Tail light malfunction

colorado.e9x · 05-21-2018, 11:23 PM

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I just noticed my tail lights are acting up. The bars that stay on in the middle is out on one side while the brake light is on. I'm quite confused. I moved the light housing and it came on so I believe there's a wire acting up. There doesn't appear to be any damage to the wires from the outside. Do I strip the wires to see whats up?

ewicky · 05-22-2018, 10:03 AM

The computer is supposed to do that if you have a tail light out. It brings the brake light on at a dimmer setting to compensate for the lost tail light.

It is pretty common for a burnt-out bulb to have a loose filament. When you whack the housing or remove and replace the bulb, it may work for a short while.

Just go buy a new bulb. The computer will automatically use the new bulb and turn the brake light function back to normal.

nsjames · 05-22-2018, 10:44 AM

x2
I would suspect bulb or bulb holder long before I started cutting open undamaged harnesses.

colorado.e9x · 05-22-2018, 10:46 AM

The bulbs looked pretty old so I replaced all of them, same problem. Maybe I need to clear the code for that light? I'll try that now.

nsjames · 05-22-2018, 11:02 AM

tension the tabs in the bulb sockets.

Blackhawk36 · 05-22-2018, 11:07 AM

Check the license plate bulbs. I had one out and it showed as tail light malfunction.

colorado.e9x · 05-22-2018, 11:09 AM

Just saw that all my tail lights are throwing codes now, I heard it was because it was a different type of contact than OEM? I believe I replaced them with Sylvania Silverstar or something among those lines. The license plate lights are good as well.

Edit: Went to tension the tabs and saw the bottom right brake light hole is broken all the way to the middle bulb. Could this be a reason?

litxus · 05-22-2018, 11:59 AM

Could be broken wires in the trunk rubber boot. Maybe something like this

. I had same thing in my car, it all started with random light faults, which would go away then come back until they became permanent.

colorado.e9x · 05-22-2018, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by litxus

Could be broken wires in the trunk rubber boot. I had same thing in my car, it all started with random light faults, which would go away then come back until they became permanent.

I found a thread related to this
https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=683942

Perhaps it is this, in which I would need to strip some wires huh?

litxus · 05-22-2018, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Valant

I found a thread related to this
https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=683942

Perhaps it is this, in which I would need to strip some wires huh?

Yep, pull the rubber boot and then undo the insulation. In my case pretty much all wires were broken or damaged it, so it had to be repaired.

colorado.e9x · 05-22-2018, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by litxus

Yep, pull the rubber boot and then undo the insulation. In my case pretty much all wires were broken or damaged it, so it had to be repaired.

Thanks for the suggestion I'll take a look

Edit: After following the video I managed to get them to work properly. Thank you guys for the help

05-21-2018, 11:23 PM	#1
colorado.e9x eBay Special 3066 Rep 3,028 Posts Drives: E90 330xi Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: Western Slope, Colorado iTrader: (1) Garage List 2007 BMW 328xi [9.50] 2006 BMW 330xi [10.00]	Tail light malfunction [IMG]undefined[/IMG] I just noticed my tail lights are acting up. The bars that stay on in the middle is out on one side while the brake light is on. I'm quite confused. I moved the light housing and it came on so I believe there's a wire acting up. There doesn't appear to be any damage to the wires from the outside. Do I strip the wires to see whats up? Attached Images __________________ Common sense is a flower that does not bloom in everyone's garden
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05-22-2018, 10:03 AM	#2
ewicky Lieutenant 204 Rep 525 Posts Drives: '07 335xi 4D AT Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: Seattle, WA iTrader: (0)	The computer is supposed to do that if you have a tail light out. It brings the brake light on at a dimmer setting to compensate for the lost tail light. It is pretty common for a burnt-out bulb to have a loose filament. When you whack the housing or remove and replace the bulb, it may work for a short while. Just go buy a new bulb. The computer will automatically use the new bulb and turn the brake light function back to normal.
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05-22-2018, 10:44 AM	#3
nsjames Brigadier General 2440 Rep 4,330 Posts Drives: 08 328xi Touring Join Date: May 2017 Location: ohio iTrader: (0)	x2 I would suspect bulb or bulb holder long before I started cutting open undamaged harnesses.
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05-22-2018, 10:46 AM	#4
colorado.e9x eBay Special 3066 Rep 3,028 Posts Drives: E90 330xi Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: Western Slope, Colorado iTrader: (1) Garage List 2007 BMW 328xi [9.50] 2006 BMW 330xi [10.00]	The bulbs looked pretty old so I replaced all of them, same problem. Maybe I need to clear the code for that light? I'll try that now. __________________ Common sense is a flower that does not bloom in everyone's garden
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05-22-2018, 11:02 AM	#5
nsjames Brigadier General 2440 Rep 4,330 Posts Drives: 08 328xi Touring Join Date: May 2017 Location: ohio iTrader: (0)	tension the tabs in the bulb sockets.
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05-22-2018, 11:07 AM	#6
Blackhawk36 Captain 30 Rep 644 Posts Drives: 2007 335i 6MT No iDrive Join Date: May 2009 Location: MD iTrader: (0)	Check the license plate bulbs. I had one out and it showed as tail light malfunction.
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05-22-2018, 11:09 AM	#7
colorado.e9x eBay Special 3066 Rep 3,028 Posts Drives: E90 330xi Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: Western Slope, Colorado iTrader: (1) Garage List 2007 BMW 328xi [9.50] 2006 BMW 330xi [10.00]	Just saw that all my tail lights are throwing codes now, I heard it was because it was a different type of contact than OEM? I believe I replaced them with Sylvania Silverstar or something among those lines. The license plate lights are good as well. Edit: Went to tension the tabs and saw the bottom right brake light hole is broken all the way to the middle bulb. Could this be a reason? Attached Images __________________ Common sense is a flower that does not bloom in everyone's garden
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05-22-2018, 11:59 AM	#8
litxus Lieutenant 58 Rep 494 Posts Drives: 09 E90 335i sedan Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Villa Park iTrader: (1)	Could be broken wires in the trunk rubber boot. Maybe something like this . I had same thing in my car, it all started with random light faults, which would go away then come back until they became permanent.
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