Bulb error light, can't find the bulb ! - BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum

marklemac · 03-13-2013, 11:51 AM

Afternoon

Just had this warning come on the dash...

I have checked my side light rings/xenons, indicators, rear lights, brakes, fog, reversing and all interior lights and they are all working.

I'm a bit stumped as to what bulb it's telling me I have a problem with ?

Car is 2009 335d coupe....

answers on a postcard....

nicktyler · 03-13-2013, 12:27 PM

There are 2 bulbs for the rear brakes. 1 comes on during normal braking and then another one comes on and flashed during extreme braking and with the ABS. It is probably one of these that has gone which is why they all look to be working.

I ahd the exact same thing happen. pull the rear bulb clusters into the boot and you should be able to see the bulb that is blown. it will be plain broken or look grey and 'smoked'

mistryn · 03-13-2013, 01:39 PM

Ive had this in the past, double checked all bulbs and were fine. cleared the code with obd cable and hasnt come back

I have read it can sometimes be caused by a failing bulb

marklemac · 03-13-2013, 02:13 PM

Thanks Nick, I'll whip those out tomorrow and have a gander at them

a11y · 03-13-2013, 02:29 PM

I've got the bulb out warning light today and it's the first time I've not immediately been able to trace it. Corresponding message that appears on bottom of idrive screen states about failure of 2-stage braking light so I guess it could be one of those that's gone.

Drrncour · 03-13-2013, 03:32 PM

Plus 1 on the second braking bulb, happened to me

simonsingh · 03-14-2013, 03:20 PM

I've had my outer brake lights go out all the time on me until I switched to LED. Apparently it's a very common issue, and there's a recall to replace the bulb holder.

HINT - If you hold in the BC button whilst on the bulb out symbol, then you'll have a CCID pop up, which is unique to the bulb

acerboo · 03-14-2013, 04:01 PM

on the earlier cars there was a slight problem with corrosion on the brake light bulbs they still worked but there was a slight resistance which made the failure light come on

marklemac · 03-18-2013, 08:36 AM

Well I finally got a chance to do the "BC button" thing whilst I was out driving and it brought up the CCID code which I couldn't write down as I was driving, so I thought ok, I'll do that again later.

Since then I haven't had the error on the dash and the Check Control says everything is now fine.

strange..

bigandy · 03-20-2013, 03:51 PM

I had this on my car - turned out one of the bulbs was the wrong spec so although everything worked, the resistance was wrong and flagged up a fault.

1stbmwE92 · 03-21-2013, 04:55 PM

had some bulb warning lights come on, took to local BMW dealer plugged the key in and every light on the car had a failure/error code! apparently the main lighting circuit has a fault and new part is coming from Germany tommorow £500 + Labour. lucky I'm not footing the bill! any1 had any problems with this?

richk84 · 03-22-2013, 11:29 AM

did you check the light warning codes?? My friend had errors for all the lights on his right hand side, also his indicators flashed very rapidly!! BMW said they needed to replace the light control module which is under the passenger side of the dash. All the lights work though, just indicate really fast!

1stbmwE92 · 03-22-2013, 04:09 PM

Yep that is exactly what has happened, so BMW have had the car today to fit the new module, lucky I'm not footing the bill!

PhasedNeutron · 03-28-2013, 05:35 AM

I have a similar bulb out warning every so often saying left brake light is out, but it still works! Most likely its just on its way out or giving the wrong resistance and so throwing a fault warning. Tech can be annoying sometimes I guess.

03-13-2013, 11:51 AM	#1
marklemac New Member Drives: 335d Coupe Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Southampton Posts: 21 iTrader: (0)	Bulb error light, can't find the bulb ! Afternoon Just had this warning come on the dash... I have checked my side light rings/xenons, indicators, rear lights, brakes, fog, reversing and all interior lights and they are all working. I'm a bit stumped as to what bulb it's telling me I have a problem with ? Car is 2009 335d coupe.... answers on a postcard....
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03-13-2013, 02:29 PM	#5
a11y Private First Class Drives: E90 330i M Sport Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Central Scotland Posts: 177 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2007 E90 330i M Sport [0.00] 2004 VW T5 Campervan [0.00]	I've got the bulb out warning light today and it's the first time I've not immediately been able to trace it. Corresponding message that appears on bottom of idrive screen states about failure of 2-stage braking light so I guess it could be one of those that's gone. __________________ BMW e90 330i M Sport

03-18-2013, 08:36 AM	#9
marklemac New Member Drives: 335d Coupe Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Southampton Posts: 21 iTrader: (0)	Well I finally got a chance to do the "BC button" thing whilst I was out driving and it brought up the CCID code which I couldn't write down as I was driving, so I thought ok, I'll do that again later. Since then I haven't had the error on the dash and the Check Control says everything is now fine. strange.. Last edited by marklemac; 03-20-2013 at 03:53 PM.

