideas):

• I have checked both fuse boxes (in the glovebox and in the right side luggage compartment). All the fuses were fine.
• I was wondering if there is some type of light module that might have gone bad.
• Can you clean and refurbish the stock tail lights to correct the problem?
• If I swap to new taillights (either LED or OEM), that should correct any light connection issues, unless the problem is in the X5 light connector or between the connector and the fuse box.
• I have also read that the 2004-2006 tail lights are identical in size, but apparently have a different connection wires, supporting the adapative brake lights. Thus 2004-2006 will fit my SAV, but the wired connection will be different. Can folks confirm that?
• Has anyone else seen this particular problem?

Thanks for your thoughts. I will post the final fix once I get there.

[Werewolf]

Trying pulling out the bulb assembly and cleaning the contacts.

Sometimes the metal contacts (shaped like flower petals around the bulb) get bent (intermittent fault) / need to be rebent to make better contact. Clear corrosion with a wire brush / coin

GL

[msammy]

Ahhh, skip all that and just go with the LED tails. I spent so much time fiddling with my tail lights over the past year with similar problems and I finally upgraded to LEDs and wish now I had done it sooner! Here's a photo of the 1 hour mod!

[koister2001]

I had the same problem with both sides of tail lights. It turned out that the metal contact with the bulb burnt out. Disassemble the tail lights and confirm for yourself.

See thread #39 of http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...ation-fix.html

[x5glenn]

Both of my tail lights on my 2002 x5 were throwing error codes with good bulbs. Took out tail lamps..easy only three 8mm nuts each. Check metal contact ring (circuit board as they call it) where the bulb socket twists into. The metal ring on mine had small holes melted in it so contact with the bulb socket wasn't good. Also, the plastic welds that hold the metal ring in place were melted so the ring wasn't high enough for good contact either.

What I did that fixed both lamps was to clean the holes to expose metal. Filled the holes with solder, also placed small pieces of heavy duty foil over them. Next I placed a small piece of plastic (from a plastic fork lol) under the metal ring to bring it up to level and melted it in place. Plugged in the bulbs and the connection and it worked for both sides. Finally bolted back on the tail lights.

Took about 15 minutes total to repair both sides. Saved hundreds. This is very easy to fix so try to DIY before going to the shop IMO.

[tmv]

^The problem will keep coming back. Been there done that. The best solution for me is a set of LED taillights.