So I bought an E34 525i 5-speed touring (woot!) and I've got most of the problems sorted, except for one thing - the stupid third brake light! The check computer bitches about it every time I drive the car.
Brilliantly, the factory BMW setup uses 20 incandescent bulbs soldered to a printed circuit board.
Not only is this notoriously unreliable for the people who HAVE all the components, but mine is missing the whole assembly altogether - the wiring is taped up under the hatch spoiler. OEM parts are impossible to come by, and a PITA to remove (hatch spoiler is bonded to rear glass). So I have two options:
I am not a wiring expert. Any suggestions?
Ouch, just the board alone is $200. Probably a resistor would shut the OBC up.
Heres a back glass with spoiler for $250+ ship
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BMW-E34-525it-Touring-Wagon-Hatch-Glass-w-brake-light-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem483c018d86QQitemZ310244380038QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories
You got a BMW wagon 5 speed? You're an shiny happy person. You want to know why you're an shiny happy person? Because I don't have one. shiny happy person.
Go to the junkyard.
Look on the roof of Astro/Safari, S-Blazer/Jimmy/Bravada.
Some years of these models have a roof-mount, all-LED third brake light. Get one. Remove the end caps and slide out the circuit board full of LEDs.
Put it in your existing housing. Wire it up.
????
Profit.
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