I got the same problem; I bought an original white ps3 controller from dubai but it doesn't work unless its charging. And for some weird reason it always shows that I'm the 5th player (1 and 2 are lit) but in fact I'm the 1st and only player!
Sometimes the R1, or R2, button doesnt work so i decided to open it, after 3 hours of hard labour, turned out that the R1 AND R2 stopped working.
Without the R1 and R2 buttons the dualshock 3 is practically worthless!