Brake lights don't work

[TiPerformance]

Last weekend I noticed that my cruise control wouldn't turn off when I pushed the brake pedal, no big deal it turned off with the switch on the column so I was just going to live with it till I got home next. It sat all week and then tonight I decided that I would go for a drive, well before I did that I got to thinking I better check my brake lights, and guess what, they don't work, so I parked it and took my friends car.

Are the stop lamp switches on these cars known to be a problem? It is dark now so I am going to tear into it tomorrow and see what I can find out. Hopefully it is just out of place and can be adjusted, If not I am going to have my brother pick up the part and mail it to me since the nearest dealer is 130 miles away from my school.

Judging by the BMW TIS it looks like it is farily simple.

[TiPerformance]

Well it is fixed, turns out that it was just the switch, and it was $10 at Napa. Napa part # SL 349

it might be a pain getting the old one out, but over all the install is easy. Took me about 25 mins to do in one of the parking lots at school.

[tastade]

I just found the same problem with mine. The brake lights were flakey, checked the bulbs, they were fine. Checked the Fuse, it was fine. Checked the switch on the pedal, and it was broken. The plunger was sticking inside, so when you would press the pedal, the plunger wouldn't come out causing the lights to turn on.

That switch is a real pain in the butt to get out. It is hard to get your arms underneath the dash, push down on the pedal, pull the plunger out, and press the release tabs all at the same time. The tabs broke off my old one, good thing I am replace it anyhow. I will have to go check Napa, non of the others parts places had the switch.

[ayton]

I have replaced 2 of these and I have found it best to get a pair of vise grips and rip the old one out rather than fumble with it...its bad anyway right!? ;)

[maurolin]

brake switch upper part of the brake pedal.

[seanski]

Hi, i had the same problem this week on my 318ti 1999 UK. All 3 brake lights stopped working, checked the bulbs and the fuse. Ended up having to replace the switch - £5.29 thought and an hours work (tricky to get out) easy to mount the new one. Cheers