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03-13-2013, 12:27 PM	#2
nicktyler Captain Drives: 335i Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Essex Posts: 814 iTrader: (2) Garage List 2007 BMW E92 335i [0.00]	There are 2 bulbs for the rear brakes. 1 comes on during normal braking and then another one comes on and flashed during extreme braking and with the ABS. It is probably one of these that has gone which is why they all look to be working. I ahd the exact same thing happen. pull the rear bulb clusters into the boot and you should be able to see the bulb that is blown. it will be plain broken or look grey and 'smoked'

03-13-2013, 01:39 PM	#3
mistryn Lieutenant Colonel Drives: BMW 335D Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Mids Posts: 1,610 iTrader: (7)	Ive had this in the past, double checked all bulbs and were fine. cleared the code with obd cable and hasnt come back I have read it can sometimes be caused by a failing bulb

03-13-2013, 02:13 PM	#4
marklemac New Member Drives: 335d Coupe Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Southampton Posts: 21 iTrader: (0)	Thanks Nick, I'll whip those out tomorrow and have a gander at them

03-13-2013, 03:32 PM	#6
Drrncour Private First Class Drives: E92 M Sport Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Surrey, England Posts: 179 iTrader: (0)	Plus 1 on the second braking bulb, happened to me

03-14-2013, 03:20 PM	#7
simonsingh Private Drives: 325i e92, 2xe36 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Birmingham, UK Posts: 80 iTrader: (0)	I've had my outer brake lights go out all the time on me until I switched to LED. Apparently it's a very common issue, and there's a recall to replace the bulb holder. HINT - If you hold in the BC button whilst on the bulb out symbol, then you'll have a CCID pop up, which is unique to the bulb

03-14-2013, 04:01 PM	#8
acerboo Colonel Drives: e92 335d lci Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: kent Posts: 2,950 iTrader: (0)	on the earlier cars there was a slight problem with corrosion on the brake light bulbs they still worked but there was a slight resistance which made the failure light come on

03-20-2013, 03:51 PM	#10
bigandy New Member Drives: 2006 e92 335i Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Warwickshire Posts: 27 iTrader: (0)	I had this on my car - turned out one of the bulbs was the wrong spec so although everything worked, the resistance was wrong and flagged up a fault.

03-21-2013, 04:55 PM	#11
1stbmwE92 DK Drives: E92 Coupe Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: UK Posts: 81 iTrader: (0)	had some bulb warning lights come on, took to local BMW dealer plugged the key in and every light on the car had a failure/error code! apparently the main lighting circuit has a fault and new part is coming from Germany tommorow £500 + Labour. lucky I'm not footing the bill! any1 had any problems with this?

03-22-2013, 11:29 AM	#12
richk84 Private Drives: e92 320d Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: All over Posts: 85 iTrader: (0)	did you check the light warning codes?? My friend had errors for all the lights on his right hand side, also his indicators flashed very rapidly!! BMW said they needed to replace the light control module which is under the passenger side of the dash. All the lights work though, just indicate really fast!

03-22-2013, 04:09 PM	#13
1stbmwE92 DK Drives: E92 Coupe Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: UK Posts: 81 iTrader: (0)	Yep that is exactly what has happened, so BMW have had the car today to fit the new module, lucky I'm not footing the bill!

03-28-2013, 05:35 AM	#14
PhasedNeutron Cyberdyne Systems Drives: E92 M340d Highline Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Midlands Posts: 60 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2009 BMW 340d [4.50]	I have a similar bulb out warning every so often saying left brake light is out, but it still works! Most likely its just on its way out or giving the wrong resistance and so throwing a fault warning. Tech can be annoying sometimes I guess.