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325i 
Newbie
Joined: 26-February-2006
Location: basingstoke
Status: Offline
Points: 1
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 Topic: Onboard Computer Brake light check
Posted: 28-February-2006 at 16:28 |
Hi there,
i am afraid i am a bit new to all this but here goes.
just bought my first bmw, a rather nice E36 325i se (1994) but under slow breaking the obc comes up telling me to check the brake lights, but they both work. checked bulbs and are fine........ any ideas please. thanks 
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thepits
Moderator Group
Joined: 09-July-2003
Location: far far away
Status: Offline
Points: 10000473
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Posted: 28-February-2006 at 17:40 |
 325i wrote:
Hi there, i am afraid i am a bit new to all this but here goes. just bought my first bmw, a rather nice E36 325i se (1994) but under slow breaking the obc comes up telling me to check the brake lights, but they both work. checked bulbs and are fine........ any ideas please. thanks |
Hi 325i - don't be afraid - be Proud! 
Don't worry, they probably "all do that" - well my E30's all did (do) anyway. 
It's the earth! Check all the connections in the boot. 
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Cats know your every thought.
But don't care.
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Dergside
Really Senior Member II
Joined: 16-May-2004
Location: Mid West, Ireland
Status: Offline
Points: 4000
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Posted: 01-March-2006 at 04:52 |
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My previous e36 325i and my brother in laws former e36 M3 both did it. The current 325i doesn't, yet!
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Now: BMW 523i SE '00, 318i SE - e91 '07, 325i Coupe '93.
Prev:
e46 328i SE Touring, 330Ci, 318Ci.
e39 523i SE.
e36 325i Coupe *2, 323i SE, 316iSE.
e30 325iSE 2dr, 320i Conv, 320i 2dr, 316i.
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Pegsta
Senior Member II
Joined: 03-March-2004
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 171
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Posted: 01-March-2006 at 17:40 |
Mine does it every now and then. Just complains for no reason I can see about the "brake light circuit" failing. It'll complain every time I drive the car for a few weeks and then I'll have nothing for months.. then it'll come back.
If your lights are working and you know they are working then I shouldn't worry about it unless it becomes a real nuisance to you having the light on the dashboard and a silly flashing notice.
*I did ease it a little by getting bulbs from BMW for all three brake lights on mine - but it still does it occasionally.*
Gaz 
Edited by Pegsta
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1998 Boston Green 328i SE
Chipped by ChippedUK 
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Defblade
Really Senior Member I
Joined: 17-May-2003
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 276
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Posted: 01-March-2006 at 18:16 |
This is (almost*) always the switch on the brake pedal. About £15 from the dealers and 5 minutes to change.
*I did have a bulb with a loose conection somewhere in the cap which gave the same trouble for a bit.....
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thepits
Moderator Group
Joined: 09-July-2003
Location: far far away
Status: Offline
Points: 10000473
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Posted: 01-March-2006 at 18:38 |
Defblade wrote:
This is (almost*) always the switch on the brake pedal. About £15 from the dealers and 5 minutes to change. *I did have a bulb with a loose conection somewhere in the cap which gave the same trouble for a bit..... |
This 'may' be the case for the E36, but in my experience with the E30's it's "almost always" been a dodgy earth - as an earth for the cluster or the bulb itself.
(WD40 is a wonderful thing!) 
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Cats know your every thought.
But don't care.
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Defblade
Really Senior Member I
Joined: 17-May-2003
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 276
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Posted: 02-March-2006 at 02:47 |
thepits wrote:
This 'may' be the case for the E36, but in my experience with the E30's it's "almost always" been a dodgy earth - as an earth for the cluster or the bulb itself. |
As the OP has an E36, I'd go with mine. If in doubt about suggestion, try searching e36coupe.com on something like "brake light obc" (but you'll be wasting your time, as they all say "change the switch", 'cos that's the dodgy bit on E36s).
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e46fan
Advanced Newbie
Joined: 10-November-2005
Location: Ireland
Status: Offline
Points: 29
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Posted: 02-March-2006 at 04:39 |
what about for an e46?????
my car shows on the dash that there is a rear bulb gone and surprise surprise there isnt
any ideas ????
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Dergside
Really Senior Member II
Joined: 16-May-2004
Location: Mid West, Ireland
Status: Offline
Points: 4000
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Posted: 03-March-2006 at 10:36 |
e46fan
Not sure about the e46, but the e39 has 2 tail light bulbs on each side. Might be worth double checking.
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Now: BMW 523i SE '00, 318i SE - e91 '07, 325i Coupe '93.
Prev:
e46 328i SE Touring, 330Ci, 318Ci.
e39 523i SE.
e36 325i Coupe *2, 323i SE, 316iSE.
e30 325iSE 2dr, 320i Conv, 320i 2dr, 316i.
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pockets
Groupie
Joined: 09-August-2005
Location: aveley essex
Status: Offline
Points: 78
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Posted: 07-March-2006 at 04:46 |
just replaced brake light switch no more warning on dash
about £15 and 5mins to do
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got rid of wife
got this
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e46fan
Advanced Newbie
Joined: 10-November-2005
Location: Ireland
Status: Offline
Points: 29
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Posted: 07-March-2006 at 06:37 |
from other threads on here it seems that the break light switch is almost always the problem on the E36.
does anyone know if the E46 suffers from the same rubbish break light switch or is it something else causing my car to tell me there is a bulb gone when there isnt????
probably worth replacing it anyway coz there are not expensive eh???
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dougster
Senior Member I
Joined: 09-January-2006
Location: Glasgow
Status: Offline
Points: 138
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Posted: 07-March-2006 at 11:49 |
This used to happen to my E36 M3.
I took the bulbs and holders out and gave then a clean with a dry cloth.
No problems since!
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Onboard Computer Brake light check