third brake light :/

ccdre · 12-04-2015, 05:28 PM

This morning, I found part of the third brake light broken off from rest of the assembly.
Called local BMW dealer and was quoted $154 for a replacement part!!! I found aftermarket unit for about $40 and an OE part for sale on eBay for $75-85.

In the interim, I superglued the broken off piece back but will need a permanent solution soon.

Has any of you purchased the aftermarket brake light(DORMAN brand)? Does the color and quality match, or in case of quality surpas the OE unit?

gap · 12-04-2015, 05:51 PM

Mine was replaced 3 times under warranty , the one I have now appears to have a few cracks. Since it has been a known problem the dealer should do it for free or at least a deep discount.

blue135 · 12-05-2015, 04:45 PM

See Dack's sticky under the DIY section. I used the $75 one you reference. Took something on the order of 20-30 min from opening trunk to closing the trunk. Only thing i had to do was remove the small plastic locator pin on the bottom. Quality seems fine. Hard to compare because the OEM one was busted and new one was not.
Only issue i had was that old lens and housing seperated and i had old gasket material on the trunk lid around the housing i had to clean off. (I have a Mar '08 build so it has been on the road a while.

Cobber77 · 12-08-2015, 02:55 PM

A few months back my third brake light broke in half -no idea how. I have an 09 135 with 60k miles and I was able to convince the dealer to call BMW - they covered it 100% -- when I checked the receipt it listed covered --"Loyal BMW Customer." They also told me that the part has been upgraded to prevent this from happening again.

Went out to the car yesterday and there is a small crack on the driver's side and another starting down the middle. So I went down to see my SA at the dealership and he said no problem and ordered the part. I mentioned that there's a Service Bulletin on this issue and that perhaps the service tech didn't complete the necessary steps - so he's checking that out as well. It's great they're covering it - but I don't want to have to bring it back again. I'll keep you posted -

cwaldo · 12-09-2015, 12:47 PM

Mine was replaced in January and yesterday. In January it was done as "goodwill" and yesterday was done with the 2 year parts warranty.

ccdre · 12-09-2015, 01:06 PM

I've called my local dealer and got no love when it comes to getting the 3rd brake light replacement comped.
My car is out of warranty and although the service rep acknowledged that this is rather a common issue, he was very clear that any work done and any parts replaced would be on my dime...
Must be a Northern California thing

CGMike · 12-09-2015, 05:49 PM

There is a TSB for this and its posted somewhere on the forum. One of the tabs on the trunk lid needs to be ground down, so it doesn't happen again IIRC. Mine was replaced a few years ago and the dealer mentioned this TSB and I haven't had an issue since (knock on wood)

twinboost_MD · 12-10-2015, 02:27 AM

Had mine replaced at 10k. such a weird fault

avolt1234 · 12-14-2015, 12:59 PM

I just replaced my 3rd brake light yesterday with the $75 dollar OE one. The most difficult part of the process was shaving down the plastic middle piece of the brake light housing to get it to fit, other than that it was very simple. Also, remember to buy new springs for the nut and bolt assembly on the tail light!!

Dackelone · 12-14-2015, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blue135

See Dack's sticky under the DIY section...

^^

Here you go...

DIY third LED brake light replacement...
http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=845005

ccdre · 12-14-2015, 07:02 PM

Dack, you need to create a PDF "book" with all your DIY's

. I swear, 9 out of 10 times I need to do something on my 1er, you have a super detailed step by step guide for it!

Anyway, my replacement OE light is on it's way and should be here on Friday.

umm, the springs and nuts.. right... I guess I am taking trip to the stealership afterall.

Dackelone · 12-14-2015, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ccdre

Dack, you need to create a PDF "book" with all your DIY's

. I swear, 9 out of 10 times I need to do something on my 1er, you have a super detailed step by step guide for it!

Anyway, my replacement OE light is on it's way and should be here on Friday.

umm, the springs and nuts.. right... I guess I am taking trip to the stealership afterall.

I know. Thanks

Sometimes I just use Google and run a search with "Dackone" and "1Addicts" and what I am looking for. Most of the times it comes right up on the first "hit". I even do that for older posts that I remember reading but haven't book marked.

