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      10-24-2019, 07:40 PM   #1
VpR111
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F22 Tail Light Ground Wire Fix

Hey all,

My 2015 M235i has a similar ground wire issue with the right tail light harness that a few folks on here have had. Essentially, the ground wire can't handle the current and can burn up at the pin connector, triggering warnings on the brake, turn, reverse lights. I removed the assembly and indeed, this is what happened. Looking at pages:

https://www.2addicts.com/forums/showpost.php?p=22903545
https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/f...ess/1VnZ8zZX2B

It looks like I need to add a second ground wire to the harness after repairing the existing ground wire or ordering a kit like this: https://www.turnermotorsport.com/p-5...cable-tail-li/.

Since it is a 2015, my bulb socket is the same as the one in the top picture in link #2 (newtis)...which means the newtis guide showing where to attach the kit's extra ground wire doesn't apply as the sockets changed between 2015 and 16'.

Anyone have experience or advice on where to attach a second ground wire (spliced from the existing one such as shown in the newtis guide) on a 2015 F22 rear light assembly?

TIA!
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      10-24-2019, 07:58 PM   #2
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May add that the car is just out of warranty, so would rather fix this myself if able!
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      10-25-2019, 12:51 AM   #3
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You have to purchase revised bulb socket holders to attach the second ground plug.

Part number:

63217370291 (Left)

63217370292 (Right)
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      10-25-2019, 08:17 AM   #4
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Parts Used By Dealer

Just had this repaired by dealer yesterday under warranty. The parts used are listed as:
63-21-7-370-291 Bulb Socket, Left
61-12-2-448 Repair Cable Tail
Hope this helps.
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      10-25-2019, 09:03 AM   #5
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Excellent, thanks for the details! Ordered the new plug kit from Turner (61-12-2-448) yesterday and will order the revised socket holder today.
Question - the right socket 63217370292 shown above, doesn't look like it has the extra ground wire attachment? Is it only needed on the left side, or both?? TIA

Last edited by VpR111; 10-25-2019 at 09:12 AM..
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      10-25-2019, 01:52 PM   #6
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Bmw extended this to 5 yrs or 60,000 miles; will repair both even if only one fails

Quote:
Originally Posted by VpR111 View Post
Excellent, thanks for the details! Ordered the new plug kit from Turner (61-12-2-448) yesterday and will order the revised socket holder today.
Question - the right socket 63217370292 shown above, doesn't look like it has the extra ground wire attachment? Is it only needed on the left side, or both?? TIA
Bmw extended this to 5 yrs or 60,000 miles; will repair both even if only one fails
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      10-25-2019, 06:46 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by EE60 View Post
Bmw extended this to 5 yrs or 60,000 miles; will repair both even if only one fails
Well that would change things...will call the dealership tomorrow to confirm! That would be awesome though.
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      10-25-2019, 07:20 PM   #8
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I can pull out the TSB if I have to

Quote:
Originally Posted by VpR111 View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by EE60 View Post
Bmw extended this to 5 yrs or 60,000 miles; will repair both even if only one fails
Well that would change things...will call the dealership tomorrow to confirm! That would be awesome though.
I can pull out the TSB if I have to
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      10-26-2019, 01:07 AM   #9
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Extended Coverage

Quote:
Originally Posted by EE60 View Post
Bmw extended this to 5 yrs or 60,000 miles; will repair both even if only one fails
If anyone has documentation showing this extended coverage please post a link.
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      10-26-2019, 01:09 AM   #10
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I'll see if I can find tomorrow

Quote:
Originally Posted by ferraricare View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by EE60 View Post
Bmw extended this to 5 yrs or 60,000 miles; will repair both even if only one fails
If anyone has documentation showing this extended coverage please post a link.
I'll see if I can find tomorrow
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      10-26-2019, 02:09 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ferraricare View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by EE60 View Post
Bmw extended this to 5 yrs or 60,000 miles; will repair both even if only one fails
If anyone has documentation showing this extended coverage please post a link.

https://www.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...php?p=22903545
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      10-26-2019, 09:03 AM   #12
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Thanks for posting that SB # - are we sure this applies to all, and not just the specific vehicle VIN shown in that receipt however? Want to make sure I'm quoting the right thing at the dealership when requesting the service to be covered
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      10-26-2019, 09:55 AM   #13
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For me, they originally fixed the right side with this cobbled up wiring add-on. Then the left went and I think by now the official fix is to replace the whole tail light unit with the revised new piece - they ended up replacing both of mine with the post-'16 version (they also f'd up the seal and had to redo the job, so this may have been some goodwill). I would start out asking for the revised tail lights. Don't hesitate to emphasize that we are talking about something BURNING OUT and any fear you may have for a firs in the ass of your car (actually a near impossibility, but it never hurts to make a case). I'm saying this because, even without my mentioning it, the SA was using what sounded like corporate talking points to reassure me about that.
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      10-26-2019, 03:46 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Maynard View Post
For me, they originally fixed the right side with this cobbled up wiring add-on. Then the left went and I think by now the official fix is to replace the whole tail light unit with the revised new piece - they ended up replacing both of mine with the post-'16 version (they also f'd up the seal and had to redo the job, so this may have been some goodwill). I would start out asking for the revised tail lights. Don't hesitate to emphasize that we are talking about something BURNING OUT and any fear you may have for a firs in the ass of your car (actually a near impossibility, but it never hurts to make a case). I'm saying this because, even without my mentioning it, the SA was using what sounded like corporate talking points to reassure me about that.
There isn't anything wrong with the taillight assembly itself, it would be a waste of time to replace the whole unit, unless the connectors are rusted or corroded.

