As I mentioned on the forum a few days ago, cars behind me at night had begun to flash their brights at me last week. I finally figured out that the brake light switch was only working when I depressed the brake pedal very firmly. Therefore no brake lights, except when I actually stomped on the pedal. A bad deal for city driving with all the inattentive, nonattentive, and attention-deficit drivers on the roads.
The next step was to determine where the switch was located. The 2000 had two versions; a later one mounted inside the car behind the brake pedal, but of course I had the early model, a hydraulic switch on the master cylinder.
1) The old switch
It looked fine but then the workings aren't exactly visible.
So I acquired a new one; alas the BMW version seems to be NLA. After a moment's wrestling to loosen the nut on the old unit, the new switch went on quickly.
2) New switch
Now let's hope other drivers stop flashing their lights at me.
POSTSCRIPT: Since the owners manual indicates that one should flush the brake fluid once a year and mine had last been changed nearly 12 months ago, I filled her up with new fluid today. Now the brakes are firm and operate like new. Best of all, the brake lights illuminate with just a tap on the pedal.
The next step was to determine where the switch was located. The 2000 had two versions; a later one mounted inside the car behind the brake pedal, but of course I had the early model, a hydraulic switch on the master cylinder.
It looked fine but then the workings aren't exactly visible.
So I acquired a new one; alas the BMW version seems to be NLA. After a moment's wrestling to loosen the nut on the old unit, the new switch went on quickly.
2) New switch
Now let's hope other drivers stop flashing their lights at me.
POSTSCRIPT: Since the owners manual indicates that one should flush the brake fluid once a year and mine had last been changed nearly 12 months ago, I filled her up with new fluid today. Now the brakes are firm and operate like new. Best of all, the brake lights illuminate with just a tap on the pedal.
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