Brake Light OBC message

[Jay 535i]

Driving home yesterday I got the "1 Brake Light" warning on my dashboard. My brake lights are fine. I only noticed that one of the little bumper-mounted red sidemarkers is out. Is that what the message is referring to? It's not really a brake light...

[mikell]

Check everything, change anything that doesn't check out - the check system is pretty sensitive. You could have an intermittent open circuit from a bulb that's about to go toes up, or you could be suffering corrosion in a plug or socket. I am a believer in using contact cleaner to make sure all those electrons don't struggle too hard to get where they're going. Good luck.

[Jay 535i]

Thanks.

Funny thing just happened.

I went down to my car and started her up. The bulb I mentioned above is still out, but I drove the car for 10 minutes without getting a warning message.

The car was off for a while, then I started her up again, and got "Brake LT Circuit -- Check Owner's Manual" on the dashboard. That's a different message from before.

Turned the car off again for a while, then started her again and drove home -- no error message this time.

Strange, huh?

[Rus]

I received both of those messages before one of my brake bulbs kicked the bucket. The messages were intermittent until the bulb went out. I suppose you could wait until one fails since that appears to be the direction its heading. Also, make sure there isn't any moisture in the tail lights since that can cause problems very easily.

[Paul in NZ]

brk light circuit is ussually caused by the brake light switch...much easier to change on a rhd car..........

[Jay 535i]

Okay, all the lights are now working.

I am no longer getting the "1 Brake Light" message, but I am still getting the "Brake LT Circuit -- Owner's Manual" message.

What's up with that? Everything seems fine.

[Paul in NZ]

see above message

[Jay 535i]

I worked it out: loose connector on the rear light cluster.

Thanks for the help.

[Jay 535i]

False alarm. Things were okay for about 30 minutes, then the "Brake LT Circuit -- Owner's Manual" message returned. And now I have NO BRAKE LIGHTS!

Neither left nor right cluster brake light works, not the center-mounted light in the rear window, and not the brake light mounted on my spoiler. Taillights, reverse lights and turn signals are okay. Fuse #1 in the engine compartment is okay.

What's going on? Help! My car is now dangerous and illegal :(

[Paul in NZ]

You Need A New Brake Light Switch!

[Jay 535i]

You Need A New Brake Light Switch!

Whassat?

[Paul in NZ]

i dont know if you are serious or not but fwiw (http://www.bmwe34.net/e34main/maintenance/electrical/brake_switch.htm)

[Qsilver7]

Hmmm...Paul, perhaps he's ignoring you? :D What was it...4 times you posted to check the brake light switch... I was starting to think there was an "issue" between you two! (LOL)

Anyways...here's another write up with pics about the Brake Lt Circuit warning and a bad brake light switch by Don Gale...this is a common problem on the e32 7 series too: http://www.nmia.com/~dgnrg/page_25.htm

a few pics from Don:
http://www.nmia.com/~dgnrg/brsw1.jpg

http://www.nmia.com/~dgnrg/brsw3.jpg

[Jay 535i]

Thanks guys.

I wasn't ignoring you. Just didn't understand what you were saying! :p

[Paul in NZ]

whew.....