How To Reset Brake Light On BMW (Step-by-step Guide):
If your BMW brake light is illuminating on the dash and you don’t know how to reset it, this guide is for you. The brake light on your car usually illuminates when there’s an issue with the braking system. So, how do you clear it the correct way?
How to reset brake light on BMW? To reset your BMW brake light:
- Turn off your car ignition
- Press and hold the odometer reset button and then turn the key on without turning on your car engine
- Release the reset button, navigate to brake fluid menu, and reset the brake light.
Read on to discover more insights in our step-by-step guide below n how to reset the brake light on your BMW. We have also discussed why your BMW brake light reset may be unsuccessful and what to do in such a situation.
How To Reset Brake Light On Bmw

The brake light on your BMW coming on usually indicates a problem with your vehicle braking system, e.g. low brake fluid, worn brake pads, etc.
Thankfully, resetting his light is a simple DIY procedure that you can accomplish by following the steps outlined below.
Before resetting the light, make sure you have replaced the brake pads and that the brake pad sensor is connected.
Step-By-Step Guide For Resetting Bmw Brake Light:

Step 1. The first thing to do when resetting your BMW brake light is to turn off your car ignition and remove the key from the ignition switch.
Step 2. Next, open your vehicle hood and check the brake fluid reservoir (which usually sits near the driver’s side of the engine compartment). Inspect the fluid level in the compartment.
If it’s below the minimum mark, it may have triggered the brake light. Top it up to the correct mark using the recommended brake fluid for your BMW car. Close your car hood.
Step 3. Now sit in the driver’s seat and put the ignition key into the ignition switch but don’t turn it. Press and hold the Odometer reset button and turn the ignition key to ON position, but DON’T start the engine.
Continue in this state for approx. 5 seconds until a series of symbols and messages appear on your car’s instrument cluster.
Step 4. Release the reset button and use a button/knob on the instrument cluster to navigate to the menu displaying the brake fluid level. This menu is usually labeled Vehicle Info, Check Control, or BC.
Step 5. After getting to the brake fluid level menu, press and hold the button once more. This will display a message confirming the brake light reset.
Step 6. Once the brake light is reset, you can now go ahead and turn off the ignition. Also, remove the key from ignition switch.
Step 7. Start your BMW engine as you normally do and confirm that the brake warning light no longer appears on the dash. If you can still see the brake light, it means your car has an underlying issue with braking system that requires inspection by an experienced BMW auto mechanic.
NOTE: This is a generalized guide for resetting the brake light on different models and makes of BMW vehicles. For more info specific to your vehicle, consult your owner’s manual.
Here’s a helpful video on how to reset BMW brake lights:
Video:
How Do You Reset The Brake Warning Light On A Bmw 1 Series?
The process for resetting the brake warning lights on your BMW 1 series is not much different from that of other BMW cars as we discussed above.

