What does this light mean?
11606
38
This light came on today! hopefully it's nothing serious.
Attachments
1 - 20 of 39 Posts
Typically external light bulb failure...
Do a walk-around, laddie. Illumination would be good.
I did, everything seems to be fine? One headlight does seem a bit brighter than the other that's about it. Do you think it has something to do with me upgrading my day time halo bulbs? I took out the Factory OEM ones and installed some that I got online, but this was a couple of weeks ago
That has been a complaint about after-market bulbs, yes. If the power draw is different, after a while the onboard computer may decide that there's a problem.
Good question! Wonder if the code would tell a tale....
It could be. Or your "emergency braking" light is out. You won't see those if you walk around the car. Have someone drive (far) behind you while you slam on the brakes and see if they are on.
I got a "bulb out" indication due to a burned out license plate light a couple of years ago (not my E90).
:drive:
:drive:
Did this as well and all seems fine, and on my way back home last night the light stayed on half way and suddenly turned off? Maybe I should get this checked? Shortage or something?
Unlikely but possible. BMW has a shunt in their computer system that expects a certain value and compares that value against the shunt. If it is too far out of tolerance it will throw a code like you saw. It is possible that is what is going on but as mentioned before you need to read the code to confirm that...
Lights burned out.
There have also been a number of cases of high resistance tail light sockets, where the lights are on but the system still reports a fault.
![]()
If you go into the "Check Control" status area, then hold don the button on the stalk while the error is displaying, you will get the actual code for the error.
THIS WEBSITE has instructions and the description for all the CCID codes. I got that same bulb warning light you have, and couldn't find anything burned out. Followed the instructions, and discovered it was one of the license plate bulbs that I hadn't noticed.
THIS WEBSITE has instructions and the description for all the CCID codes. I got that same bulb warning light you have, and couldn't find anything burned out. Followed the instructions, and discovered it was one of the license plate bulbs that I hadn't noticed.
That page is a keeper!
This was really helpful thanks a lot! This was the code that I got out of it
Attachments
"FRM 136 Left Brake Light Failure"
Does the rear brake light go on if you step on the brake? If no, bulb replacement time. If yes, it may be high resistance in the socket.
My experience with the same dash indication (on for a while, off for a while) was traced back to the right brake light socket, as opposed to a bulb. It was a fast replacement under warranty at the time, but you haven't stated how old your car is.
A side note - I love some of those codes. Case in point:
What, they don't expect the tech to notice the vehicle is rolling away without the code??
Does the rear brake light go on if you step on the brake? If no, bulb replacement time. If yes, it may be high resistance in the socket.
My experience with the same dash indication (on for a while, off for a while) was traced back to the right brake light socket, as opposed to a bulb. It was a fast replacement under warranty at the time, but you haven't stated how old your car is.
A side note - I love some of those codes. Case in point:
ACC 442 Vehicle may Roll Away
followed by ACC 443 Vehicle Rolling Away
What, they don't expect the tech to notice the vehicle is rolling away without the code??
Yes both lights go on as soon as I step on the break and I have a 2008 328i with approx 67k miles way out of warranty :/ would you recommend me to take it to the dealer or is it something I can fix?
rsandez, for some reason I think you have a sedan, but you may want to have that reflected somewhere, like in your mein auto, sig, somewhere. Or just say it outright. (Or maybe I'm just blind and can't see it.)
If it's an E92, the socket panels had a design that would sometimes throw a code, even when the bulbs were all lit, there are build dates on them, this happened until 1/21/08. From then they changed it up with an additional retention collar, until mid-April where they went with extended clips and took out the collar.
I threw a CC-ID 134 code at the beginning of this year, went crazy with electrical contact cleaner everywhere, didn't matter, just bought new panels for both sides. It was only the right panel that threw the code, but I just replaced both anyway.
I think some other XI owners were saying $20 per panel without even the bulbs, and they said the replacement bulbs could be found at just about any auto store, so that's what they did. My panels with bulbs included were only $16. Add shipping though of course.
If you have an E93 convertible, or E92, with panels made from 8/3/06 to 7/2/07 and "depending on the version of the FRM (footwell module)", you might throw the code for brake force display lights.
If yours is a sedan, don't have anything special to offer.
Do you see that little gray slit thing on the right, middle? All you do is depress that, and the whole thing comes easily out. The simplest stupidest thing. Well on the E92 anyway.
edit: tip for you, when you replace it, double check by pulling on it, because there won't be any click, and there is a high chance it's only loosely sitting there, well there is if you're me!
![]()
My new right panel is on the left, replacing the older one on the right.
![]()
If it's an E92, the socket panels had a design that would sometimes throw a code, even when the bulbs were all lit, there are build dates on them, this happened until 1/21/08. From then they changed it up with an additional retention collar, until mid-April where they went with extended clips and took out the collar.
I threw a CC-ID 134 code at the beginning of this year, went crazy with electrical contact cleaner everywhere, didn't matter, just bought new panels for both sides. It was only the right panel that threw the code, but I just replaced both anyway.
I think some other XI owners were saying $20 per panel without even the bulbs, and they said the replacement bulbs could be found at just about any auto store, so that's what they did. My panels with bulbs included were only $16. Add shipping though of course.
If you have an E93 convertible, or E92, with panels made from 8/3/06 to 7/2/07 and "depending on the version of the FRM (footwell module)", you might throw the code for brake force display lights.
If yours is a sedan, don't have anything special to offer.
Do you see that little gray slit thing on the right, middle? All you do is depress that, and the whole thing comes easily out. The simplest stupidest thing. Well on the E92 anyway.
edit: tip for you, when you replace it, double check by pulling on it, because there won't be any click, and there is a high chance it's only loosely sitting there, well there is if you're me!
My new right panel is on the left, replacing the older one on the right.
:rofl: I wonder what the programmer for that code was thinking/feeling when they implemented it.
But I wonder, what specific circumstances must be met for this code to be thrown? Car on/off, fob in or not, how long must it be rolling for, or how far. I push my car out the driveway without starting it, but with fob in, before I wash it, and I don't ever remember a code being thrown for instance. That's only a handful of seconds though.
But I wonder, what specific circumstances must be met for this code to be thrown? Car on/off, fob in or not, how long must it be rolling for, or how far. I push my car out the driveway without starting it, but with fob in, before I wash it, and I don't ever remember a code being thrown for instance. That's only a handful of seconds though.
So, I learned something in the Navy. That was: "every rule exists because someone died." It is very true, at least in spirit.
Later I learned the followup: "every other rule exists to keep someone from taking someone else's money."
Also, as a programmer on embedded systems, I can attest that it's RARE that spurious features get added by programmers on a whim. Embedded memory is precious. Someone told that programmer to add it... probably because someone died (rule #1) and/or got hurt and threatened to sue (rule #1 and/or rule #2).
Put more simply: blame dumb people and lawyers.
Later I learned the followup: "every other rule exists to keep someone from taking someone else's money."
Also, as a programmer on embedded systems, I can attest that it's RARE that spurious features get added by programmers on a whim. Embedded memory is precious. Someone told that programmer to add it... probably because someone died (rule #1) and/or got hurt and threatened to sue (rule #1 and/or rule #2).
Put more simply: blame dumb people and lawyers.
1 - 20 of 39 Posts
