[stlb5]

EDIT: just found this thread. Looks like my issue: https://www.2addicts.com/forums/show....php?t=1663556

I'm getting errors for my passenger rear brake light and turn signal bulbs being out. I went to change them and the bulbs are fine. Further investigation shows some distress to pin 7 on the wiring harness. What are my next steps?

[Poochie]

What's the age and mileage of your vehicle?

[stlb5]

Originally Posted by Poochie

What's the age and mileage of your vehicle?

2014, 68k. Out of extended warranty. Already soldered new grounds. Works fine now.

[gosi]

What causes this to happen? Heard about it before.

[stlb5]

Originally Posted by gosi

What causes this to happen? Heard about it before.

It looks like the ground pin is too small for the current that can go through it. It is a common ground for all of the bulbs in the assembly. If you have your foot on the brakes, at night, with your turn signal on, you have multiple bulbs on. From what I've seen, these issues go back to at least E46 era cars. I don't know why this hasn't been better addressed.

My car is about a year out of the extended warranty for this issue. I drilled a hole in my bulb holder assembly and ran two wires in. I sanded a couple spots on the ground "loop" and soldered the wires to the "loop". I cut and striped the ground wire from the harness and crimped on a quick disconnect to connect the ground wire to the new wires I soldered. I then siliconed the hole I drilled to keep it water tight and hopefully that solves it. Cheaper than buying the new bulb holder assembly and ground kit and accomplishes the same thing. Way cheaper than taking into the dealership.

[stlb5]

Excuse my poor art skills. Here is where I drilled a hole and where I soldered the wires. I tried to evenly distribute them on the ground "loop". The drilled hole is in the same place that BMW put the additional ground wires on the upgraded bulb holder.

[MarcoZandrini]

Yeah, bimmers seem to have ground issue in some of there models. The early E46 sedans had a recall for the ground wire in the tail light assemblies. They were made in South Africa. The coupes and 'verts, made in Germany, didn't have the problem.

[harma24]

It's a known grounding issue with the tail light assembly prior to October 2016. I was one of the lucky few with a 2017 model made with the older part. Indi shop made short work of it. I forget the cost, but it wasn't much.

[BAT240]

I have a 2018 M240i and have been getting an occasional rear turn signal malfunction warnings, both left and right. I just purchased the car about 5 weeks ago, it has 52k miles so just out of warranty. It sounds like a similar issue, But reading thru these threads it sounds like the issue was supposed to be resolved. Anyone with a 2018 experience this? Is the fix the same?

[Poochie]

Originally Posted by BAT240

I have a 2018 M240i and have been getting an occasional rear turn signal malfunction warnings, both left and right. I just purchased the car about 5 weeks ago, it has 52k miles so just out of warranty. It sounds like a similar issue, But reading thru these threads it sounds like the issue was supposed to be resolved. Anyone with a 2018 experience this? Is the fix the same?

My verified solution (specifically for the LCI LEDs) is removing the incandescent "bulb checks" via coding, since for some strange reason, BMW left them active and they have been known to cause this error with the LCI LED setup i.e. hyper-flashing turn signals.


https://www.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...php?p=25945393

https://www.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...php?p=26455849


https://www.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...php?p=26588644

[Mehim]

Originally Posted by BAT240

I have a 2018 M240i and have been getting an occasional rear turn signal malfunction warnings, both left and right. I just purchased the car about 5 weeks ago, it has 52k miles so just out of warranty. It sounds like a similar issue, But reading thru these threads it sounds like the issue was supposed to be resolved. Anyone with a 2018 experience this? Is the fix the same?

I've been dealing with the right rear turn signal malfunction for over 2 years. Been in 4 or 5 times for a fix. Really irritating. I'll try to code it off.

[Phiberoptik]

Seems the only fix is to replace the whole wiring harness? unless you want to DIY solder, dremel, etc etc

Mine just started happening 2015 M235i Coupe, 28K miles

The right rear taillight assembly starting giving all those warnings

[ZGadson]

Same thing happened to my 2016 and I was able to fix it myself via the drilling/soldering method. Super easy thanks to everyone's photos and instructions!

That said, it's upsetting that BMW knows this is an issue but will only address it free of charge to vehicles still under warranty, because that they went through the trouble of designing an entirely new light bulb holder in mid production of the same model tells me this should have been a recall.

EDIT: If you have to drive your car between troubleshooting or while awaiting parts, you can use Bimmercode to set the tail lights to LED to avoid annoying warning lights and fast blinkers. It doesn't hurt anything, but remember to change them back once repaired.