Assuming you have already resolved the issue that triggered the brake light to come on, follow these steps to reset your BMW 1 series brake lights:
Step 1. Turn ON your car ignition and then press and hold the odometer reset button on your dash.
Step 2. After holding down the reset button for approx. 5 seconds, a yellow triangle should show up on your car display with exclamation mark inside. This will be followed by service menu.
Step 3. Navigate to the brake light setting with the help of the turn signal stalk control.
Step 4. Lastly, press and hold the BC button on the turn signal stalk control, and the brake light will reset.
Note that your brake light does not go away or come on again after following the above procedure. If this happens, it means the underlying problem with your braking system was not resolved.
In this case, we advise you to have the brakes inspected as soon as possible to prevent the possibility of an accident.
How Do You Reset The Brake Light On Bmw X3?
Your BMW X2 brake light comes on as a reminder that you need to change your brakes., once you have the brake pads and brake sensor wears replaced, you can then go ahead and reset the light.
Here are steps to follow to reset the brake light:
Step 1. Turn on the car ignition but don’t start the engine.
Step 2. Hold down the odometer or trip reset button (usually located to the left of the speedometer) until the service menu appears. This should take about 5o to 10 seconds.
Step 3. Now use the reset button or controls on turn signal lever (depending on your car model) to navigate through the settings until you get to the brake warnings.
Step 4. Press and hold the BC or reset button on the end of turn signal lever until a reset warning prompt appears.
Step 5. Press the BC button until the resetting message appears on the screen and confirm that the reset is asked to.
Check the video below on how to reset the brake lights on your BMW X3
Video:
How Do You Reset The Brake Warning On Bmw X5?
Follow the steps outlined below to clear the brake warning light on your BMW X5 dash:
Step 1. Turn on your car ignition but avoid starting the engine.
Step 2. Next, hold on to the odometer/trip reset button so that the service menu shows up. The menu should be up after about 5 to 10 seconds of holding the button.
Step 3. Now use the turn signal lever or reset button to scroll through the settings displayed until you get to brake warning settings.
Step 4. Hold the BC or reset button (on the end of turn signal lever) until a prompt comes up asking if you want to continue with the reset process.
Step 5. Finally, press the BC or reset button until the resetting message appears on the display and you’re done.
Here’s a video showing you how to reset brake warning on your BMX X5:
Video:
Why Won’t My Bmw Brake Warning Light Reset?
If your BMW brake light reset is unsuccessful, there could be an error when fixing the brake system issue.
Or you may have not followed the correct resetting procedure as outlined in the manufacturer’s owner manual.
Make sure you have followed our guide above and held the odometer reset button for approx. 5 seconds. Also, confirm if you have indeed accessed the brake fluid level menu.

If you followed the correct reset procedure and the brake light did not reset, then your car could be having an underlying braking system issue that requires further diagnosis.
Your car could most probably be experiencing a faulty brake sensor, brake pad or disc issue, malfunctioning brake control module, etc.
Whatever the issue is, we advise you to have a certified auto mechanic diagnose your vehicle.
These professionals have the necessary diagnostic tool to help them pinpoint the exact problem your car is experiencing and resolve it so that the brake light goes away.
Can You Drive With Bmw Brake Light On?
Generally, we don’t recommend you drive your BMW with the brake light on. The brake light usually indicates an issue with the braking system. It can be triggered by issues such as low brake fluid, a faulty brake system component, worn brake pads, etc.

Therefore, if you continue to drive your vehicle with the light on, the underlying issue can lead to ineffective braking system performance, thus compromising your own safety and even causing further damage to your car braking system.
Have your BMW car inspected by a qualified BMW mechanic to find out the cause of the brake light to come and have the issue addressed before you continue operating your car.
If you’re looking for solutions to reset the brake light on a BMW, you may also find our article on brake light doesn’t work when headlights are on helpful. This article provides insights and potential solutions for situations where the brake light fails to work when the headlights are turned on. Additionally, if you’re facing issues with a brake light that won’t turn on, our article on brake light won’t turn on offers troubleshooting tips and suggestions to address this problem.FAQs:
Why does my BMW brake light stay on?
Your BMW brake light may stay on due to various factors such as low brake fluid level, faulty brake sensors, worn brake pads, or a malfunctioning component of the brake system. When the braking light comes on, you should have your car diagnosed to uncover and fix the underlying issue.
How long can I drive with BMW brake pad warning light?
We do not recommend your vehicle for extended periods when the brake pad warning light comes on. Continuing to drive your car with worn brake pads can compromise your vehicle’s braking performance and put your performance at risk.
Conclusion
This article has just discussed the key steps to follow to clear the brake on different BMW car models. For more details, we advise you to follow your specific car model owner’s manual. Note that the brake warning knights when there’s an issue with your car braking system, so it’s important to issue you have the issue addressed first before attempting to clear the lights.
Ignoring the underlying issue could lead to a more serious problem and even endanger your safety and that of others on the road. Avoid driving your vehicle further until you have it inspected and the issue resolved. If you do not follow the correct resetting process or don’t solve the underlying issue first, your BMW brake light reset may be unsuccessful.