[Rewted]

My "exterior light malfunction" indicator came on twice this winter and diapered after I started the car a second time. This was when the weather was really cold and I attributed the error to strain on the battery.

Fast forward a month, weather is warmer and the warning indicator has now been on the last 3 days each and every time I start the car.

The odd thing is that I've done a walk around the car, checking each light, break light, adaptive lights, etc. None are burnt out. All lights are stock. I can only assume the warning is being tripped due to a loss in voltage?

I'm 4 hours from the dealer so I'd rather not make a trip right now.

1. Has anyone encountered this, or suggest something to look for?
2. Would the dashboard show which light was burntout if it were to actually fail?

[Rewted]

Nobody has experienced this?

[Jet335i]

happened to me for a couple of weeks but went away

[Tim2189]

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=229817

[Rewted]

Originally Posted by nyc328ci

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=229817

Yeah, but you had after market bulbs in at some point and also some work done.

I'll look into that BMW bulletin though.

[ctgazer]

im gonna guess it said one of the rear brake lights was the bulb in question...its a faulty bulb connector. most e92's ahve this issue. remove your tail-light and wiggle with the circuitry in the back. alternatively you can go to the dealer and have em swap it out for you

[Rewted]

Originally Posted by ctgazer

im gonna guess it said one of the rear brake lights was the bulb in question...its a faulty bulb connector. most e92's ahve this issue. remove your tail-light and wiggle with the circuitry in the back. alternatively you can go to the dealer and have em swap it out for you

Actually, it doesn't indicate any light specifically. The warning just comes on with no clear indication. All lights are functioning. I'll try re-seating the tail light connectors just in case something is loose.

[Rewted]

I spoke to my BMW service department. There is no service bulletin for lights on the E92.

[ctgazer]

hey tyrewt,

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...ar+brake+light
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...ar+brake+light
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...ar+brake+light
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...ar+brake+light

the list goes on...this was only off the first 2 or 3 pages of searching...its definately a housing issue. bring this in for your SA

[Rewted]

Originally Posted by ctgazer

hey tyrewt,

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...ar+brake+light
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...ar+brake+light
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...ar+brake+light
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...ar+brake+light

the list goes on...this was only off the first 2 or 3 pages of searching...its definately a housing issue. bring this in for your SA

Yeah, but you're missing one key point! Those searches are for a rear break light. The on-board computer isn't stating which light is actually have issues. Nor can I see any failures physically.

So why do you think it's a rear light?

[ctgazer]

sorry. i presumed as most light issues are with the rear lights considering these cars are still fairly new ~3 years. im guessing you dont have idrive. maybe you should take the car in and have them diagnose these errors as they are probably stored on your key.

[scottp999]

Well , mine has had the warning light on for over 6 months. Looking at the lights from the exterior it does not look like there is a manfunctioing light.

If you place something on the brake pedal and take the covers off to expose the housing in the trunk you can see the two bulbs on each side of the car.

I was then able to see that one the rear bulbs was out on the passengers side (the one that is the more inner one).

Now I just need to figure out how you get the bulb out, replace it and avoid a trip to the dealer that is 1 hour each way, and maybe a couple hours of wait time depending on how busy they are.

Thanks everyone for the tips!

Edit, actually in the housing there are 4 bulbs. 3 are of the same type (Toshiba 12 volt 16w clear in color) and the other is the larger turn signal bulb (Philips, Made in France). Looking at the housing straight on as it sits in the car, the bulb I had out is the one in the upper left, which is the one furthest toward the inner of the car when looking from behind the car.

Edit#2 The replacement bulb from Sylvania is Sylvania Long Life 921. I went ahead and replaced all three of the clear bulbs on that side (they were about 3.50 for a 2 pack), started the car, warning light is now out. To think I dealt with that warning light at startup and shutdown for 6 months +, and almost took a day off to get it to a service center with a good rep.

[David 12]

scott - were the bulbs easy to get to and replace?

Thanks

[scottp999]

Originally Posted by David 12

scott - were the bulbs easy to get to and replace?

Thanks

There are covers over the light assemblys inside the trunk, you pull those off as step one to expose the wire harness that connects to the light and the nuts that hold the light housing and assembly in.

