BMW 1 Series Brake Light Switch Failures, Owner Alert

I faced the exact same issue with my 2016 BMW 2 Series diesel last winter. Initially thought it was just a faulty sensor, but turned out the brake light switch had completely failed. This is actually a known weak point in some BMW models. Got it fixed at a garage that specializes in German cars. The mechanic showed me that moisture had gotten into the switch assembly, causing corrosion. They had to replace the entire brake light switch unit and recalibrate the system. Not a super expensive fix, but definitely needed proper diagnostic equipment to solve it properly. It's not a major safety concern if caught early, but you shouldn't ignore it as it can affect your brake lights' functionality. Make sure whoever fixes it uses genuine BMW parts, tried using aftermarket ones on my previous car and had to redo the whole job. Hope this helps. Not all mechanics are out to get you, just need to find one who knows their stuff with BMWs.

Thanks for sharing your experience, that's really helpful! I had pretty much the same diagnosis with my brake light switch. Really good to know I'm not alone with this issue. Quick question, do you remember roughly how much you ended up paying for the repair? Also, has everything been working fine since the fix, or have you noticed any other electrical gremlins popping up?

Hey again! Glad I could help earlier. Actually, my situation turned out to be even simpler than I initially thought. When I went to the specialist mechanic, they discovered it was just a mechanical error, I hadn't properly engaged the parking brake, which triggered the warning light. Talk about feeling a bit silly! The mechanic showed me the correct way to engage it, and the problem never came back. Didn't cost me anything since it wasn't actually a repair. But this is exactly why it's so important to find a trustworthy mechanic. A dishonest one could have easily charged me for "fixing" a non-existent problem! Since then, my 2 Series has been running perfectly with no electrical issues whatsoever. Really happy it worked out this way rather than needing that brake light switch replacement I mentioned before. Sometimes the simplest explanation is the right one, isn't it? Just goes to show it's worth getting things properly checked out by someone who knows what they're doing.

Oh wow, that's actually quite funny! Makes me feel better about my situation though. I actually just got back from the mechanic today, and you won't believe what happened. My issue turned out to be a bit more involved than yours. The switch itself was definitely shot, they showed me how corroded it was when they took it out. Cost me about €300 including parts and labor, which wasn't as bad as I was expecting. The mechanic was super transparent, showed me the old part, and explained everything clearly. What a relief to finally have it sorted! The warning light's gone, and everything's working perfectly now. Really glad I asked here first, helped me feel more confident about what I was dealing with. The new mechanic I found was great too, totally different experience from my last one. Sometimes good things come from bad experiences, right? Thanks again for all your help with this!