BMW X5 Brake Light Switch Woes, Quick Fix & Cost Guide

When I had my 2005 BMW X3 3.0i, I faced the exact same brake light warning. Initially thought it was just a burnt bulb, but the diagnostic showed it was indeed the brake light switch acting up. Had similar trust issues with shops back then. Last time at the garage they found the switch was sticking and not making proper contact when pressing the brake pedal. It's actually a pretty common issue with these models. The repair wasn't major, just needed the brake light switch replaced and recalibrated. The symptoms cleared up right after and never came back. It's not a serious repair at all, but it's crucial for safety since your brake lights might not work properly. Make sure whoever does the work uses an OEM part though. My mechanic mentioned aftermarket switches tend to fail quicker on these BMWs. Definitely get it checked soon, driving with faulty brake lights isn't worth the risk.

Yeah had the same problem with my X5! Your symptoms sound exactly like what I went through. They replaced the brake light switch on mine too, and it worked like a charm. Can't remember exactly what I paid for it though, do you recall the cost of your repair? Also, has anything else gone wrong since you got it fixed? Just curious because sometimes these electrical gremlins can be related to other issues. Looking back, I'm really glad I got it sorted quickly. Been smooth sailing since then, but always good to hear other people's experiences with these repairs.

Hey there! Good to hear from you again about the brake light issue! Actually, funny story, turned out I didn't need to spend anything at all. When I went back to the mechanic, they discovered it was just a mechanical error. The brake pedal wasn't fully releasing because of some rubber mat interference. They adjusted the mat position, and the switch started working perfectly again. Talk about a relief! Since then, no electrical problems whatsoever. The brake lights have been working flawlessly, and the warning message never came back. It's amazing how something so simple could cause such worry, right? Really glad I checked it out though, even if it was just a basic fix, it's not worth risking driving around with dodgy brake lights. A lot of these BMWs have similar quirks, but once you figure them out, they're solid cars. Like I said before, if anyone else runs into this, definitely get it checked, but don't panic, it might be something super simple like mine was!

Thanks for sharing that! I wish my fix had been that simple with the rubber mat. Had to shell out for a new switch at my mechanic's, but honestly, it wasn't too bad. Funny enough, after getting frustrated with my usual mechanic, I tried this new shop that specializes in European cars. The guy there was super straight with me, showed me exactly what was wrong and fixed it in about an hour. Much better experience than my last shop where they kept me hanging all day. I've been keeping an eye on things since the repair, and like you said, no more electrical gremlins popping up. The warning light's stayed off, and the brakes are working perfectly. Guess sometimes you just need to find the right mechanic who knows what they're doing! Thanks again for all the input. It's really helped confirm I made the right call getting it sorted quickly. These BMWs might have their quirks, but at least this one was a straightforward fix.