[E92Vancouver]

I kept getting this indicator light that one of my exterior lights was burned out, but all lights were working. The indicator light would come on intermittently, but all exterior lights were working.

I took the car into the dealer and they hooked it up to the computer. 4 light bulbs were indentified as being burned out, though they all worked. One was black and looked like it was about to burn out though. The computer sends a control voltage through all light bulbs. If the voltage does not return, it signals that a light is burned out. In my case, the resistance of the bulbs were too high tripping the light.

Anyway, after replacing the bulbs, the problem was solved.

Anyone else have this problem?

[TiAg335i]

I have the same exact problem. I get the little warning light even though all lights appear to be working. Its soo ridiculous how sensitive the computer is.

I got this light once, went to dealer, got it fixed (apparently it was the "brake force LED" light).

I now have it a second time. All the lights appear to be working, and I decided to just leave it alone for now. I've had the light since April...

I bought some ridiculously expensive tailight bulbs from BMW service, ($20 for two)...I tried to change them in what I thought was the effected area but the light is of course still there.

[E92Vancouver]

Originally Posted by TiAg335i

I have the same exact problem. I get the little warning light even though all lights appear to be working. Its soo ridiculous how sensitive the computer is.

I got this light once, went to dealer, got it fixed (apparently it was the "brake force LED" light).

I now have it a second time. All the lights appear to be working, and I decided to just leave it alone for now. I've had the light since April...

I bought some ridiculously expensive tailight bulbs from BMW service, ($20 for two)...I tried to change them in what I thought was the effected area but the light is of course still there.

A BMW Tech named Kellie on another forum had this to say:

There is actually a service bulletin addressing the symptoms you're describing. The problem is caused by a faulty brake force display bulb. When you apply the brakes hard, the brake light bulb illuminates brighter than if you were to gently apply them. The following info is straight from the bulletin:


Quote:
Perform the following steps to check the CC ID number:

Switch on ignition (KL-R or KL-15)

Toggle rotary switch on direction indicator switch to bring up "Check Control"

Briefly press the on-board computer button

Select the Check-Control message required with the rocker switch

Press the on-board computer button for longer than 2 seconds

The following message will appear in the bottom line of the LCD display for approx. 2 seconds:"CC-ID xxx"

The CC numbers for a faulty BFD bulb are 372 (Left) and 373 (Right).

[quagmire]

A little off topic, but BMW has cheapened out and it is now a light that simply tells you that a bulb is burned out instead of telling us which light is burned out( if the left headlight was out, the car would come up on the LCD with the light symbol on the front left side saying a light was out) in the previous generation 3 series?

[John 070]

I had that icon turn on too on my dash a few months ago, and all lights seem to be ok on the vehicle.

[j|rz44]

This happened to me aswell...
All light seem to be working well.
So now what?

[E92Vancouver]

Originally Posted by jmramos44

This happened to me aswell...
All light seem to be working well.
So now what?

It is usually the brake force lights that you can not test. The dealership can see if the lights are defective on the computer.

[E92Vancouver]

Originally Posted by quagmire

A little off topic, but BMW has cheapened out and it is now a light that simply tells you that a bulb is burned out instead of telling us which light is burned out( if the left headlight was out, the car would come up on the LCD with the light symbol on the front left side saying a light was out) in the previous generation 3 series?

They have actually made the display more complicated. The rear of the car has at least 10 bulbs (i.e. reverse, turn signal, LED, brake force, night lighting, etc.). The new display will actually tell you which specific bulb is faulty, albeit you have to know what the codes mean.

[OrangeCounty949]

About a couple weeks ago I got the "left brake lamp malfunction" warning on my iDrive. I brought the car in, and when I picked it up I turned it on and warnings came on for both the left and the right brake lamps. After that was supposedly fixed, I got another "right brake lamp malfunction" warning the next day. I brought it back in for a 3rd time and about a week later (a couple days ago) the warning came on again. I have now brought my car in 4 times for this. My car is supposed to be ready today, so we will see how it goes, but I have a feeling I will be bringing it back again. This is what they have done so far.

1st attempt - clean sensors
2nd attempt - replace both lights
3rd attempt - upgrade iDrive
4th attempt - replace right light

[STE92VE]

Originally Posted by OrangeCounty949

About a couple weeks ago I got the "left brake lamp malfunction" warning on my iDrive. I brought the car in, and when I picked it up I turned it on and warnings came on for both the left and the right brake lamps. After that was supposedly fixed, I got another "right brake lamp malfunction" warning the next day. I brought it back in for a 3rd time and about a week later (a couple days ago) the warning came on again. I have now brought my car in 4 times for this. My car is supposed to be ready today, so we will see how it goes, but I have a feeling I will be bringing it back again. This is what they have done so far.

