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BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum > BMW E90/E92/E93 3-series General Forums > Regional Forums > UK > 320d brake light fault but bulb working?



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      10-03-2025, 08:15 AM   #1
Xpoppyxx
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320d brake light fault but bulb working?

Hi folks,

Went out in my car this morning, 2 minutes into the drive I got the big yellow light bulb warning on the dashboard. Going into the menu it shows code CC ID 136 which allegedly indicates an issue with the left brake light. However all brake lights are working so im honestly confused. Obviously did the whole turn on turn off thing, but the fault persists. Randomly the other week whilst I was stopped at lights with the handbrake on I noticed the handbrake light on the dash was almost pulsating growing bright and dimmer back and forth for about 2 minutes then stopped and there has been no further issues until today with the code.

Has anyone experienced this before? Seems bizarre that despite the code all my bulbs are working normally.
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      10-04-2025, 05:11 AM   #2
jwilalex
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Chances are one of the bulbs is on the verge of going and giving a different resistance. I’d whip each of those rear bulbs out and have a look to see if obvious. Maybe slightly discoloured or loose looking filament.
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      10-04-2025, 10:04 AM   #3
Xpoppyxx
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Thanks for the advice.

I've recently found information that suggests the fault can come up when the bulb is on the way out. So whilst it looks to be functioning, a filament on the verge on snapping causes a variation in electrical signal that triggers the warning.

Given how easy the brake bulbs are to access on this car I took them out and sprayed the socket with a little electrical contact cleaner and some wd40, put the bulb back in and reset the codes with my Topdon (codes do need to be cleared with an obd scanner) and things are working fine. Going to buy a couple of bulbs and replace them just to be safe as theyre only cheap. 21W bulbs incase someone comes across this thread with a similar problem.
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      01-20-2026, 06:09 AM   #4
Pistols
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I have a similar problem currently, but my codes are threefold. Both Reverse lights and one brake bulb are shwoing faults, all 3 are on the boot and it's intermittent, so unfotunately I'm thinking on mine it's a wiring loom issue. and the MOT is booked for tomorrow. FFS
Might have to run to Euro Car Parts on my lunch and see if I can pick up the three bulbs just in case.

I presume it's quite easy to pop the trim inside the boot lid to access the light clusters?
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      01-29-2026, 05:00 AM   #5
jwilalex
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Pistols View Post
I have a similar problem currently, but my codes are threefold. Both Reverse lights and one brake bulb are shwoing faults, all 3 are on the boot and it's intermittent, so unfotunately I'm thinking on mine it's a wiring loom issue. and the MOT is booked for tomorrow. FFS
Might have to run to Euro Car Parts on my lunch and see if I can pick up the three bulbs just in case.

I presume it's quite easy to pop the trim inside the boot lid to access the light clusters?

Potentially one of the thicker brown earth wires in your case given multiple bulbs involved. Not bulb with mine but exact fault with broken wire in the little rubber covered loom bit which knocked out the lock/switch. DIY fix is easy enough if handy with a soldering iron and heat shrink. Hard part is the tightness of the loom/rubber boot itself.
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