Rear driving light not working - not bulb not fuse...

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BEERBOY123
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Post Sat Dec 13, 2014 4:36 pm

As title really, driver's side rear driving light kaput: not the bulb and not the fuse. Is this going to be a whole new light cluster scenario? 318iS btw.

Very bizarrely, it does work if I put the rear fog lights on...

Help

Thanks
Two headblenders, couple of bags of MC Hammer, 5 litres of FFF, a 48ft bastard, a box of jumped-up custard and some soggy chimps
votivequagmire
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Post Mon Dec 15, 2014 11:51 pm

Sounds like a connection issue. Bad earth somewhere. I'd certainly start by cleaning up the pins and sockets of the light cluster back plate. Probably a good place to start.
'88 325i M20, could've done with a sunroof.
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Brianmoooore
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Post Tue Dec 16, 2014 7:51 pm

There are three versions of E30 facelift rear lampholder assemblies that I've come across. One (the version where all the internal wiring is hidden) is prone to issues like this.
It's a bad earth issue, as votivequagmire suggests, but somewhere sandwiched between the plastic of the whole lampholder unit.
'Borrow' the lampholder from the other side as a check. You'll have to unclip the socket from the front half of the light unit to be able to connect it to the holder from the other side, as it won't fit in place, of course.
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BEERBOY123
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Post Wed Dec 17, 2014 6:30 pm

Thanks, I'll give that a try
Two headblenders, couple of bags of MC Hammer, 5 litres of FFF, a 48ft bastard, a box of jumped-up custard and some soggy chimps