i have a 1996 bmw 5series (e39) and in the dash the warning light is on telling me that 1 of my rear right hand bulbs isnt working i replaced a blown bulb but the warning in the dash still stays on sometimes it takes a second or two to come on but it always comes on i have tried to jiggle all the wires looking for a break i checked all the fuses and i have replaced all the bulbs and tey all work but despite this the warning on the dash remains on please help me find a solution to this annoying problem tia

Are the replacement bulbs the generic brass based ones or the plated base bulbs from a dealer?

Even a slight amount of corrosion in the bulb socket, the taillight housing, the connectors, or oxidation of the brass bulb base can cause a nuisance warning. Check everything and be sure to use the right bulbs.

i used generic bulbs and there is a bit of corrosion on the light bracket too i just found it weird that the lights all work but still have that annoying problem with the dash warning thx for that info tho ill try cleaning up the light housing 2moro when i get a chance hopefully i wont have to pay dealer prices for bulbs lol.
thx for the info

The warning light is triggered when the control module detects a greater resistance through the bulb filamant that is apropriate for a bulb in good condition. It doesn't take much change in resistance to trigger the light and the increased resistance can be anywhere in the circuit.

If you don't replace those generic bulbs with the correct ones you'll have a continual pattern of cleaning things up and then having the arning light coming on. The bulbs are pretty inexpensive.