Reverse lights don't light up.

[andreyiv]

Hey guys, how are you all doing. I need advice from you again. Today I noticed that when I put my car (1995 325i auto) in reverse, the white bulbs don't light up. I tried changing one but it wasn't it. Does anyone know what could it be? I suspect the relay that turns it on to be bad. What do you all think? Thanks in advance.

 

[stormy]

there should be a switch down by the tranny (well on a stick i konw) but dont ask me where it is, a buddy of mine hat the same prob....changed the switch and it was gone (i do to now but only once in a time)

greetz

 

[flyinH]

here's a helpful link to the brake light switch fix.

http://www.geocities.com/karlkarlb/brakeswitch.html

 

[stormy]

brake lights?[???1]

 

[Trev]

I was getting an intermittant error display on the dash of my '98 528i, indicating a burned out tail light. The dealer suggested I get a tube of "dialectric grease" and smear all of my bulbs contacts with the stuff. Problem gone!

Hope your solution is so easy!

Bob

p.s. Anybody know what the extra bulb socket on the rear of the 528i if for? I couldn't find power at that socket no matter what I tried, although it wouldn't be hard to wire some power to it if I knew what it was supposed to do. Rear foglights? Extra brake lights? Tks...

 

[andreyiv]

Found the problem. It was the fuse under the hood. Replaced it and the problem went away. Thanks for all your advice anyway. I really appreciate it.

 

[carcus]

I was getting an intermittant error display on the dash of my '98 528i, indicating a burned out tail light. The dealer suggested I get a tube of "dialectric grease" and smear all of my bulbs contacts with the stuff. Problem gone!

Hope your solution is so easy!

Bob

p.s. Anybody know what the extra bulb socket on the rear of the 528i if for? I couldn't find power at that socket no matter what I tried, although it wouldn't be hard to wire some power to it if I knew what it was supposed to do. Rear foglights? Extra brake lights? Tks...

I am thinking Euro rear fog light/backup light option that might be disabled in the US. Just a guess, not sure. I know the Mini had the lights disabled for the US but could be turned on they say by dealer programming. Again, just taking a stab at it.

 

[Trev]

Thanks Carcus.. sounds like a reasonable guess to me. Now I suppose I have to decide if I want to bother. I could see (no pun intended) rear fog lights being a good safety feature.. but they might also confuse other drivers in making them think my brakes are on and then having them not notice when the brakes really *do* come on.

My A4 solved this problem, sort of, by only having a single rear fog light. Not a bad idea, I guess.. but it always made the car look like it had a burned out bulb on one side.

Hmm.

Thanks again,
Bob

 

[Tigas Bud]

I think rear fog. I had a couple of Volvos with the lights, Both the '86 240 GL the '87 740 GLE had two lights one on each side both active when switched on. My '91 740 DL (Volvo) had a single light that was driver side rear although the socket was there on the other side just no wire running to it.
I'll have to check my A6 to see if it's rear is a single like the A4 of Trev. Need them in the periodic Lake Michigan generated snow storms that hit here. Sometimes it's the only light that melts the snow and stays visible as you drive thru the storm.