All Brake Lights remain ON after NEW Brake Light switch

[sbihue]

Hi All,

I replaced the aging brake light switch on my E34 (M50) today and now all the brake lights (both rear and the third on the trunk) remain on when I turn on the car.

There was only one way for the new switch to go in. and I had to break the older one to get it out. Did I do something wrong while installing it?

Thanks
SB

[632 Regal]

did the brake lights stay on before this adventure?

[sbihue]

did the brake lights stay on before this adventure?

Nope, it was fine. I had the intermittent "Brake Light Circuit" message and on researching found out that it was most likely due to the brake light switch going bad.

Is there a way to get the switch out without breaking it?

Thanks

[yaofeng]

You can confirm this but I think the brake light circuit is always hot. Press the brake pedal a few times hard. It should seat the stem of the brake light switch in the correct position. Either that or you may not have seated the body of the switch correctly. The latter seems less likely.

Picture of the brake light switch seated in the bracket below,
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b274/yaofengchen/BMW_95_540/DSC_3234.jpg

I don't know if I have described it correctly in the prior description. It's either one of the two. Either the previously described. Or when you press the brake pedal. The contact/stem of the switch extends to close the circuit.

[sbihue]

You can confirm this but I think the brake light circuit is always hot. Press the brake pedal a few times hard. It should seat the stem of the brake light switch in the correct position. Either that or you may not have seated the body of the switch correctly. The latter seems less likely.

Picture of the brake light switch seated in the bracket below,
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b274/yaofengchen/BMW_95_540/DSC_3234.jpg

I don't know if I have described it correctly in the prior description. It's either one of the two. Either the previously described. Or when you press the brake pedal. The contact/stem of the switch extends to close the circuit.

Ok. Will take it apart this weekend and see whats going on.

Thanks

[Paul in NZ]

the above pics shows fairly clearly that tyhe switch is self seating.DO NOT push the red stalk home when installing the switch.Let the switch find its own position.I put in a new switch then immediately destroyed it somehow,and had to get another one

[sbihue]

the above pics shows fairly clearly that tyhe switch is self seating.DO NOT push the red stalk home when installing the switch.Let the switch find its own position.I put in a new switch then immediately destroyed it somehow,and had to get another one

I think thats exactly what I did. I pushed the RED stalk down along with the white one. I will try to get it out of the car this weekend and check.

Thanks

[BMWCCA1]

Just pull the plunger out where it sits, with the brake pedal depressed. Let the pedal come back to set the switch position itself. Should do it.

[Blitzkrieg Bob]

Just pull the plunger out where it sits, with the brake pedal depressed. Let the pedal come back to set the switch position itself. Should do it.

Yup, that's probably it.

[sbihue]

Just pull the plunger out where it sits, with the brake pedal depressed. Let the pedal come back to set the switch position itself. Should do it.

That sounds simple enough. Will give it a shot before I attempt to take it out

[fclake]

How much was the new switch? I get the same reading on the dash sometimes but all lights function correctly even then. Wtf?

[Paul in NZ]

How much was the new switch? I get the same reading on the dash sometimes but all lights function correctly even then. Wtf?
if you get brake light circuit or brake light elec or similar its the brake light switch...as opposed to the simple brake light message.Make sure if it is the brake light message that your third brake light is working

[ladiesman217]

is it febi?

tweak the pedal pin to close the switch more.

you jsut have;t closed the switch yet, febis are slightly off.

[sbihue]

Finally looked at it today. The plunger was fine and was going all the way out but the brake limiter plate that it is supposed to hit had slided upwards. With the brake pressed down, had to do a contortionist to see what was really going on. On the brighter side, got to use my headstrap LED's :)

All is good now.

Thanks for the response

[sbihue]

How much was the new switch? I get the same reading on the dash sometimes but all lights function correctly even then. Wtf?

its around 18 bucks