Rear brake bulb warning light always on

Hi all,

I have a E46 323i 2000 bmw and had an extended warranty, so was covered upto a few months ago. Of cause as soon as it expired, i have a problem.

The dash board brake light bulb warning lights are permanently on, all the brake lights are working okay, and as a precaution i have replaced both the bulbs.

Any idea what could be causing this ? garages say it could get expensive, but i dont really want to fork out lots of money to just rid the dashboard lights ......


Any help would be appreciated, thanks.

Have you check the center brake light? I've done this before, concentrating on the two brake lights and forgot the center light.

Thanks, but it appears to not be the brake lights at all.

BMW dealer looked at it, the number plate lights have gone rusty, and thats what is doing it.:banghead:

thanks anyway, just got to try and source the parts myself, to save some £££'s .... :grinyes:

Also as another idea if this is not the problem , the earth terminal on the tail light cluster flares open and changes the resisitance bringing the warning light on.:sunglasse It can be repaired by removing the earth and placing it on the piece of the tracking sticking out on the tail light cluster or simply by re - crimping the terminal.

Thanks, but it appears to not be the brake lights at all.

BMW dealer looked at it, the number plate lights have gone rusty, and thats what is doing it.:banghead:

thanks anyway, just got to try and source the parts myself, to save some £££'s .... :grinyes:

I have a similar problem with my BMW 528 2000. My number plate lights are working fine and all of my taillight bulbs are fine, but the dsahboard warning light is on (right hand side). Was your number plate light working or corroded to the point where it didn't work either?

Thank you
Bob Ness

I found the problem with my car - it was indeed the centre brake light, the one on the rear deck behind the rear window. I replaced the bulb and the dsahboard indicator is no longer illuminated.

Bob Ness

I have nuisance warning on the my E 36( on board computer ), and E46 dashboard that indicates a problem with Right sided tail light, and I checked all lights were working, including the centre brake light. I took my car to the mechanics and they said it will be charged according to labour hours involved, (at least a few hundred dollars US)

Any suggestions to fix the problem? :uhoh::shakehead DIY or BMW dealer

Should I just ignore the warning.

Hey Lawrie, I had the same problem with my 1999 318i. I resolved the problem by purchasing a new bulb from a bmw dealer, rather than a normal parts dealer.

i just want to say a big thank you to you all,i have just had my rear warning lights come on my e46 m3 and it was puzzling the hell out of me as i checked and all seemed to be working even the middle brake light,then i read your advice and what do you know the terminals on my number plate lights were corroded so cheers

check the connection sockets at the bonnet area where all the lights switch panels are situated , i had cross connection there and for that i had problem in my headlight and upper light probvlems.
Try this and see , though i am not sure about it.

Have fixed many of these.
1 remove tail lamp from car
2.inside you will find what is called a socket plate that houses your bulbs.
3.replace socket bulb plate with new one.
4 no more light on dash.

You should take it to BMW and have them rest it if you have it fixed

Had the same problem, though intermittent. Found one connector in the plug for the rear light cluster was corroded. Cleaned it up and put dielectric grease on it. No more problem!