Dackel

Esteban · 12-14-2015, 08:01 PM

3rd brake light's had a crack down the center since I got the car in October of 2010. Nothing ever fell out. Guess I've been lucky -- so far -- knock on wood (knocks on head).

ccdre · 12-14-2015, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EvenEsteban

3rd brake light's had a crack down the center since I got the car in October of 2010. Nothing ever fell out. Guess I've been lucky -- so far -- knock on wood (knocks on head).

Mine was cracked for months. It wasn't until we got hit with some cold weather these past few weeks that the plastic finally decided to break off. With that said, you should be safe down in SoCal

.

Esteban · 12-14-2015, 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ccdre

Mine was cracked for months. It wasn't until we got hit with some cold weather these past few weeks that the plastic finally decided to break off. With that said, you should be safe down in SoCal

.

No biggie if something was to fall out. My SA has already told me she would replace it for free whenever I wanted her to. Maybe I'll have it done on my next service appointment... think it's in March.

blue135 · 12-15-2015, 09:09 AM

Evenesteban;

It is possible that nothing is falling out of the light because the gasket has lost flexibility and is now fused to the lid? My lens was cracked like you describe, but once i got in there, i discovered the lens was no longer attached to the light itself and the gasket had hardened and glued the lens to the trunk lid. No problem except that the 3rd light was lighting up the trunk liner instead of alerting the drivers behind me.

Esteban · 12-15-2015, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blue135

Evenesteban;

It is possible that nothing is falling out of the light because the gasket has lost flexibility and is now fused to the lid? My lens was cracked like you describe, but once i got in there, i discovered the lens was no longer attached to the light itself and the gasket had hardened and glued the lens to the trunk lid. No problem except that the 3rd light was lighting up the trunk liner instead of alerting the drivers behind me.

Nope... it's working fine.

12-04-2015, 05:28 PM	#1
ccdre Lieutenant 337 Rep 404 Posts Drives: '10 AW 135i, '13 Frozen M3 Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: NorCal iTrader: (1)	third brake light :/ This morning, I found part of the third brake light broken off from rest of the assembly. Called local BMW dealer and was quoted $154 for a replacement part!!! I found aftermarket unit for about $40 and an OE part for sale on eBay for $75-85. In the interim, I superglued the broken off piece back but will need a permanent solution soon. Has any of you purchased the aftermarket brake light(DORMAN brand)? Does the color and quality match, or in case of quality surpas the OE unit?
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12-04-2015, 05:51 PM	#2
gap First Lieutenant 105 Rep 376 Posts Drives: 2008 135i Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: MS iTrader: (1)	Mine was replaced 3 times under warranty , the one I have now appears to have a few cracks. Since it has been a known problem the dealer should do it for free or at least a deep discount. __________________ ER CP, Forge DV, Wagner FMIC, PE, Maddad Mid, ER Sports OC, BMS OCC, RB Check Valve, AFE intake, Cobb AP3- Stage 1+ drive, BMW SS, PS Springs, Yellow Koni external, M3 Control Arms F & R, M3 Strut Brace, M3 Sub Bushing, Rouge Toe, Dinan Camber Plate and Rear Shock Mts., E93 M3 front sway bar, Mfactory Diff, Arc 8 PSS 235/40/18-265/35/18
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12-05-2015, 04:45 PM	#3
blue135 Captain 342 Rep 643 Posts Drives: 2008 135i Convertible Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Sarasota, FL iTrader: (1)	See Dack's sticky under the DIY section. I used the $75 one you reference. Took something on the order of 20-30 min from opening trunk to closing the trunk. Only thing i had to do was remove the small plastic locator pin on the bottom. Quality seems fine. Hard to compare because the OEM one was busted and new one was not. Only issue i had was that old lens and housing seperated and i had old gasket material on the trunk lid around the housing i had to clean off. (I have a Mar '08 build so it has been on the road a while.
	Appreciate 3 Quote

