fog lights and center brake light

RR_540i · Jun 30, 2011

Hi guys,

first the fog lights, then the center brake light stopped working.... the light bulbs are good and the fuses are good.... what do you think i should check next?
thanks

JimLev · Jun 30, 2011

There are no fuses for the exterior lights, they are all controlled by the LCM (light control module) that is on the right side kick panel (US).
There have been reports of the center brake light socket getting damaged from overheating. Look inside the socket and see if it looks burnt.
Both fog lights or just one?

bluebee · Jun 30, 2011

JimLev said:
There are no fuses for the exterior lights

That's interesting!

JimLev said:
There have been reports of the center brake light socket getting damaged from overheating.

That reminds me. My cluster is warning "CHECK BRAKE LIGHTS" - and I had a friend tell me my center brake light is also out.

I'm always scared before a job - so - I guess it's time to look up how hard/easy that one is ...

Gimme a sec to search the bestlinks ...

Bummer. All that found for a center brake light DIY was:
- Brakes, quad brake light modification via the wiring harness (video)
- Be Seen !! ...and put that rear fog light to use...as a brake light

The lack of an E39 DIY, by now, indicates the job is simple ... but still I have trepidation...

bluebee · Jun 30, 2011

Searching Bimmerfest for "E39 Center Brake Light" & "3rd Brake Light", I find a lot of chaff, e.g.:
- Check brake lights ***
- which bulb is burnt out
- Rear Center Brake Light
- 3rd Brake Light Problem E39
- center brake light
- Check Rear Lights?????
- Rear Brake light icon came on today...
- Rear lamp warning display is on in my BMW 528i

None of which were DIYs but this one gave a cryptic warning:
- Check Brake Light

five.two.five said:
If you bought the bulbs from Autozone, make sure they're the one's with the silver color base, not the copper color.

I wondered why "silver" and not "copper" color - so I kept searching 'till I found this:
- E39 (1997 - 2003) > How to turn off stoplight out warning on dash?

vavet5308 said:
do not use the brass based bulbs

chiefwej said:
the resistance reading can be so sensitive that you have to clean the contacts and you can't use a brass based bulb. On my 03 I get a "check brake light" warning if I don't use a stainless based bulb

Googling, I find in the other forum:
- E39 Replacing center/rear brake light (where you access from the trunk)
- E36 DIY: Removing the third brake light (where you remove the parcel shelf)
- E39 How do I replace the center brake light bulb in the rear window?

Where QSilver7 says to look in the owners manual and others say it's in the trunk and easy to access (I had never looked before). People have said it's hard to get out (you don't know when to stop turning).

Unfortunately, most of the pictures in those bimmerforums threads are locked to non registered users ...

Here is one unlocked picture from QSilver7's post in that forum:

JimLev · Jul 1, 2011

RR, each of your fog lights have a brown wire that connects to the ground shoe on the inner front fenders under the hood. The ground shoe has a black plastic cover on it with a lot of brown wires going to it.
The 12 volts for the fogs come directly from the LCM.
When you turn on the fog light switch does the light in the instrument cluster come on?

Calicoastin · Jul 1, 2011

RR of the 3rd brake bulb is easy. Just release the bulb cover in the upper-inside of the trunk and twist/remove bulb holder. I had a similar issue where the MID would show check brake light and the 3rd light wouldn't light up despite it being good (filament in place). I noticed that the outer part of the bulb wasn't making contact with the contactor on the bulb holder.....

My quick-fix: I wrapped the bulb with a length of copper wire, enough turns for it to contact the bulb holder and voila. All is good now for over a year and no issues. But remember this is just a quick fix

bluebee · Jul 2, 2011

Calicoastin said:
Just release the bulb cover in the upper-inside of the trunk and twist/remove bulb holder.

Hmmmm.... I had a look see today inside the trunk, upside down.

I loosened the nut and could slide the 3rd center brake light an inch or so forward (toward the front of the car); but that was about it.

So, this must be a case similar to the license plate lights (or to the belt tensioners) where it's not obvious how to remove it until you do it once.

I must admit, I haven't done much of a search yet ... but I will say that, upon first inspection, just saying "just release the bulb cover" doesn't really explain anything. (Like, what's a "bulb cover" anyway? All I see is a black base that slides about an inch. There is no 'bulb cover' to speak of.)

bluebee · Jul 2, 2011

BTW, I'm a little confused by this 'silver' versus 'copper' color of the bulb housing because, at least with my 2002 525i, the bulb appears to be encased in plastic.

There is no metal housing to speak of.

Here, for the record, is how to 'release the bulb cover'.

You simply stick a 1/4 inch flathead screwdriver (or your fingernail) into the slot in the rear of the rectangular bulb cover and twist the screwdriver.

The black rectangular bulb cover will simply drop down due to gravity by the time you've twisted the quarter-inch screwdriver 90 degrees.

Then, you unclip the two side clips by squeezing with your fingers to remove the harness connector from the plastic bulb housing.

bluebee · Jul 2, 2011

Here is a pic of the burned bulb housing.

Also, the OP should take note of the information from this thread today:
- E39 (1997 - 2003) > Check rear fog lights warning

CHECK FRONT FOGLAMPS = P2 = Defective bulb or circuit. Refer to page 124 to page 132 of the attached pdf

fog lights and center brake light

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