Disconnect the wiring harness, by pushing in on one side and pulling it out. There are 3 nuts inside the trunk that hold in the whole rear light housing and assembly in place. I used a 5/16 wrenck (I'm sure metric would have been better) to loosen the nuts and then they spun off by hand. Once you have the 3 nuts off you just pull the whole light section out from the outside of the car. Then you can take it to an easier place to work with.

The light assembly can be detached and pulled out of the light housing by a small plastic clip that holds it in (easy to see once you have it out). Once the light assembly is out, you will be holding it (black plastic piece with the turn signal light and 3 clear lights) and can pull straight out on each of the lights to get them out (no twisting involved). If they are wedged in there good, there are small metal tabs that hold them into place. You can pull back on one with a finger and the other with a small flathead screwdriver and then the light will slide right out. You literallly just push the new one in. Then you reverse the whole process to put it back together.

Difficulty is low and might take you a half an hour being careful the first time.

There are a couple of pictures that show the area in this DIY, although it is not for replacing the bulbs: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4660

[Universal_Magnetic]

same thing happened to me today too...light came on then went away...and then again later on. thought it was my aftermarket angel eyes but they are functioning perfectly (GP 8500K) guess i will drop by the dealership tomorrow since its only 5min away

[DRC328i]

Originally Posted by scottp999

There are covers over the light assemblys inside the trunk, you pull those off as step one to expose the wire harness that connects to the light and the nuts that hold the light housing and assembly in.

Disconnect the wiring harness, by pushing in on one side and pulling it out. There are 3 nuts inside the trunk that hold in the whole rear light housing and assembly in place. I used a 5/16 wrenck (I'm sure metric would have been better) to loosen the nuts and then they spun off by hand. Once you have the 3 nuts off you just pull the whole light section out from the outside of the car. Then you can take it to an easier place to work with.

The light assembly can be detached and pulled out of the light housing by a small plastic clip that holds it in (easy to see once you have it out). Once the light assembly is out, you will be holding it (black plastic piece with the turn signal light and 3 clear lights) and can pull straight out on each of the lights to get them out (no twisting involved). If they are wedged in there good, there are small metal tabs that hold them into place. You can pull back on one with a finger and the other with a small flathead screwdriver and then the light will slide right out. You literallly just push the new one in. Then you reverse the whole process to put it back together.

Difficulty is low and might take you a half an hour being careful the first time.

There are a couple of pictures that show the area in this DIY, although it is not for replacing the bulbs: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4660

I took my 2008 328i coupe to the dealer complaining I've changed bulbs twice, they said there is a service Bulletin for my model, tail lights only. They ran a diagnostic, left passenger side they replaced bulbs with long life, the driver's side they replaced the bulb housing and bulbs with long life. Problem gone.

As to removing the housing, on the E92 coupe, pull off the trunk trim to expose the light housing back. Dead center there is a 1" wide plastic tab, push up slightly and the whole black housing holding the bulbs comes out, no need to unscrew anything.

[scottp999]

Originally Posted by DRC328i

As to removing the housing, on the E92 coupe, pull off the trunk trim to expose the light housing back. Dead center there is a 1" wide plastic tab, push up slightly and the whole black housing holding the bulbs comes out, no need to unscrew anything.

Thanks for adding the pictures. Yes, you are right, you can just pop the housing out. My garage is very tight, so I decided to take the entire light housing out and move everything to inside my house to work on it. Either way, it's an easy fix.

[1N54E92]

I had it happen to me .The warning lights came on and the dealer looked at it but couldn't find any bulbs out. They tested the resistance of the bulbs in question and noted the bulb had high resistance. The warning light went out for few months then came back. Initially I couldn't see any bulbs being out. Few days later , my buddy following my car tells me the right outer brake bulb is out. I take it to the dealership, bulb is replaced and they replaced the left side as well.

[zoiesthebest]

happened to me....then a day later my car would not start..had nothing to do with the battery either...now my car is at the dealership.....

[scottp999]

Bump for recent discussion.

[335ifanatic]

I got this warning today, kind of shocked the bulb(s) would go out so quickly because my car is only a couple months old. I guess I have to take it into the dealer next week.

[335ifanatic]

Just a small update; I started my car up yesterday morning and the warning was still there. I drove around for about 10 mins, hit a few bumps in the road and the warning went away. The warning light has not come back on since.