Same brake bulb keeps blowing

[AdrianChelt]

I have a 2005 GTI, for some reason I keep getting the same brake light bulb blowing. It is the nearside one.
This happens every 3 months or so. I have tried different makes of bulb (including a halfords shock resistant  ), this makes no difference.
Looking at the light unit I can see nothing obvious that causes this...

Anyone any ideas?

Thanks in advance
Adrian

[Jimp]

Only a minor thing but when installing the new bulb do you hold it with a clean cloth or tissue? Sometimes the natural oil/grease on your finger tips can really reduce bulb life, which is a pain if you do a lot of early morning or night driving.

[Gene Hunt.]

Could be a faulty earth connection.

[Egbutt Wash]

Could be a faulty earth connection.

My thoughts were an intermittent connection.  Have someone drive behind you when lightly touching the brake. 

[AdrianChelt]

Thanks for the suggestions.

I tried watching the brake light whilst my wife was driving... no flicker, it looked fine

I could not see a individual earth for the brake light, it is a multi-plug for all the boot based lights. I guess they would all have a problem in that case.

At least replacing the brake light bulb is easy!

Hot tip for anyone trying it... snip the thread across the split in the bootside cover - it makes it so much easier to get at the bolts & plug