E38 Check Brake Lights error on dash

[Alistair H.]

Except it isnt that easy. As ALL the lights work as normal.
It is a little odd as I normally only ever get this error once you have pressed the brake pedal, but this time it happens as soon as you turn the ignition on. I even changed both bulbs...but no change. I know that the car senses a broken light circuit for these errors, but it cant be as the brake lights work fine...

Does anyone have any clue?

[Allanv]

Common fault on E46 models I know yours is a E38.

Check the connection on the cluster if the earth looks burnt you will need to cut the earth and move it, on the E46 cluster there is spare earth spade to connect to. I had the do the same on my E46 so hopefully it will help you to narrow down the problem.

[MarkwG]

Also, with e36's it tends to be the pedal switch, might be worth looking there?

[528Sport]

you changed both bulbs... Does the E38 not have a light in the back window?

[BliarOut]

I had to change ALL the stop light bulbs in my E39 when one blew. I'm not sure how the circuit senses the failure, but it seems likely there's a comparator in there somewhere and the resistances didn't match.

[Alistair H.]

528Sport said:

you changed both bulbs... Does the E38 not have a light in the back window?

Yes, i admit to having a blonde moment.... high level bulb had gone. Sometimes you mis the obvious. I was dicking around disconnecting the towbar electrics and having lots of theories...

hey ho...all good now. Thanks for all the help chaps.

[liquidken]

They do it of their own volition, sometimes.

Once thing to look for is water ingress. The earlier rear clusters were pretty poor at repelling water. Once a bit of moisture builds up - 'bong'.

[528Sport]

Alistair H. said:

528Sport said:

you changed both bulbs... Does the E38 not have a light in the back window?

Yes, i admit to having a blonde moment.... high level bulb had gone. Sometimes you mis the obvious. I was dicking around disconnecting the towbar electrics and having lots of theories...

hey ho...all good now. Thanks for all the help chaps.

I had one of those blonde moments with the E39. After much swearing and shouting I then discovered the 3rd light had gone. I didnt want to admint a blonde moment until you did