E85 3rd brake light - is it broke?

[Crazy Harry]

Sorry - stupid question time.

So I don't look at the brake lights because they're behind me! But I did notice a reflection of the third light last month (about a week after it pasted its MOT with no advisories) but its taken ages to get two of us in the house at the same time so I can look at it in daylight and photo it.

I've never followed another Zed should the third light look like this with a gap between two chains of LEDs? or have I got a section of LEDs blown?

No crack in the plastic but I can't make out the LED's themselves in the encapsulation to know if there is supposed to be a gap

DSCF2025.JPG (174.16 KiB) Viewed 762 times

[Marlon]

You've blown the centre LEDs (and the outer edges too by the looks of it) - should be a continuous strip

[1972nail]

There's not supposed to be a gap, but it looks symmetrical and won't fail an MOT so why worry.....Cheapest replacement is for a white one at around £60 so ask yourself is it worth £60 to fix something you don't see or need to fix?

[Crazy Harry]

You've blown the centre LEDs (and the outer edges too by the looks of it) - should be a continuous strip

Thanks Marlon - thought that was the case. It must have gone just after the MOT as my garage wouldn't have passed it with a blown section.

Typical though - all these cracked cases and mine is fine - has anyone split a unit and put working internals into a good case?

[Crazy Harry]

There's not supposed to be a gap, but it looks symmetrical and won't fail an MOT so why worry.....Cheapest replacement is for a white one at around £60 so ask yourself is it worth £60 to fix something you don't see or need to fix?

Yea know what you mean - almost looks like it should be like that. It will have to be red (can't do the clear) so I think I might have to put off the £80 until the next test.

[1972nail]

I have an old red unit with good LED's but broken case somewhere. The only requirement for MOT is that it has working brake lights on each of the outer extremities of the car the 3rd brake light is not a legal requirement.

[ben g]

Same problem here with one that's less than a year old.

DSC_5595.JPG (81.76 KiB) Viewed 741 times

Only way to fix it is to buy a new unit.

[ben g]

You've blown the centre LEDs (and the outer edges too by the looks of it) - should be a continuous strip

The outer edges don't light up. It's a rectangular block of led's.

[Crazy Harry]

Same problem here with one that's less than a year old.quote]

Now that looks broken! has anyone split the third light before?

[ben g]

It does come apart as my previous one split at the seal between the led housing and clear cover and you could access the led's inside.

[1972nail]

As you can see the outer positions don't have LED's. The LED's are also arranged in blocks of 3 or 4 with resistors feeding each block, so if one resistor failed a whole block of 3 or 4 will go out.

WP_20180210_17_00_04_Pro[1].jpg (89 KiB) Viewed 715 times

WP_20180210_16_58_43_Pro[1].jpg (116.2 KiB) Viewed 715 times

[Crazy Harry]

As you can see the outer positions don't have LED's. The LED's are also arranged in blocks of 3 or 4 with resistors feeding each block, so if one resistor failed a whole block of 3 or 4 will go out.

WP_20180210_17_00_04_Pro[1].jpg
WP_20180210_16_58_43_Pro[1].jpg

Very useful photos - have to think about splitting two and making one good one (and of course one comedy one - blown lights and cracked case).

[MACK]

They really are the biggest pile of sh!te that's fitted to the E85. The last time I ordered one when it arrived my mate commented that it looked like poor quality for even an eBay knock off.
It had just been delivered to him by a BMW main dealer delivery guy.

[1972nail]

I agree, I bought a universal one for £1.99 inc postage last week to fit to the rear window of one of my classic cars and it's at least as good quality....

[1972nail]

OK then, those of you who wish to repair yours can use the remains of my old one if you pay the postage.