2001 X5 brake light problem
 

My 2001 X5 brake lights don't work. I've replaced the bulbs and they still won't work. I've been told by the local BMW dealer that it will require ~$250 per side to fix the problem. Any one else have this issue?

I had the same problem when I got my X5 a couple of weeks ago including the front right turn light. Turns out to be a loose connection in the terminals.

Had similiar problem recently on my 2001 E53. Replaced the faulty bulb with a new one, but still wouldn't work. Turns out the socket was corroded and needed major cleaning and scraping with a sandpaper. Not an easy job considering the confined space - but worth saving dealer replacement. All is fine now.
Interestingly, I found that if you have the key in the ignition and electrics turnd on (to see if your bulb is working) and you replace a bulb, it doesn't work. Drove me crazy. Only if you switch off the electrics and then back on again it will work.

I had the same cronic problem until I replaced both assemblies (sorry). Mine is a 2000, and the actual circuit "boards" inside the assemblies warped through time and would cause intermittent outages that drove me nuts! In the end, it was worth the $500 for a car I still intend on keeping for a long time.

I might have this problem.... The intermittent outages are driving me crazy!

I recently had this problem repaire while the X was in for rear brakes. I'll never have a repair shop fix this again. Costs too much for a simple repair. The same repair facility wanted over $200 to replace the right front turn signal----robbery!

Same issue here, as with many other members.

I tried new bulbs, new sockets, and eventually had them replaced last year by the dealer.

Yup...here's the quick fix...

Take the bulb out of the socket. The metal edges and prongs that touch the other metal connectors on the taillight assembly are corroded a little. The current is getting there, but its not registering.

On the bulb socket with the metal prongs and metal edges.. Use a little sand paper and sand off the corrsion a little bit....do it as you go, and the bulb should fire up again. When you put the bulb back in and put the gizmo that holds the bulb back into the talil light assembly, move it around a little bit and keep the lights on so you can see when it fires up. I do this every couple of months...

Great tip primetime, thank you. :thumbup:

The brake light socket will also burn a hole in the reciever pad on the brake light, mine did. If you or a friend is handy with a soldering iorn, clean the pad and flow solder over the burn hole. Be careful not to overheat the metal pad and melt the plastic light. There are other threads on this remedy. Good luck