brake lights staying on.

[spike318is]

only noticed the other day when reversing my car into a parking space that my brake lights are staying on, they turn off again if i lift the pedal with my toe, is there any adjustment on the pedal where i can tease it wawy from the switch a little bit?

[DesktopDave]

Yep, bend the bracket that holds the switch.  Older e30's had a threaded body, but the newer ones just clip in.  I had the same problem with my 325i.

Or you could do it the hard way, adjust the master cylinder rod.  Pull the spring clip from the brake clevis, pop the fastening stud out, loosen the lock nut on the rod, adjust to proper length, then reverse for reassembly.

Trust me, bending the bracket is far easier & tweaking it a bit will last for years.  If you need more clearance you can pull the brake switch out too.  There's a collar around the switch button that you can pull out.  When you get it far enough it'll click and you can then squeeze the plastic body clips that hold the switch into the bracket.  Hard to explain but it works.

[spike318is]

dave, you are a legend. the collar you are talking about, is that a small transparent piece of plastic on the end of the switch which is red where the peddle makes contact with the switch. does it simply pull out from the red part of the switch, maybe i cud only remove it as apposed to bending the frame?

[DesktopDave]

Yeah, it's a small collar that goes 'round the switch push button.  Might be white, now that I think about it.  Push the brake pedal down, the button extends normally.  That'll give you the length to pull the collar out firmly.  It will slide out almost as far as the button, coming practically all the way out of the switch.

That unlocks the clips on the switch body & lets you squeeze them in to pull the switch body.  First time I did that it took a fair amount of force, and it's not really easy to get at it.  The brake is in the way too.

Like I said, it's easier done than said...

[spike318is]

sorted it out, if only every fault i have was as easily fixed. i removed the panel under the steering wheel and realised that the switch was to far from the pedal to make contact when i lifted my foot from the pedal so i took out my socket set and joined the two extention bars and rested one end on the frame of the switch and at the other end with my trusty hammer give it one small tap and that was it, problem solved now on to the gearbox, suspension, steering rack, paint work etc etc.

[Colo318IS]

just for reference in case anyone else experiences this in the future...

I had the exact same issue happen to me as spike318is...what resolved it for me was that collar piece that desktop dave mentioned...on my car, the collar piece was red, I guess mine got pushed in somehow, so I pulled it out til it clicked and locked into place.  That solved the problem for me.  Brakes lights come on and off on comand without having to pull up on the pedal with my toe....anywho, just passing along...thanks for raising this issue spike318is and thanks desktop dave for your response, you both saved me a ton of time chasing it down...

[DesktopDave]

Pulling that collar out will unlock the brake switch.  I don't think it'll fall out, but I'd replace it when you get a chance.  I'd guess the rear cover of the switch is cracked and it's flexing when the brake spring engages the switch.  I'd suggest a new one as they're only like $10 IIRC.

[highway1]

Same problem when i bought my car. i got a used switch from junkyard and it has been good for the last two years

[91 e30m42]

mine just happened it sucks i even pulled it out to push it with my thumb nothing... i took it apart and some of the plastic melted on the metal and had to scrape some off put it together and nothing its sucks cause i bought it off ebay for like 15 bucks 6 months ago... now i had to buy another i hope it is the switch and not an electrical problem as i dont need this right now!!!