Fixing X5 E70 tailgate brake lights

[mnh]

Has anyone else had the apparently common issue of the tailgate brake light seals failing? Mine had stopped working and on inspection were full of water. It also gives you a soaking every time you open the boot as the water drips out of the tailgate lock! I have bought the replacement self adhesive foam seals and have got as far as removing all the black silicon type gunk from the light fittings and the body work. I have cleaned up the light fittings and dried them out thoroughly. However, there is some corrosion evident on the metal connectors. It's not on the plug connections themselves but in one specific location on the metal 'board' between the plug connection and the bulb fitting. The bulb and socket is in perfect condition.

I gently brushed the corroded section and have managed to get one of the lights to flicker when I tested them but the other one is completely dead.

Any advice much appreciated. Would be nice to avoid having to get new ones at £120 each!

[mnh]

[mnh]

[SVTRick]

I had issues with my X5 rear lights which had water corrosion
I think mine was attributed to over generous use of the industrial power wash I have for truck cleaning.
Some careful cleaning of the light assembly tracks with some scotchbrite pad
And applying some solder to the contact areas did the trick
Silicon grease to the rubber seals and cable plug
Job sorted

[mnh]

[farbbm]

My X5 is currently with the dealer having this problem sorted. I've only had the car, bought second hand from them for 4 months and am arguning the cost of the repairs at the moment.

[mnh]

what are they charging if you don't mind me asking? I have just ordered replacement lights from BMW (no one else seems to be able to get hold of them) for £149 each side.....

we've had our Dec 2007 X5 since May 2008 and had very little go wrong with it so i'm not hugely annoyed by it but it is amazing that something as simple as a seal can fail on such a quality brand

[mnh]

this vid might be of interest to you in case the dealer tries to pull the wool over your eyes!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGZ3GxH0Fs0

[Technomad]

mnh said:

what are they charging if you don't mind me asking? I have just ordered replacement lights from BMW (no one else seems to be able to get hold of them) for £149 each side.....

we've had our Dec 2007 X5 since May 2008 and had very little go wrong with it so i'm not hugely annoyed by it but it is amazing that something as simple as a seal can fail on such a quality brand

It seems to be a feature of that era E70 - mine was also a Dec '07 and both rear lights filled up in 2011. My current LCI E70 so far has had no problems, however my 911 has just had exactly the same issue! Mine was sorted under warranty, but I remember the service manager at the dealer saying it was a £500 fix (parts + labour).

[farbbm]

Technomad said:

mnh said:

what are they charging if you don't mind me asking? I have just ordered replacement lights from BMW (no one else seems to be able to get hold of them) for £149 each side.....

we've had our Dec 2007 X5 since May 2008 and had very little go wrong with it so i'm not hugely annoyed by it but it is amazing that something as simple as a seal can fail on such a quality brand

It seems to be a feature of that era E70 - mine was also a Dec '07 and both rear lights filled up in 2011. My current LCI E70 so far has had no problems, however my 911 has just had exactly the same issue! Mine was sorted under warranty, but I remember the service manager at the dealer saying it was a £500 fix (parts + labour).

Argued with the dealer that as I've only had my car since September (bought from them as an AUC) shouldn't have this been picked up by the inspection as I've had the problem with the right rear fog light pretty much since I bought it. Foolishly i thought it was just a dodgey conncetion. In the end they picked up the tab for the parts and I paid for the labour. Probably about an hour's worth.

[Technomad]

farbbm said:

Argued with the dealer that as I've only had my car since September (bought from them as an AUC) shouldn't have this been picked up by the inspection as I've had the problem with the right rear fog light pretty much since I bought it. Foolishly i thought it was just a dodgey conncetion. In the end they picked up the tab for the parts and I paid for the labour. Probably about an hour's worth.

Seems a little odd - you're less than halfway through the AUC warranty (as was I) and surely the whole job should have been covered (as it was on mine)?

[thegreatdogwood]

Technomad said:

farbbm said:

Argued with the dealer that as I've only had my car since September (bought from them as an AUC) shouldn't have this been picked up by the inspection as I've had the problem with the right rear fog light pretty much since I bought it. Foolishly i thought it was just a dodgey conncetion. In the end they picked up the tab for the parts and I paid for the labour. Probably about an hour's worth.

Seems a little odd - you're less than halfway through the AUC warranty (as was I) and surely the whole job should have been covered (as it was on mine)?

I had the same issue and was under warranty

The small print has an express exclusion for the failure of seals and the garage refused to help. I called in BMW CS and eventually received a "goodwill" gesture of the parts but still had to cover the labour. Not impressed with BMW given they have redesigned the part, recognising the issue, yet fail to admit it is a manufacturing defect

[mat205125]

Hi all,

I've got exactly this problem on my 57 plate car which I've recently bought privately.

Both sides have some evidence of ingress, however one is worse than the other and looks like the bulb has gone. It was only upon inspecting the bulb that I noticed that it was fine, and that there was actually some very dim light being emitted from the lamp.

Is this an issue on the electronics in the lamp that can be rectified by drying and/or attention to the components, or is the unit dead and needing replacement?

If it needs swapping, what's the best place to source a unit for the best price? Is the dealer the only option, or are there other sources for OEM or good aftermarket units?