Issues with the Tail Lamp Assembly in Your BMW
by schearerswpadmin June 1, 2020BMWs are classy and timeless, a quality investment in your vehicular transport for people of all walks and ages of life. Not only are they designed with both comfort and performance in mind, but they are powerful beasts of burden and luxury – overall, a pleasure to drive. They also maintain high safety ratings, which makes them great for everyone on the road, from your child in the backseat to the drivers moving your direction a mere lane over.
This does not make them without faults. BMWs must be kept on strict preventive and routine schedules to ensure that they run properly, but even that cannot keep every possible fault of wear and tear from coming to fruition. This is especially true of older BMWs, or individual vehicles that have been driven hard by inexperienced or eager drivers. One issue that can occur, that has very little to do with how the vehicle is driven, is the taillight assembly.
Your Tail Lamp Assembly
Your tail lamp assembly is the collection of lights at the rear of your vehicle. Whether you’re driving during the day, at night, in the sun, snow, rain, or flood, these lights are on to prevent accidents and alert other drivers to your intentions.
Your taillights themselves are designed to stay on when your vehicle is running and light up brighter when you brake to minimize the risk of crashes. Additionally, your tail lamp assembly includes your turning signals, so you can make other drivers aware of your intentions when you merge lanes or turn.
If you notice that your lights don’t turn on or if they don’t respond when you brake, flip on your turning signal, or put the car in reverse, it’s time to have the issue reviewed by a certified mechanic.
Potential Causes of a Bad Tail Lamp Assembly
One of the most common reasons for an issue with your tail lamp assembly is simply a burned out bulb. This may be your brake light, your turn light, your tail lamps themselves, or all of the above. If this is the case, it’s possible to purchase and install a new bulb yourself. However, if you don’t feel comfortable performing your own maintenance, it’s advised to bring your vehicle to a mechanic who can quickly replace the bulb and do a quick check for other issues.
You may also have a bad socket. This is most likely the case if the affected bulbs are still good or only one or two go out. Bad sockets can be caused by corrosion, dirty connections, or worn wiring, all of which will lead to intermittent or no electrical signals passing from bulb to vehicle and back.
Another potential issue is a burned out or blown fuse. Each component of your BMW’s electrical system corresponds to a fuse, which is responsible for protecting your electrical system in the case of an amperage overload. Fuses make sure that if one electrical component fails, the rest of your electrical systems remain unharmed and can function without causing further damage.
The brake light switch may be bad. If all of your brake lights are out and there are no issues with the bulbs themselves, the most likely cause is a malfunctioning brake light switch. This issue should only be replaced by a certified or well-practiced mechanic, as the brake light switches are not always easy to locate and can take some labor and time to repair.
Schearer’s Sales and Service, Inc. Can Help
If you’re experiencing tail light assembly issues in your BMW, swing on by Schearer’s Sales and Service, Inc. of Allentown, Bethlehem, and Macungie, PA, today. Schearer’s Sales and Service’s team of expertly trained technicians have been providing superior BMW repair, maintenance, and replacements in the Allentown, PA area for years. We put our customers first, from customer service and satisfaction to care and attention of your vehicle.
Every BMW is offered a full range of services and repairs, from manufacturer recommended services on schedule to tires and alignments to pesky issues with your tail light assembly. No matter the issue, you can be confident you will receive dealership-quality services at inexpensive prices. Call us today.