Brake light issue

Ok so I have searched the forum and google and not come up with any answers for this so here goes.

I just had my tail lights out of the car and got them back in yesterday. My "Brake Light Failure" message has been on since I got the car but everything has worked fine. After putting them back in the car last night I noticed that for some reason my right tail light stays on wether my lights are on or not, whether or not the brake is pressed, and even if the car is off and the keys are out of the ignition. Any ideas what the problem may be?

I've never heard of that but have you replaced the brake light switch?

Or it could be something with the tail light thats wrong.

Welcome to the fest!

Are you sure it's the brake light and not the running/park light? If it's the running light, your headlight switch is disintegrating internally. The pieces of crumbled plastic get in the contacts of the switch, and force the contacts closed so that the light or lights stay on.

If it's the actual the brake light staying on, it's either your brake light switch above the brake pedal has gone bad (unlikely, since they usually fail to no contact rather than constant contact), or you have the classic wire loom wear-through in the trunk. Read through this and you'll see what I'm talking about


http://www.pelicanparts.com/bmw/tech...l-Problems.htm

Originally Posted by techmaster330

Ok so I have searched the forum and google and not come up with any answers for this so here goes.

I just had my tail lights out of the car and got them back in yesterday. My "Brake Light Failure" message has been on since I got the car but everything has worked fine. After putting them back in the car last night I noticed that for some reason my right tail light stays on wether my lights are on or not, whether or not the brake is pressed, and even if the car is off and the keys are out of the ignition. Any ideas what the problem may be?

Did you plug all the connectors back into the proper bulbs? could have plugged the parking light connector onto the brake light or something funky like that... We've all done it. Not saying you're stupid or anything.

oh and welcome!

Ah I should have specified more, the bulbs themselves were not actually removed. I just unplugged the cables from the entire rear right side assembly and took the entire tail light casing out of the car but left the bulbs in. I did this with both tails and the driver side is fine but the passenger is what is staying on all the time.

Edit. Its definitely the running light, I just realized it was the bulb closest to the corner and my headlight switch is pretty destroyed. Is there a way to fix the switch or a link to where I can order a new one? Thanks for the help so far guys.

Pelican Parts, Umnitza, eBay, wrecking yard. If you get it from the wrecking yard, you can pretty much tell if the switch is any good just by the feel of it. A good one will have definite stops (detents) and will stop solid on the end of travel, either full on or full off. They get vague and too "smooth" feeling when the detent plastic is breaking down, and if really bad they will overtravel the stops at the end of swing by a little bit.

Ok guys just double checking to make sure I order the right part before I pay for 1 day shipping. Is this switch all I need?

http://www.pelicanparts.com/cgi-bin/...20%28E36%29%2C

And what do I need to remove the old one and install the new one?

Originally Posted by techmaster330

Ok so I have searched the forum and google and not come up with any answers for this so here goes.

I just had my tail lights out of the car and got them back in yesterday. My "Brake Light Failure" message has been on since I got the car but everything has worked fine. After putting them back in the car last night I noticed that for some reason my right tail light stays on wether my lights are on or not, whether or not the brake is pressed, and even if the car is off and the keys are out of the ignition. Any ideas what the problem may be?

I used to have the same problem on my E36, to solve this, i think you need to change the light bulb holder, the holder used to fail.
Or, put your break light into another light bulb holder, such as the reverse light bulb holder and to see if the light is still on at all the time.

Originally Posted by techmaster330

Ok guys just double checking to make sure I order the right part before I pay for 1 day shipping. Is this switch all I need?

http://www.pelicanparts.com/cgi-bin/...20%28E36%29%2C

And what do I need to remove the old one and install the new one?

That's the one!

To remove old and install new, all you need is a Phillips screwdriver and needle nose pliers. One screw holds the lights witch panel/AC vent. Remove it and the panel comes off. Unscrew the wiring harness lock ring (1/4 turn CCW) and pull straight off. Use a small screwdriver to carefully pry off the headlight switch knob. Use needle nose pliers (or a correct-size thin wall deep socket) to remove the retaining nut. Reassemble in reverse order.

It's a good time to replace your headlights switch illumination bulb, too. It pulls straight out. Can't recall the bulb number, but Advance Auto has them. I didn't even know there was supposed to be a light in the switch until my switch went bad like yours and saw the bulb while replacing the switch.

jumped contacts on bulb holder.

recheck flow of circuit in taillight.