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Thread: tail lights question

  1. #1
    Join Date
    May 2004
    Posts
    485

    Default tail lights question

    Dashboard error indicator says license plate lights are not working, but in fact they are.

    Now, backup lights quit working, both sides. Dashboard indicator does not show this.

    LKM problem? Fuses? Coincidental failure of BOTH backup lights?

    Fix?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Posts
    62

    Default A common problem is the wiring on the trunk hinge sometimes breaks/shorts out

    .
    Quote Originally Posted by Dash01
    Dashboard error indicator says license plate lights are not working, but in fact they are.

    Now, backup lights quit working, both sides. Dashboard indicator does not show this.

    LKM problem? Fuses? Coincidental failure of BOTH backup lights?

    Fix?

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Location
    So Cal
    Posts
    290

    Default

    GAM is correct. Check the wires going through the left side hinge of trunk. There's a hard plastic cover that digs into the wires which causes problems.

    Greg Mendoza

  4. #4
    Join Date
    May 2004
    Posts
    485

    Default

    Many thanks!

    Would this explain 1.) the faulty inop. license plate indication at the dashboard AND; 2.) the backup lights are not working, but no such indication shown at the dashboard?

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    Montreal
    Posts
    75

    Default

    Hi all,

    I just had the same problem! I had a warning in the dash CCM about the license plate lights, but my back-up lights were not working. The licence plate lights were working but they were faded, also the inside trunk lights were not working.

    The wiring to the trunk was in bad shape because of the black plastic protector. The brown wire for the ground was cut in two. Fixed it and all works fine now.

    Those archives are great.
    1993 (build 93/05) 525i automatic M50TU (vanos) 263K miles (ca. 423000 km) in Montreal, Canada (bought the car 9 years ago in San Diego, CA)

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jul 2004
    Posts
    778

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by alex 1993 525i auto View Post
    Hi all,

    I just had the same problem! I had a warning in the dash CCM about the license plate lights, but my back-up lights were not working. The licence plate lights were working but they were faded, also the inside trunk lights were not working.

    The wiring to the trunk was in bad shape because of the black plastic protector. The brown wire for the ground was cut in two. Fixed it and all works fine now.

    Those archives are great.
    Thank you for posting. Glad the problem was solved. Would you please post a picture of the "black plastic protector" for location awareness, if this is possible.

    deleted air conditioning

  7. #7
    Join Date
    May 2004
    Location
    Japan
    Posts
    9,249

    Default

    Back in 2012 I posted wire loom info and broken wire looms http://www.bimmerboard.com/forums/posts/1084323
    By black plastic protector he probably means the black plastic on the trunk lid brackets where the wire loom goes thru
    http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...Y/DSC03246.jpg

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Location
    Eastern Tennessee USi
    Posts
    14,839

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Rustam View Post
    Thank you for posting. Glad the problem was solved. Would you please post a picture of the "black plastic protector" for location awareness, if this is possible.
    This was a post from 2005, doubt they will reply. Shoguns reply should help.
    95 E34 530I V2.37
    ===========
    Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.

    John F. Kennedy

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jul 2004
    Posts
    778

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by 632 Regal View Post
    This was a post from 2005, doubt they will reply. Shoguns reply should help.
    The post before mine came yesterday.

    deleted air conditioning

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    Montreal
    Posts
    75

    Default

    Yes, the black plastic piece was this one:
    51491973695
    Part no. 9 in the RealOEM diagram:
    Name:  trunk lid.jpg
Views: 192
Size:  47.8 KB
    1993 (build 93/05) 525i automatic M50TU (vanos) 263K miles (ca. 423000 km) in Montreal, Canada (bought the car 9 years ago in San Diego, CA)

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