Discussions about BMW vehicles

March 10, 2010

<E28> Ceiling Diag. Panel Question

Filed under: Uncategorized — admin @ 11:23 am

        I have had an 84 533i for about 3 months now and have thus-far
enjoyed the car very much, but I have a question.  Since I got the
car, the brake lamp warning LED in the overhead panel comes on as soon
as I start the car, and will not reset.  I have not thought that much
of it (it has become standard for me to hit the ‘test’ button to
silence the dash flasher as soon as I start the car).
        Then today a headlamp burned out (follow me with this for a
second…) and I discovered that when you fix a problem, the LED
*does* in fact go out and not return!  (imagine my suprise!<G>)
Anyway, my brake lights are working fine, all contacts polished and
greased.  I have measured the resistance across both bulbs (ie. from
plate to plate=<5ohms).  
        I am looking for anyone who may have wiring diags. or
information that could tell me how the diag. board senses for the
problem.  I assume that I have a wiring problem here and am open to
all sugestions.  Thanx!
                db

5 Comments »

  1. Denis,

    I too have an E28 (1987 535is). I may be mistaken, but it sounds like the
    brake sensor is indicating low brake pads. You may want to check them. Also,
    there is an E28 specific web page that might be able to help. I don’t have
    the address, but there is another resource that I have found to be quite
    helpful. The address is http://www.bestweb.net/~bretta/brakes.html . Best of
    luck, and enjoy your beemer. CHEERS!!

    If you wish to respond to me , please remove the nospam from my email
    address.

    - Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -

    Denis Bradly Burns wrote in message <34ff5851.53879…@nntp.cntfl.com>…

    Comment by admin — March 10, 2010 @ 11:23 am

  2. Ok, I may be able to help with this one….

    I had a brake light indicator come on.  Lifted the trunk and checked all
    brake lights.  All were fine, but the dad gum brake light failure indicator
    still came on.  Cleaned all contacts with no improvement.  Turned out the be
    the high mounted (center mounted brake light on the package shelf) that was
    burned out.  Did not see it for the longest time since the trunk lid was
    open for me to work on the "real" brake lights.  Boy was my wife glad when
    that indicator light finally went out.

    Moral:  Check ALL your brake lights.

    don

    - Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -

    Denis Bradly Burns wrote in message <34ff5851.53879…@nntp.cntfl.com>…
    > I have had an 84 533i for about 3 months now and have thus-far
    >enjoyed the car very much, but I have a question.  Since I got the
    >car, the brake lamp warning LED in the overhead panel comes on as soon
    >as I start the car, and will not reset.  I have not thought that much
    >of it (it has become standard for me to hit the ‘test’ button to
    >silence the dash flasher as soon as I start the car).
    > Then today a headlamp burned out (follow me with this for a
    >second…) and I discovered that when you fix a problem, the LED
    >*does* in fact go out and not return!  (imagine my suprise!<G>)
    >Anyway, my brake lights are working fine, all contacts polished and
    >greased.  I have measured the resistance across both bulbs (ie. from
    >plate to plate=<5ohms).
    > I am looking for anyone who may have wiring diags. or
    >information that could tell me how the diag. board senses for the
    >problem.  I assume that I have a wiring problem here and am open to
    >all sugestions.  Thanx!
    > db

    Comment by admin — March 10, 2010 @ 11:23 am

  3. On Mon, 9 Mar 1998 09:02:11 -0500, "Don Udel" <du…@att.com> wrote:
    >Ok, I may be able to help with this one….

    >I had a brake light indicator come on.  Lifted the trunk and checked all
    >brake lights.  All were fine, but the dad gum brake light failure indicator
    >still came on.  Cleaned all contacts with no improvement.  Turned out the be
    >the high mounted (center mounted brake light on the package shelf) that was
    >burned out.  Did not see it for the longest time since the trunk lid was
    >open for me to work on the "real" brake lights.  Boy was my wife glad when
    >that indicator light finally went out.

    >Moral:  Check ALL your brake lights.

    >don

            Good thought.  My car doesn’t have a third brake light, but I
    don’t know if it originally did or not.  The car may be searching for
    the third lamp, and not finding it.  Hmmm.. What year is your model?

    db

    Comment by admin — March 10, 2010 @ 11:23 am

  4. In article <34ff5851.53879…@nntp.cntfl.com>, Denis Bradly Burns
    <dbu…@talstar.com> writes

    - Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -

    >       I have had an 84 533i for about 3 months now and have thus-far
    >enjoyed the car very much, but I have a question.  Since I got the
    >car, the brake lamp warning LED in the overhead panel comes on as soon
    >as I start the car, and will not reset.  I have not thought that much
    >of it (it has become standard for me to hit the ‘test’ button to
    >silence the dash flasher as soon as I start the car).
    >       Then today a headlamp burned out (follow me with this for a
    >second…) and I discovered that when you fix a problem, the LED
    >*does* in fact go out and not return!  (imagine my suprise!<G>)
    >Anyway, my brake lights are working fine, all contacts polished and
    >greased.  I have measured the resistance across both bulbs (ie. from
    >plate to plate=<5ohms).  
    >       I am looking for anyone who may have wiring diags. or
    >information that could tell me how the diag. board senses for the
    >problem.  I assume that I have a wiring problem here and am open to
    >all sugestions.  Thanx!
    >               db

    The brake light switch has two cables out. One to the Test button unit
    And one to the "Circuit test switching unit" located at rear of car near
    Left light cluster. These cables are green/red. The other clue is the
    Number 54 on the terminal plugs, which is the code for brake lights
    Circuits.

    When you turn on the ignition the brake fail led comes on and only goes
    out when the brakes are first applied if they are both working.

    The other cable that looks interesting would be the green black from the
    "Circuit test switching unit" to the "test button unit".Ref 54KL
    I have not checked this but I guess this will change state when the
    Brake lights are illuminated.

    The fault would be a break in this cable or a fault on one of the units.

    My only experience was a broken track on the Test button unit causing an
    Intermittent fault stopping the flasher working. Easily fixed once
    Located.

    ba…@arkendale.demon.co.uk
    Barry Hodgetts

    Comment by admin — March 10, 2010 @ 11:23 am

  5.         Excelent post.  Thanks much for the info!  I will head out
    this weekend and tackle this annoying problem.  

    db
    On Fri, 13 Mar 1998 20:24:51 +0000, Barry Hodgetts

    - Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -

    <arkend…@demon.co.uk> wrote:
    >The brake light switch has two cables out. One to the Test button unit
    >And one to the "Circuit test switching unit" located at rear of car near
    >Left light cluster. These cables are green/red. The other clue is the
    >Number 54 on the terminal plugs, which is the code for brake lights
    >Circuits.

    >When you turn on the ignition the brake fail led comes on and only goes
    >out when the brakes are first applied if they are both working.

    >The other cable that looks interesting would be the green black from the
    >"Circuit test switching unit" to the "test button unit".Ref 54KL
    >I have not checked this but I guess this will change state when the
    >Brake lights are illuminated.

    >The fault would be a break in this cable or a fault on one of the units.

    >My only experience was a broken track on the Test button unit causing an
    >Intermittent fault stopping the flasher working. Easily fixed once
    >Located.

    >ba…@arkendale.demon.co.uk
    >Barry Hodgetts

    Comment by admin — March 10, 2010 @ 11:23 am

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