i have a 1999 bmw 323i and the brake lights keep coming on. i took it up to bmw and they replaced the brake switch and it stopped doing it, then the next day it came back on. i put a new gauge cluster in and it didnt come on for about a week. it started doing it again today and my check engine light is on and the code is p1520 with is "b" camshaft actuntor bank 1. does anyone no what this is. i'm new with bmws so any help would help me not alot. i just want the brakes to work right . thanks

 

that code doesnt have to do with the brake lights coming on. lights are probably just a wire getting grounded somewhere that shouldnt be. investigate just like you would any other non-bmw. you might want to look into that code though... sounds like it would keep your vanos from working. someone who knows more about obd2 would know better than i

 

yea i looked it up on aol and i'm getting 2 different code pages. one says brake lights and another says the camshaft position actuntor bank 1.. so i'm not really sure what one it is... thanks

 

I reaching way out in left field, but it sure sounds like a VANOS solenoid; AKA Camshaft Position Actuator.

 

p1520 is definitely the camshaft sensor code. exhaust camshaft i believe. fairly common. probably causing the vanos to not work right or at all. id replace the sensor. awesome diagrams can be found at bmwfans.info, and id get the part from the dealership or pelicanparts.com.

brake lights not related to that code or issue.

edit- so i reread and maybe i misunderstood about the brakes. i thought you meant the actual lights on the back of the car coming on and off. if you mean the "brake lights" warning light, its from a bad connection in one of the lights. its thinking theres no bulb/blown bulb when really its fine.

good luck dude! also, you should swap over an m50 intake manifold from an obd1 e36 325i. its runners are twice as large and youll get some good power from that. i can probably hook you up with one and explain if youre interested!

 

the brake lights on the back off the car come on and stay on for alittle then go off sometimes. thanks everyone... i might be interested in that manifold

 

Check the sensor under the brake pedal, sometime it gets bent and it causes the lights to turn on in off....Get under there and play with it while someone is in the back watching to see if it turns off, bend it back to where it should be.

As far as the cam sensor, your gonna wanna get it taken care of because its gonna start making ur car run rough and stalling ect.

And Lennon Im pretty sure his car is a e46 so the e36 manifold wont fit.

 

no, '99 323 verts are e36's. I would know

 

e36 or e46, the 323 is an m52 and yes it will fit.

 

actually the 99's should be the M52 TU which is a bit different than the M52. And +1 with capelo on the cam sensor, there is 2 an exhaust and intake, the intake will have an effect on how the car drives which will be crappy and also can cause stalling as he already stated. $80 bucks for the exhaust and $95 for the intake. This is a very very very common problem for the E46 and I can honestly tell you I probably do 10+ of them a month. Good luck! and the brake light issue needs to be properly diagnosed but the most common is the brake light switch which most people damage by steping on the brakes too hard and too fast causing damage to the switch.