Hi, I was just about to take the car for an MOT, and to my horror, the red brake pressure warning light has come on - (!) the one in between the hand brake and the ABS warning light.

The light stays on continuously, and does not flash.

I looked in the owners handbook, and it advises to check brake fluid and power steering fluid reservoirs, which I have done, and both are as full as they should be.

I have not checked brake parts, but I was hoping someone could shed some light on this subject, and help me out.

Brake pressure switches - the ones above the sphere or "bomb". Carlos identified these as having failed yesterday

Also declared dead: my original front suspension  (and you know what the implications of that are!), both front tyres....and the coolant expansion tank sensor

Did you have the red light on like me?

If so im going to test those - cheers Ivan.

I believe there are 2 of them, that look pretty identical.

phb10186 wrote: Did you have the red light on like me?

I traced my red light to a short-circuit behind the instrument display. The light went off if you shook the dashboard! Clearly there was a loose wire touching....

If so im going to test those - cheers Ivan. I believe there are 2 of them, that look pretty identical.

Yes. They can leak and fail, so I have to change mine. (I'll also be changing my coolant expansion tank and tank level sensor, as these have had it now.)

phb10186 wrote: I believe there are 2 of them, that look pretty identical.

They're different, items two and three, and they're about twenty-five quid or so each

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=5382&mospid=47199&btnr=34_0271&hg=34&fg=25 - http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=5382&mospi d=47199&btnr=34_0271&hg=34&fg=25

HTH, Sharkfan