E92 Blown bulb light

Cookie_Monster

Need a little help, the warning light on the dash for a blown bulb has been coming on intermittently for the last couple of weeks.
08 E92 320i

The last few days its pretty much stayed on. Now I've check and checked every bulb and all are working from what I can see.
It driving me mad.

The only thing I think it may be is that a bulb went months ago and I replaced it with a standard Halfords bulb (rear running light)
Could it just be the crappy Halfrods bulb providing bad current feedback into the system or something?

Any ideas before a no doubt expensive trip to BMW to track it down cos I can't find it...

DublinDilbert

Have you checked the check control code on the dash to see which bulb it thinks it is??

Could well be something like a number plate bulb.

Seth Brundle

Do as DublinDilbert says but if all bulbs are working fine, then I'd look at replacing the Halfords one. BMWs often measure the resistance along the line and some cheaper bulbs lead the system to think that a bulb has blown.

Cookie_Monster

DublinDilbert wrote: »

Have you checked the check control code on the dash to see which bulb it thinks it is??

No, how do it do that, will it just be in the menus accessed from the indicator stalk when the fault light shows.
The manual is not exactly helpful in these matters

ants09

had the same problem as you had, was driving me nuts untill found out it was a wiring problem, turn on all your lights prefable at night and check all lights especially the brightness of them if one is dull thats your problem.

langdang

ants09 wrote: »

had the same problem as you had, was driving me nuts untill found out it was a wiring problem, turn on all your lights prefable at night and check all lights especially the brightness of them if one is dull thats your problem.

Earth fault, or dodgy bulb?

Nonoperational

I wouldn't think Halfords ones would be any less quality than the ones from any motor factors.

Similar thing happened to me on my golf, it said front left parking light defective. It wasn't, it was working fine but when I changed it the warning went away. I presumed the bulb was on the way out and the resistance had dropped enough to trigger the warning.

Try find out which bulb is giving the message and change it.

El Guapo!

I've seen this loads of times with BMW's, especially with newer models.
The problem is usually in the rear and its usually one of the following:

All the bulbs seem to be working but have a good look, there may be one bulb that is slightly "blackened" and on its way out. The miniscule difference in voltage sent back will cause a fault with the bulb to register.

OR

You replaced the bulb with the wrong type. Usually the bulb will look exactly the same but the Wattage will be slightly different and even though the bulb will appear to be working 100%, it will still register a fault. Have a look at the panel in the rear lamps (the panel that the bulbs go into) the correct wattage will be stamped beside where each bulb goes. Check that each bulb matches the wattage exactly.

Cookie_Monster

thanks all, found out it was 136, left brake light

there's two bulbs so didn't notice it last time I checked.

bulb replaced, job done

robbie99

I've just had the same problem myself and couldn't for the life of me figure out what was causing the blown bulb warning to come on, until I came across this thread. 08 E92 320d. Like with cookie monster, it was the brake light but on the driver's side. One of the two bulbs had popped out slightly and needed to be pushed back in. Happy days!