hello hello,

Long time lurker, but long time searcher/reader.

Got a strange problem, cant work out, and cant search my way out of. Even google has looked at me with mystery in its eyes.

My 3rd brake light (eye level brake light) has given up the ghost and will not light up when i push the brake pedal. This gives me great sadness. Bulbs swapped around with the other 2 working brake lights, working bulbs wont work in the 3rd brake light, but will work in the other brake lights. No fuses blown (under the bonnet and under the back seat). All other lights checked working. Check Control doesnt throw any errors, which it usually does when any other light blows. Contacts cleaned on the bulb holder and the bulb socket. Tried a minor demon exorcism.

Does the 3rd brake light wiring go through the dodgey boot hinge harness that bends and cracks? Doesnt look like it to me, but im no expert on that stuff.

Ideas? Hope its not the wiring somewhere along the lines. Would uber suck.

1994 E34 525i (Right hand drive), just to clarify, if it makes a difference.

Any ideas are greatly appreciated.

:help

Have you tried a test lite yet ? Check the ground ?

no test light, but i bought a new multimeter for 10 bucks, bargain! Wasn't even looking for one, but instantly thought of the brake light when i saw it for sale.

So that's a task for tomorrow morning. Unfortunately i'm not one for crawling into my boot at half an hour to midnight :D

A test lite works best because you are able to probe the wires, and then you can tape ths section of wire wiht no worries, also don,t forget to depress the brake with something or someone. (we have all pulled some sort of bone headed move while trouble shooting and chased our tails for no reason) Good luck hope its something simple.