Brake Light Issue

ICE99M3 · Tue, Feb-26-2008, 12:04:51 PM

Well I found out yesterday that my 3rd brake light is out or not working. I dont know how long this has been the case since I figured it would throw a "Brake Light Failure" on the obc. I have the high rise spoiler. Anyway I have a couple questions:

Do the LED units eventually go out? If so would it normally throw a BLC code?

Also where does the wiring come down into the truck lid? I guess ill have to check that out also.

Any other ideas?

iNcUbUs_21 · Tue, Feb-26-2008, 02:15:56 PM

3rd brakelight as in the LED strip on the spoiler? Is the whole strip out or just individual LEDs?

ICE99M3 · Tue, Feb-26-2008, 02:50:54 PM

yea the LED strip on the spoiler (3rd brakelight)... The WHOLE strip is out, I wouldnt be as concerned with the problem if some of them lit up.

fiveightandten · Tue, Feb-26-2008, 03:30:25 PM

I don't believe they're LED's, unless the high rise spoiler is different from the normal stock one. I have the normal stock spoiler on my car and it has bulbs. I had about half of them out and I replaced them this past summer.

I'll see if I can dig up the bulb type. I can't say whether or not it would throw an OBC code if they all went out. If I had to guess, i'd say no.

EDIT:
The bulb type is 2723, I believe Sylvania is the only company that makes them. I picked mine up at Pep boys. Word to the wise; it will seem like you have no way of opening up the light bar to replace the bulbs. The screws to open it up are under the little plastic circles. Snap them out of the way with a pair of plyers or something, and you'll see the screws under there. I believe there were 3, but don't quote me on that. Again, there are screws under there that aren't exposed, and you have to physically break the plastic that covers them in order to remove them. From there it's pretty straight forward.

-Nick

ICE99M3 · Tue, Feb-26-2008, 04:31:46 PM

I did not realize that they were bulbs

If they are individual bulbs I would tend to believe that they did not all burn out at once....

iNcUbUs_21 · Tue, Feb-26-2008, 05:55:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ICE99M3

I did not realize that they were bulbs

If they are individual bulbs I would tend to believe that they did not all burn out at once....

+1 check the connections/wiring

I thought they were LEDs too. I guess we can't expect that from our ancient rust boxes.

puopolvj · Tue, Feb-26-2008, 07:42:26 PM

They are just little bulbs you can get anywhere. I had the same issue and thought the worst. Turns out all bulbs were dead. Its crazy simple to check.

Edgy · Mon, Jul-23-2012, 02:20:06 AM

Hey all, waking this up since my spoiler lights are all out. Also seems strange to me that all would go.

Any suggestions, beyond what's already here? I've been having problems with the circuit switch, it was loose and all my brake lights were out. Now I've got the main ones back, but no spoiler light. Spoiler is only 1.5 years old, had it put on March 2010.

Don't know how long, but I know end of April it must have worked, otherwise I would have failed the state safety inspection.

Edgy · Sat, Apr-20-2013, 08:44:27 PM

Worked for a awhile, then problem came back. Turned out the connection was loose. Wrote it up for the general public:

http://chrisparente.com/2013/04/20/q...r-brake-light/

Tue, Feb-26-2008, 12:04:51 PM	#1
ICE99M3 Wheelman Join Date: Nov 2004 Age: 27 Posts: 3,077 Reputation: 0 Location: Dayton, OH	Brake Light Issue Well I found out yesterday that my 3rd brake light is out or not working. I dont know how long this has been the case since I figured it would throw a "Brake Light Failure" on the obc. I have the high rise spoiler. Anyway I have a couple questions: Do the LED units eventually go out? If so would it normally throw a BLC code? Also where does the wiring come down into the truck lid? I guess ill have to check that out also. Any other ideas? __________________ Jamie 1999 Titanium M3

Tue, Feb-26-2008, 02:15:56 PM	#2
iNcUbUs_21 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 2,509 Reputation: 0 Location: Northern VA	3rd brakelight as in the LED strip on the spoiler? Is the whole strip out or just individual LEDs? __________________ Wes '98 Arctic Silver coupe --- The LTW Club

