Not sure if anyone can advise, I keep getting an eror to show one of my rear left lights is faulty, I have changed all the bulbs twice now with new ones but the error still shows on the dash despite every single light functioning correctly.

Any adive would be great. Also does anyone know the story with the front headlights on the 2000 model E39, they constantly fog up on the insides and it just looks crap and reduces the light emmited too. The seals na d all other items appear to be good. I have noticed this on quite a few E39's. Is this a manufacturer issue or fault wih this particular model?

Finally, I recntly had  an oil service, however the oil service icon lights up on the dash, is there anyway to reset this without paying BMW to do so?

Many thanks,

Mick.

I had this problem once....it drove me nuts! I soon discovered that there is a high level brake light (just above the rear parcel shelf, up against the back window). Take off the cover which is accessed from the boot and put a new bulb in...hopefully that will solve your problem? I didnt realise there was a high level brake light as the glass was tinted and hid the housing!

Hope that helps!

davepat4 wrote: I had this problem once....it drove me nuts! I soon discovered that there is a high level brake light (just above the rear parcel shelf, up against the back window). Take off the cover which is accessed from the boot and put a new bulb in...hopefully that will solve your problem? I didnt realise there was a high level brake light as the glass was tinted and hid the housing! Hope that helps!

as mentioned above

Thanks a mill folks for all the help.

I am going to try to get the issues fixed this evening.

Where is GSF by the way, I must get that reset tool.

Cheers,

Mike

The centre brake light failure is indicated as a blown tail lamp bulb.  One side of the failure warning diagram lights up to indicate that the centre lamp is out.  From memory I cannot remember which tail light side indicates the centre brake light failure.

Mibbie one of the guys with an E39 manual to hand can oblige.

Take the car back to the garage that did the oil change and ask them to reset the service indicator.

Um hang on, if yours is a facelift model i.e. after some point in 2000 (September?), can't you reset the service lights by a combination of the trip reset button and turning the ignition on and off at certain times?  I think this procedure may even be described in the Haynes Manual for the E39 which will be cheaper than any set of reset tool from ECP or GSF.

My E39, a 98 model required a re-set tool.

HTH

Andrew

Thanks for all your help, just looked at the centre bulb and though it was working all the housing has become slightly melted and the bulb was embedded in it. I will have to order the part and new bulb anyhow and hopefully that will do the job!

On another note, can anyone recommend suitable headlights units for the E39, my current ones constantly get fogged up which makes the car look miserable on the front and the fact that the light is lost behind the cloud of condensation does not help these dark evenings...

The E39 front headlamps are crap full stop.  Supposidly the post facelift E39, the ones with angel eyes were better.  I was getting dazzeled by headlights on the M8 recently and I was suprised to find out that an E39 was the culprit but it was some chav who had lowered it and then over adjusted the headlights back up to compensate for the car being lowered. 

The best upgrade for E39 headlights would be to buy an E60!

Andrew