1st attempt - clean sensors
2nd attempt - replace both lights
3rd attempt - upgrade iDrive
4th attempt - replace right light

You made the same post in 6 different threads today. Didn't you know that they are cheaper by the dozen?

[OrangeCounty949]

Originally Posted by STE92VE

You made the same post in 6 different threads today. Didn't you know that they are cheaper by the dozen?

I will get right on that.

[E92Vancouver]

Originally Posted by OrangeCounty949

About a couple weeks ago I got the "left brake lamp malfunction" warning on my iDrive. I brought the car in, and when I picked it up I turned it on and warnings came on for both the left and the right brake lamps. After that was supposedly fixed, I got another "right brake lamp malfunction" warning the next day. I brought it back in for a 3rd time and about a week later (a couple days ago) the warning came on again. I have now brought my car in 4 times for this. My car is supposed to be ready today, so we will see how it goes, but I have a feeling I will be bringing it back again. This is what they have done so far.

1st attempt - clean sensors
2nd attempt - replace both lights
3rd attempt - upgrade iDrive
4th attempt - replace right light

Did they change the brake force lights? These bulbs are usually the problem.

[OrangeCounty949]

Originally Posted by E92Vancouver

Did they change the brake force lights? These bulbs are usually the problem.

When they explained it to me after that 2nd attempt it sounded like what they were saying was that basically all of the bulbs plug into one bigger unit on each side and they replaced the whole thing on both sides. Would that include the force lights? Maybe I misunderstood what they were telling me? I don't know much about this stuff. I can pump my own gas and that's pretty much the extent of my knowledge.

It's weird because sometimes the warning will go off and the lights are all working, and sometimes it will go off and a light is actually out. That's why they thought it was a sensor problem the first time, but after the 2nd time they really have no idea. All they did this time was replace the light again. It didn't work last time, so I doubt it will work this time. The problems seem to happen either when I first turn the car on, or when I apply more pressure to the brakes.

All of this started as soon as I hit 8000 miles. I don't know if that has any significance or not, but I am now at 8144 miles and it has happened 4 times.

[rivma13]

FYI, I had this same issue on my 07 335 , code 136, it is referring to the rear brake lights...All you have to do is take the whole board that has all the sockets and re-sit the bulbs...that's it, it cleared the code! Stealership wanted $139 just to inspect my car!!!

[STE92VE]

Wow, almost 5 years since this thread and glad it's still going since I've had a lamp out warning and nothing seems to be out. Will try to re-seat the bulbs.

[MDesmond]

Originally Posted by martinriveran

FYI, I had this same issue on my 07 335 , code 136, it is referring to the rear brake lights...All you have to do is take the whole board that has all the sockets and re-sit the bulbs...that's it, it cleared the code! Stealership wanted $139 just to inspect my car!!!

On my 2009, it say CC-136 ... so what board do I take out?

[bimmerdavid]

Originally Posted by MDesmond

On my 2009, it say CC-136 ... so what board do I take out?

Open the access panel and you will have a white/off-white piece that comes out of the assembly that holds the bulbs. You can reseat those and test again. In my case, the bulbs weren't burnt out but were close so I replaced them all in the housing and it went back to normal.

[thyshallsmite]

i just replaced the whole module, was only like 20bucks and even came with bulbs my rear was doing it even after replacing blubs, soo yeah just said F it and replaced the whole thing ><

[ccraig13]

I get these every so often and they usually go away after a minute. My SA told me it's common for the filament on these bulbs to overheat and temporarily separate and reattach (something like that). I have had actually bulb failures and simply bought new ones at the store for a few bucks

[TMFNYC]

Originally Posted by thyshallsmite

i just replaced the whole module, was only like 20bucks and even came with bulbs my rear was doing it even after replacing blubs, soo yeah just said F it and replaced the whole thing ><

thyshallsmite,

I see you're in Houston. May I ask where you purchased the whole module? I have a 2010 328i that is giving me bulb warnings.

Thanks

[nydog]

I'm getting the same warning. It was intermittent initially, but now it's on all the time.

I'm glad I found this thread. Thanks people

[maxxxboost]

I had someone code it out.

I'll find out eventually if my rear lights burn out. lol.