12-08-2015, 02:55 PM	#4
Cobber77 Enlisted Member 14 Rep 45 Posts Drives: 2009 135i Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: BGM iTrader: (0)	A few months back my third brake light broke in half -no idea how. I have an 09 135 with 60k miles and I was able to convince the dealer to call BMW - they covered it 100% -- when I checked the receipt it listed covered --"Loyal BMW Customer." They also told me that the part has been upgraded to prevent this from happening again. Went out to the car yesterday and there is a small crack on the driver's side and another starting down the middle. So I went down to see my SA at the dealership and he said no problem and ordered the part. I mentioned that there's a Service Bulletin on this issue and that perhaps the service tech didn't complete the necessary steps - so he's checking that out as well. It's great they're covering it - but I don't want to have to bring it back again. I'll keep you posted -
	Appreciate 1 Quote

12-09-2015, 12:47 PM	#5
cwaldo Private First Class 38 Rep 146 Posts Drives: '11 135i Join Date: May 2014 Location: Austin, TX iTrader: (0)	Mine was replaced in January and yesterday. In January it was done as "goodwill" and yesterday was done with the 2 year parts warranty.
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12-09-2015, 01:06 PM	#6
ccdre Lieutenant 337 Rep 404 Posts Drives: '10 AW 135i, '13 Frozen M3 Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: NorCal iTrader: (1)	I've called my local dealer and got no love when it comes to getting the 3rd brake light replacement comped. My car is out of warranty and although the service rep acknowledged that this is rather a common issue, he was very clear that any work done and any parts replaced would be on my dime... Must be a Northern California thing
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-09-2015, 05:49 PM	#7
CGMike First Lieutenant 24 Rep 382 Posts Drives: 2011 135i Coupe Sport Join Date: May 2012 Location: Southern CA iTrader: (0)	There is a TSB for this and its posted somewhere on the forum. One of the tabs on the trunk lid needs to be ground down, so it doesn't happen again IIRC. Mine was replaced a few years ago and the dealer mentioned this TSB and I haven't had an issue since (knock on wood) __________________ 2011 Space Grey 135i Sold 06 GTO , 06 WRX, 59 Bug AV cars and Coffee www.facebook.com/Avcarsandcoffee/
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12-10-2015, 02:27 AM	#8
twinboost_MD Private First Class 19 Rep 188 Posts Drives: AW 135i Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Washington, DC iTrader: (0)	Had mine replaced at 10k. such a weird fault
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12-14-2015, 12:59 PM	#9
avolt1234 New Member 6 Rep 27 Posts Drives: 2009 135i Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: North Carolina iTrader: (0)	I just replaced my 3rd brake light yesterday with the $75 dollar OE one. The most difficult part of the process was shaving down the plastic middle piece of the brake light housing to get it to fit, other than that it was very simple. Also, remember to buy new springs for the nut and bolt assembly on the tail light!!
	Appreciate 2 Quote

12-14-2015, 07:02 PM	#11
ccdre Lieutenant 337 Rep 404 Posts Drives: '10 AW 135i, '13 Frozen M3 Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: NorCal iTrader: (1)	Dack, you need to create a PDF "book" with all your DIY's . I swear, 9 out of 10 times I need to do something on my 1er, you have a super detailed step by step guide for it! Anyway, my replacement OE light is on it's way and should be here on Friday. umm, the springs and nuts.. right... I guess I am taking trip to the stealership afterall.
	Appreciate 1 Quote

12-14-2015, 08:01 PM	#13
Esteban Major General 43369 Rep 7,224 Posts Drives: a slow car fast Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: SoCal iTrader: (0)	3rd brake light's had a crack down the center since I got the car in October of 2010. Nothing ever fell out. Guess I've been lucky -- so far -- knock on wood (knocks on head). __________________ Last edited by Esteban; 12-14-2015 at 08:20 PM..
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12-15-2015, 09:09 AM	#16
blue135 Captain 342 Rep 643 Posts Drives: 2008 135i Convertible Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Sarasota, FL iTrader: (1)	Evenesteban; It is possible that nothing is falling out of the light because the gasket has lost flexibility and is now fused to the lid? My lens was cracked like you describe, but once i got in there, i discovered the lens was no longer attached to the light itself and the gasket had hardened and glued the lens to the trunk lid. No problem except that the 3rd light was lighting up the trunk liner instead of alerting the drivers behind me.
	Appreciate 0 Quote