Tail light issues on an E90

Kintarō Hattori

So for some time the dash on my missus E90 has been flashing that something is up with the lights. When it first appeared I went around checking out each and every exterior and interior light and couldn't see any that weren't coming on. Fast forward to last week and she failed the NCT as the rear lighting isn't symmetrical... some aren't coming on on the left and others on the right.

I'm not sure if it's just a case of bulbs or if it could be a connection issue. Would you just drop it into a regular mechanic and let them fix the issue or drop it into our regular mechanic (who's well off the beaten track from where we live) as he's a BMW specialist and just in case it's something more than bulbs and he has to go digging.

colm_mcm

Are these LED rear lights?

Kintarō Hattori

colm_mcm wrote: »

Are these LED rear lights?

Afraid not Colm, just normal bulbs.

colm_mcm

So, is there 2 tail light bulbs on either side?

Oral Surgeon

Is it the lci with a combo of regular bulbs but led rear indicators??
What year is it??

MetzgerMeister

On my E92 335 I was getting rear light warnings on the dash too. I just replaced all the bulbs and it never came back again.

Kintarō Hattori

Thanks chaps for the replies, it's a 2005 320i with a rear like the above.

I know the logical thing is just to replace the bulbs but as it's the partners car I don't have time to sort it myself and she's going to have to resolve the issue. I told her when the warning first came on the dash to drop it into the mechanic but do you think she's done that!

I just found it odd that it's not lighting up in two different segments on two different sides so it has me wondering if it's just by chance that bulbs have blown at the same time or if it's likely to be electrical gremlins which I'm really hoping its not.

colm_mcm

Start with the simple things first, don't over complicate it

king_of_inismac

I had this issue. Was a bad earth on one side. Wired an earth from the good side and never had the problem again.

It's a weird one, and one of the rare faults with a generally sound car.

punisher5112

The reason they light in different spots is down to a bulb or two others in correct place have blown or failed.

A lot of newer cars have this addition as to always well in most cases have at least one functioning light working on both sides.

Example would be outer rear brake light fails so say inner light bulb still works now becomes brake light.

Very easy fix.

Go into any motor factor twist out old twist in new. Even most petrol stations would have bulbs.

Kintarō Hattori

colm_mcm wrote: »

Start with the simple things first, don't over complicate it

Ha a fair point. Many thanks to yourself and the other fine folk of the forum. I'll get some new bulbs and hopefully will have just been over complicating it.

punisher5112

I would guess op the straight line section is now not lit but lower section which functions as brake light and fogs is and also lights normal lights and brake light on one bulb instead of seperate.