[Brendan352]

I got the new housing unit and the repair kit but I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do with everything this is included with the kit.

[MaryK88]

Originally Posted by Brendan352

I got the new housing unit and the repair kit but I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do with everything this is included with the kit.

Hi Brendan,

Do you ever find out what you needed to do? I am looking to buy a whole new tail light and the wiring harness that is required so I can have a friend replace mine. Where did you purchase the items? Is there a place that I can find the part numbers I would need for my car?

Thank you
Mary

[Mizuno]

Originally Posted by BAT240

I have a 2018 M240i and have been getting an occasional rear turn signal malfunction warnings, both left and right. I just purchased the car about 5 weeks ago, it has 52k miles so just out of warranty. It sounds like a similar issue, But reading thru these threads it sounds like the issue was supposed to be resolved. Anyone with a 2018 experience this? Is the fix the same?

Mine has been doing the same thing. Will give me a malfunction message one day, then its fine for a while. Will tell the shop next month when i bring it in. Should be under warranty still. 2018 42 k miles.

[SoftShoe]

2019 M240i, here

Put me down for two
Right rear turn signal malfunctions

Both occurred while braking at night (headlights on) and applying the turn signal.

Appointment is Friday.
Curious if it’s the same (or similar) issue.

[Ajowhan]

Originally Posted by SoftShoe

2019 M240i, here

Put me down for two
Right rear turn signal malfunctions

Both occurred while braking at night (headlights on) and applying the turn signal.

Appointment is Friday.
Curious if it’s the same (or similar) issue.

Here is my story, 2018 m240i. My warranty expired in 2 weeks.

Mine was left rear turn signal malfunction, right rear is fine. Same thing, occasional seemingly random. Mine does not have night vs daytime preference, has occurred on both.

Took them in for a service couple months back, they were not able to replicate the malfunction, they dissembled and reassembled and tested everything was fine. Soon after service, the malfunction still come back. Lately has been less, its very sporadic, but Im considering taking it in for one last check before warranty ends.

Thanks for digging this thread up, think Im going to try Poochie solution above if this service doesn't provide any resolutions.

Originally Posted by Poochie

My verified solution (specifically for the LCI LEDs) is removing the incandescent "bulb checks" via coding, since for some strange reason, BMW left them active and they have been known to cause this error with the LCI LED setup i.e. hyper-flashing turn signals.


https://www.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...php?p=25945393

https://www.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...php?p=26455849


https://www.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...php?p=26588644

[SoftShoe]

I have another thread for my specific episode, but the result for me was a full taillamp replacement, under warranty.

Before the tech looked at it, the service rep said they'd follow the TSB -- might replace the bulb, or the socket (whatever it's called), or the full taillamp assembly.

They noted that if they replaced the bulb and it failed again, I should bring it back for step2. They said that if it was going to fail, it would probably do so in 2 or 3 months ... which is when my warranty expires. So I mentioned that and found myself hoping for a more catastrophic diagnosis.

Seems to have worked out and they suggest the problem won't repeat.

But it's unnerving that this has been happening to people since 2009 (according to someone who responded on a different forum).

[stlb5]

Originally Posted by SoftShoe

I have another thread for my specific episode, but the result for me was a full taillamp replacement, under warranty.

Before the tech looked at it, the service rep said they'd follow the TSB -- might replace the bulb, or the socket (whatever it's called), or the full taillamp assembly.

They noted that if they replaced the bulb and it failed again, I should bring it back for step2. They said that if it was going to fail, it would probably do so in 2 or 3 months ... which is when my warranty expires. So I mentioned that and found myself hoping for a more catastrophic diagnosis.

Seems to have worked out and they suggest the problem won't repeat.

But it's unnerving that this has been happening to people since 2009 (according to someone who responded on a different forum).

It's good to be under warranty, but know it can still happen as the source of the issue won't be fixed. And for anyone trying to force this to happen, as in, tech is following tsb and only replaced the bulb, remember the issue is too thin of a common ground so use as many of your tail light bulbs at the same time as you can.

[leftoverture]

Well, my turn to have this issue. Fortunately, I have extended warranty, so it's at my local BMW dealer now. I was impressed that when I told the service writer what the issue is, he jumped on the forum to learn more. We're are scheduled to leave Saturday morning on a 3500 mile road trip so hopefully they can get it all sorted out tomorrow.

[nikijack]

I replaced the whole light assembly, and the wiring harness. It still doesn't work. I'm beginning to think that the wire is broken somewhere. Does anyone know where to find the flasher unit. I might have to run a wire.