I have a 2008 528xi with about 55K miles. Just recently I started to see malfunction on the idrive come in intermittently for right tail light, reverse light and/or brake light - all for the right side. It will show the error and then go away the next time I would turn the car on. Has anyone else encountered this problem.
Sorry, if this has been addressed earlier, I just signed in for the membership a few hours back.
Thanks

 

The electronics part of it is easily removed for inspection. You don't need to pull the entire light. Unplug the connector, and there are 2 tabs you press while wiggling toward the front of the car. Inspect each socket and the connector. CRC sells an electrical contact cleaner that is great for this.

If yours is bad, message me. I just bought a light that comes with the extra electronic part. Just cover the shipping and its yours free. Contact me at Support@BimmerToolRental.com or here if you have any questions on this.

 

Swap the offending bulb to the other side and see if the error message 'walks' to the other side. If so, replace the bulb.

 

I had the exact same problem so i replaced two bulbs but it didn't help. The dealership replaced the entire tail light under the cpo warranty.

 

The connection plug and the socket it plugs into needs to be inspected also - not just the bulbs especially if the idrive warning is multiple bulbs - like reverse light warning, turn signal warning, etc.

This wire harness will overheat the socket and melt the plug and eat up the connecting pin from electrical arching. Mine is going in on Tue for CPO replacement.

 

Make sure you check for a burned plug. Happened to mine and seems to be a problem for some. 09' 535i

 

Thanks for all who responded, opened the panel, and saw that the wire #5 had melted the connector and the bulb carrier, called the dealer, they have the parts for $5 and $50 respectively. Will get them shortly and replace them.
Dealer told me that they have not seen this problem with other 5-series, however the 3-series have a recall for this issue.

 

Many of us have faced this problem: https://5series.net/forums/e60-discu...-117069/page2/, https://5series.net/forums/e60-discu...-issue-121394/
It's a design bug...

 

Most of the time , it is the ground wire that is burnt. Can be easily repaired by buying the taillight retrofit cable for cheap and solder the wires urself. I highly recommend everyone with lci tails to check their plugs once every 2 weeks. If it burns through the bulb holder, u will need a new one which is costly

 

Yup, happened to me. Replaced the part on my own. No need to take it to the dealership.