Brake lights stay on when engine off

[WJord1]

Hi all,

Relatively new here so hoping for advice. I have a 2005 4.8iS and over the past week noticed a peculiar issue.

Sometimes (not always) when I turn the engine off and remove the key and lock the vehicle, I notice the rear brake lights stay illuminated. This has now happened a number of times and at first the lights went off after approx. 5 - 10 minutes.

This evening I noticed they have remained on for 45+ minutes and aren’t going off again until I turned the car on. It now seems to be more consistent that this is occurring, so turning the car on and off again doesn’t help.

When the engine is on the brakes operate as they should.

I’ve had a search of the forums and can’t see exactly this issue but some similar issues it has been recommended to replace the brake light switch / stop light switch.

Can anyone confirm this to be where I should start, or have any other ideas? If so, if part numbers could be provided that would be great.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions,
Will

[X5Sport]

Hello and welcome

If you have a look at RealOEM (copy of the BMW Parts database on line) and use the last 7 of your VIN in the ‘Serial Number’ box it will bring up your specific model. The sub-section is ‘Pedals’ and should bring back this diagram: https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showpa ... Id=35_0258

You want item 7. Part number is on that line.

I thought that the brake lights went out with the ignition off though?

Replacement:

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[Leslie]

Just the brake lights strange I think the light control module would control most external lights.

[X5Sport]

Just the brake lights strange I think the light control module would control most external lights.

That was my thought too, but no longer having an E53 I can’t check what happens, but I don’t remember any lights being on (except home light - or whatever it’s called) with the ignition off.

OP - if you look at the ‘P’ symbol LED on the gearbox selector base, does it stay lit for more than 16-minutes after you switch off? It shouldn’t. That LED being on is a ‘tell-tale’ and shows the car systems are awake. That LED should go out after 16-mins to let you know the car systems that should be asleep are.

[henrym3]

I had this problem and I would recommend you get a diagnostics check. If the switch is faulty diagnostics will pick it up. Mine turned out to be the pressure switch/sensor on the ABS unit. If your lucky it’ll be the brake switch.