Tue, Feb-26-2008, 02:50:54 PM	#3
ICE99M3 Wheelman Join Date: Nov 2004 Age: 27 Posts: 3,077 Reputation: 0 Location: Dayton, OH	yea the LED strip on the spoiler (3rd brakelight)... The WHOLE strip is out, I wouldnt be as concerned with the problem if some of them lit up. __________________ Jamie 1999 Titanium M3

Tue, Feb-26-2008, 03:30:25 PM	#4
fiveightandten He'll save children, but not the British children... Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 7,694 In the garage: '03 BMW 330CI '02 SUBARU WRX '98 BMW M3 Reputation: 0 Location: Connecticut	I don't believe they're LED's, unless the high rise spoiler is different from the normal stock one. I have the normal stock spoiler on my car and it has bulbs. I had about half of them out and I replaced them this past summer. I'll see if I can dig up the bulb type. I can't say whether or not it would throw an OBC code if they all went out. If I had to guess, i'd say no. EDIT: The bulb type is 2723, I believe Sylvania is the only company that makes them. I picked mine up at Pep boys. Word to the wise; it will seem like you have no way of opening up the light bar to replace the bulbs. The screws to open it up are under the little plastic circles. Snap them out of the way with a pair of plyers or something, and you'll see the screws under there. I believe there were 3, but don't quote me on that. Again, there are screws under there that aren't exposed, and you have to physically break the plastic that covers them in order to remove them. From there it's pretty straight forward. -Nick __________________ -Nick Last edited by fiveightandten; Tue, Feb-26-2008 at 03:43:45 PM.

Tue, Feb-26-2008, 04:31:46 PM	#5
ICE99M3 Wheelman Join Date: Nov 2004 Age: 27 Posts: 3,077 Reputation: 0 Location: Dayton, OH	I did not realize that they were bulbs If they are individual bulbs I would tend to believe that they did not all burn out at once.... __________________ Jamie 1999 Titanium M3

Tue, Feb-26-2008, 07:42:26 PM	#7
puopolvj Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Age: 13 Posts: 599 Reputation: 0 Location: Baltimore City	They are just little bulbs you can get anywhere. I had the same issue and thought the worst. Turns out all bulbs were dead. Its crazy simple to check. __________________ 2000 528it/5/M ed.

Mon, Jul-23-2012, 02:20:06 AM	#8
Edgy Constantly Learning M3 and M5 Owner Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 2,676 Reputation: 0 Location: Northern Virginia	Re: Brake Light Issue Hey all, waking this up since my spoiler lights are all out. Also seems strange to me that all would go. Any suggestions, beyond what's already here? I've been having problems with the circuit switch, it was loose and all my brake lights were out. Now I've got the main ones back, but no spoiler light. Spoiler is only 1.5 years old, had it put on March 2010. Don't know how long, but I know end of April it must have worked, otherwise I would have failed the state safety inspection. __________________ I LIKE OLDER BMWS, PLEASE HELP ME: Fern Green 99 M3, Conforti Shark Software, Conforti CAI, Dinan Exhaust. Stamped LTWs, OE Hellas, ///M Pedal Kit, OEM Keyless/Alarm, Blacked Out Grill, Clear Corners, OE Spoiler, BSW midrange replacement, G2'd Calipers, Eclipse One-Touch Roof Close switch, CD43 head unit swap. MRegistry listing here Le Mans 2002 M5, Black/Titanium, Rogue SSK, Dinan exhaust, PSS9 coilovers, a few other nice items. MRegistry listing here

Sat, Apr-20-2013, 08:44:27 PM	#9
Edgy Constantly Learning M3 and M5 Owner Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 2,676 Reputation: 0 Location: Northern Virginia	Re: Brake Light Issue Worked for a awhile, then problem came back. Turned out the connection was loose. Wrote it up for the general public: http://chrisparente.com/2013/04/20/q...r-brake-light/ __________________ I LIKE OLDER BMWS, PLEASE HELP ME: Fern Green 99 M3, Conforti Shark Software, Conforti CAI, Dinan Exhaust. Stamped LTWs, OE Hellas, ///M Pedal Kit, OEM Keyless/Alarm, Blacked Out Grill, Clear Corners, OE Spoiler, BSW midrange replacement, G2'd Calipers, Eclipse One-Touch Roof Close switch, CD43 head unit swap. MRegistry listing here Le Mans 2002 M5, Black/Titanium, Rogue SSK, Dinan exhaust, PSS9 coilovers, a few other nice items. MRegistry listing here

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