This issue is due to a lack of ground polarity for incandescent bulbs and the only fix is a new bulb holder and revised socket to accommodate the supplementary ground offset.

If you're DIYing it, you could even possible add additional ground yourself and not even replace the bulb holder and wiring. But since there is still warranty coverage, may as well let the manufacture own up to their shortcomings.

You can demand whatever you want from the dealer but if they don't see it necessary to replace the taillight unit, they won't.
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      10-27-2019, 06:02 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Poochie View Post
There isn't anything wrong with the taillight assembly itself, it would be a waste of to replace the whole unit unless the connectors are rusted or corroded.

This issue is due to a lack of ground polarity for incandescent bulbs and the only fix is a new bulb holder and revised socket to accommodate the supplementary ground offset.

If you're DIYing it, you could even possible add additional ground yourself and not even replace the bulb holder and wiring. But since there is still warranty coverage, may as well let the manufacture own up to their shortcomings.

You can demand whatever you want from the dealer but if they don't see it necessary to replace the taillight unit, they won't.
Poochie - would you happen to know where one would ground that spade connector on the second wire shown in the picture on a F22 bulb socket? I'm tempted to just do this instead of haggling with the dealership, but don't want to connect to something silly. Thanks!
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      11-11-2019, 12:53 AM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by VpR111 View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by Poochie View Post
There isn't anything wrong with the taillight assembly itself, it would be a waste of to replace the whole unit unless the connectors are rusted or corroded.

This issue is due to a lack of ground polarity for incandescent bulbs and the only fix is a new bulb holder and revised socket to accommodate the supplementary ground offset.

If you're DIYing it, you could even possible add additional ground yourself and not even replace the bulb holder and wiring. But since there is still warranty coverage, may as well let the manufacture own up to their shortcomings.

You can demand whatever you want from the dealer but if they don't see it necessary to replace the taillight unit, they won't.
Poochie - would you happen to know where one would ground that spade connector on the second wire shown in the picture on a F22 bulb socket? I'm tempted to just do this instead of haggling with the dealership, but don't want to connect to something silly. Thanks!
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      11-11-2019, 07:04 PM   #17
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Friday morning I got every warning I could possibly get about the right rear lights (brake, turn signal, reverse). I took the cluster out on Saturday and definitely saw one pin which appeared to be charred. I cleaned the pin off and it's working fine (for now), but I think this is something I'm going to want to address soon.

Thanks all for giving me a heads up on this issue!
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      11-12-2019, 07:48 PM   #18
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Yep, you're gonna have to get after this. That pin on the connector will just burn again. I see yours is a 2017, this should have been addressed by the factory by now with the separate ground repair kit and/or the re-designed soket housing. Check this out, get to the dealer, and tell them to do this - gratis!

https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/f...ter/1VnZ8zZX2B
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      11-15-2019, 06:33 PM   #19
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Originally Posted by F22 Raptor View Post
I see yours is a 2017, this should have been addressed by the factory by now with the separate ground repair kit and/or the re-designed soket housing.
Unfortunately for me, I ordered my 2017 car very early. My car's production date was September 2nd, 2016, about a month before they switched to the new tail light assembly with the additional ground.
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      12-23-2019, 01:22 AM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Poochie View Post
...This issue is due to a lack of ground polarity for incandescent bulbs and the only fix is a new bulb holder and revised socket to accommodate the supplementary ground offset...
So the brown wire is ground? How strange, I'd expect black to be ground...

We have the problem in a 2018 (may delivery) car...
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      12-23-2019, 03:03 PM   #21
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Brown (for "earth") is common overseas. Black is used here as "neutral" or common. Green is becoming standard for ground now.

You CAN do this fix yourself if you know how to solder, what to solder to, how to feed the wire through one of the vent holes in the socket housing, use a quick disconnect and solder to the brown wire on the harness. Otherwise make BMW do it!
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      12-24-2019, 03:41 PM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by F22 Raptor View Post
Brown (for "earth") is common overseas. Black is used here as "neutral" or common. Green is becoming standard for ground now.
CAUTION: This may be true for DC, but if you ever deal with an AC appliance, brown is NOT neutral. Gave myself a nasty shock the first time I figured that out.

Euro AC brown is hot, and blue is neutral.

I remember it this way: Black/Brown are 'dead' colors, and you will be dead if you touch them. And 'blue' rhymes with neu-tral.

I suppose brown DC could be similar to the common black DC coloring here. But again, always be careful. Even 12V DC can be dangerous.

On the upside, green, or green with a yellow stripe (euro), is ground the vast majority of time. Other colors......not so much.
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