Brake lights sticking E30 320i

Post Tue Oct 24, 2006 8:53 am

Hi all,
After start up and pressing my foot on the brake, the brake lights are still illuminated. Pressing the check buttons makes no difference. I drive off and lights remain on for a while and sometimes go off and on.Any ideas before I take it to the local auto electricians please?

Post Tue Oct 24, 2006 9:02 am

Check the pedal is coming up far enough to work the switch (at the top of the pedal) enough.
The brake pull rod that goes across the car behind the heater box has a normal thread at one end and a reverse thread on the other, so can be turned to raise the pedal. There is at least one locknut on the rod.
Don't over do the adjustment, or the brakes won't come off properly.
If the pedal is already adjusted OK, then the problem is simply a dud brake light switch.

Post Tue Oct 24, 2006 10:34 am

had the same problem on every e30 i've owned always changed the switches

Post Tue Oct 24, 2006 3:21 pm

Brianmoooore wrote:Check the pedal is coming up far enough to work the switch (at the top of the pedal) enough.
The brake pull rod that goes across the car behind the heater box has a normal thread at one end and a reverse thread on the other, so can be turned to raise the pedal. There is at least one locknut on the rod.
Don't over do the adjustment, or the brakes won't come off properly.
If the pedal is already adjusted OK, then the problem is simply a dud brake light switch.

Hi Brian, i have this same problem, and i did a search and found this same explanation for the problem. My pedal is sagging and not reaching the switch. i removed the under dash cover and looked around under there but i couldnt see the rod you ae talking about. can you help me further?
(my quick fix was to stick a piece of cardboard to the pedal so it reached the switch)

Post Tue Oct 24, 2006 7:46 pm

Thanks everybody. Problem sorted with a new switch. I have to admit my local auto electrician did the job for me Ãƒ”šÃ‚£18.00 plus vat. It was a tenner for the switch + eight quid labour and much easier for the expert to replace it. I'd have been messing abour all day.

Post Tue Oct 24, 2006 9:12 pm

The pull rod is about 700mm long or so and goes across the car behind the heater box from the top of the brake pedal assembly to the servo on the other side. Only present on RH drive cars of course.
E30 brake switches do fail quite often, but this could well be because of out of adjustment pull rods!

Post Tue Oct 24, 2006 9:23 pm

Heh, i got the same problem, its not on all the time only when i bring my foot off the pedal gently or eh, hit a bump

.
just been on eurocarparts.co.uk, they say
REPLACEMEN PLASTIC BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH, MOST MODELS 87- 2, PIN TYPE, Ãƒ”šÃ‚£4.49
think i'll try a new one

92 Touring.....only piddly 316, but Luvvin it