Shaved 3rd brake light, now check panel troubles

[bimmerboy12]

Hey all did a 3rd brake light shave on my vert on my full exterior restoration (check it out, http://r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=144754), and since its not hooked up anymore Im getting the brake light LED lit up in my check panel. Any ideas on how to trick it?
Thanks.
Brian

[DJB]

Unsolicited opinion: removing the third brake light is foolish. Safety equipment is there for good reason.

The Check Control relay box for most of the lights (brake, license plate, etc) is in the trunk. The "relays" are copper coils mounted directly to the circuit board, with magnetic reed switches running through the middle. You just have to bypass (jumper with a wire) the reed switch for a light you want to remove or replace with LEDs.

The center brake light is different. It apparently was added after the relay box was designed, or perhaps it was unique to North America and BMW didn't want extra stuff for the rest of the world. The check relay is in the brake light assembly itself. Does the connector in the convertible have four contacts instead of two? If so, the second pair is for the check circuit, wired in series with the main relay box in the trunk. Just jumper that circuit, perhaps with an insulation-displacing 'tap' connector so that you don't have to cut the harness.

[bimmerboy12]

imo its not that big of a deal if the European cars did not require it, and they weren't required in the US until the 80's, but you are entitled to your opinion.
Yes there are four wires in the harness going to the brake light. How do I know which ones to jump?

[Red88]

Connect the one getting 12v to the brown one closest to the coil. I don't know how to explain what I mean, but I hope you get it.

[Unearth078]

pull the led out of the check panel ;)

[Stevie30]

Reconnect the third brake light and leave it hidden behind the driver side panel in your trunk. It worked for me. Problem solved.

[cactusjacks1]

Unsolicited opinion: removing the third brake light is foolish. Safety equipment is there for good reason.

The Check Control relay box for most of the lights (brake, license plate, etc) is in the trunk. The "relays" are copper coils mounted directly to the circuit board, with magnetic reed switches running through the middle. You just have to bypass (jumper with a wire) the reed switch for a light you want to remove or replace with LEDs.

The center brake light is different. It apparently was added after the relay box was designed, or perhaps it was unique to North America and BMW didn't want extra stuff for the rest of the world. The check relay is in the brake light assembly itself. Does the connector in the convertible have four contacts instead of two? If so, the second pair is for the check circuit, wired in series with the main relay box in the trunk. Just jumper that circuit, perhaps with an insulation-displacing 'tap' connector so that you don't have to cut the harness.

This is the correct & very easy way (above), just make a 3" jumper wire with spade connectors on both ends, go to the 4 plug connector inside the trunk by your antenna base & jump the brown wire with the green/brown stripe wire - your light will go out. Double check the color of the wires you jump by doing a search.

[cactusjacks1]

Reconnect the third brake light and leave it hidden behind the driver side panel in your trunk. It worked for me. Problem solved.

The r3v way of fixing.............

[Jean]

^ lol

[Unearth078]

so if thats the r3v way of fixing things i could only imagine what my way is related too.

[bimmerboy12]

This is the correct & very easy way (above), just make a 3" jumper wire with spade connectors on both ends, go to the 4 plug connector inside the trunk by your antenna base & jump the brown wire with the green/brown stripe wire - your light will go out. Double check the color of the wires you jump by doing a search.

This is great info. Thanks! I did a search and really didn't find anything. I'll take your word for it.

[bimmerboy12]

This is the correct & very easy way (above), just make a 3" jumper wire with spade connectors on both ends, go to the 4 plug connector inside the trunk by your antenna base & jump the brown wire with the green/brown stripe wire - your light will go out. Double check the color of the wires you jump by doing a search.

Thanks man, it worked! And I don't have a bulb lighting up behind the carpet!

[pilotskillse30]

I have the problem of the check light staying on but my third brake light is working, how do I fix that?

[txtorquemade]

I have the problem of the check light staying on but my third brake light is working, how do I fix that?

best fix would be to just sell me your car...

or ... donate it to my Bimmer Buddy Foundation

;)