Hi All,

The passanger side brake light on my 2000 E55 has stopped illuminating (I get a defective lights message on the dashboard panel). What could be the problem? Could some one please post instructions on how to replace the bulb?

Thanks!

did you check the light bulb ? look at your user manual ... check inside the trunk right behind the rear lights there the access panels to change the bulbs

I admit ignorance. I do not know which one is the brake light bulb and I do not have the manual. I peeked inside the trunk (after removing the panel that provides access to the lights) and found 3 knob like things (which could be holding the bulbs) how do I identify the brake light bulb?

Also, my mechanic told me that on these cars it is not possible to change just the bulb, he said the entire assembly needs to be replaced and quoted ~200 bucks for it (parts + labor).

ok, I checked all the bulbs, they look fine to me. What else could go wrong that would warrant a $200 dollar repair?

Have someone help you .. he/she gets in the car , you go in the back and watch .. he/she presses brakes , then turn signal, then put it in reverse .. you will see where the brake light is .. it is the one that shines bright red when you press the brakes ... look at both sides of the car .. if the passenger side brake light is off.. then you should see the driver side come on ... that should tell you the location and the bulb... change that bulb even if it looks OK to you ... if all fails then you check the fuses but chances are if ONLY the brake lights is off then it is bulb

I dont know who told you a $200 ?? It is an $ 4-8 job.. BUT you b etter look at Ebay and get yourself a user manual ... you need to have that .

Wow $200 big ones for a $3.50 light bulb. Times are tough out there for some Indy shops

Do exactly what Maxwerks stated

on the part where the bulbs turns into the lamp housing you might have a broken tab in there that is not getting contact .. that was what happened to me .. if i turn it into fully locking place my brake light wont work but if i turn it halfway it still locks in place just not a complete turn but atleast my brake light works . in order to test this though you have to have somone holding the brake pedal down . have them hold the brake down and turn the bulb and see if that is the case .

You can go to Pepboys or Autozone, they can help ! this is a very simple fix.

That mechanic saw you and thought "$$$$$". I think there may be some BMWs that have an LED lighting system in the tail lights and if that goes bad, the entire assembly need to be replaced, but that is a BMW. On the E55, they are simple bulbs. Push and twist off, push and twist in.

its possible its jus the bulb but its also possible the whole assembly is messed up, its common for w210s.

the circuit board tends to get loose and even with a new bulb the brake lights will not work

What circuit board ? Unless he has an after market LED , there is no circuit board ... it is a bulb and a socket , thats it . if it is only the brake light then it is a bulb , if it is the entire passenger rear light thats ALL OFF , then it is either a fuse, shorted wire , or the entire assembly is capote ! Which I have never ever heard .

What circuit board are you talking about?

u kno that metal part where the bulb socket makes contact...that is a circuit board, thats where the voltage travels to power up the bulb ... i dint mean exactly like a computer circuit board but jus something where the voltage can travel

also sometimes theres some "pitting" on the bulb socket which can cause the bulb not working

FYI... im a MB tech

Well maybe in your case , but in mine it was the metal plating that the bulbs fasten on to . what they calling a circuit might be the back plate of the housing where the bulbs get the current from . One of the tabs was broken off , i tried to crazy glue it together and so far so good .. Another thing is take the bulb out of socket and pull the little metal tabs so when you put it in it will be tighter and and get much better contact .. Make sure look and see if none of these are broken apart where i put the arrows in the pics becuase on mine it was cracked

thank you!

I currently have that problem on my Dodge Durango. The right side brake light won't work and I need a complete tail light assembly. I've swapped bulbs several times and the dealer checked it and said the housing is bad. It sucks because it usually gets driven maybe 5-10 miles a month (did put 200+ on it today though) so it's not worth dumping the money for it.