Electrical woes...need help. Half the cluster lights + euro clock light doesn't work

[audiquattrot]

Just to rewind for a sec, I was driving to work this morning....and noticed my 'check' light go on. I looked on the check panel, and it said my license plate lights & taillights were out. This all led back to fuse #23, which is a 7.5A fuse. For some reason it kept blowing out every time i went to put a new one in.

I then started to diagnose where the short could be so I started w/ the license plate lights. Took both out, and seem somewhat corroded. I tried putting a new fuse in w/ the lights out, and still burnt the fuse.

Gave it one more shot by putting yet another 7.5A fuse in #23, and got my taillights and license plates to work....BUT now half my cluster doesn't light up + the euro clock light doesn't illuminate either! I swapped the euro clock bulb w/ 3 different 'good' bulbs...and still nothing.

Question is did i fry something? Or is there another known problem I can check?

[Gregs///M]

Check fuse 10, 12, and 21, those are associated with clock, OBC, and cluster. Then do not install higher value fuses in place of smaller values. Inspect shifter area, under rear seat, and trunk wiring harness for burning, charring, or insulation damage.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

[audiquattrot]

Thanks for the quick reply! I checked every fuse in the fuse box and they are all good. I will check those wires u mentioned tomorrow for sure. I guess my next question is, did I happen to damage something within the cluster itself where it doesn't illuminate on half if it + the euro clock? #23 fuse doesn't blow out anymore w the 7.5A, and I'm wondering that if I had you repair my cluster if my gremlins will return again once that's fully functioning.

I'm still puzzled as to where the root of the problem could be coming from....or if the problem stemmed from the cluster all along causing the license plate and right taillight to go out

[audiquattrot]

Also one last question. How exactly does the obc/euro clock draw power from the cluster to illuminate it? If the right side of the cluster bulb is burnt out, does that mean the obc/euro clock will be out too even though the bulb within the obc/clock is good? I'm kind if hoping the bulb just burnt out in the cluster...,but the fact that swapping out numerous good bulbs in the euro clock leads me to believe somethjng else is f'd

[audiquattrot]

Any insight is appreciated, thanks!

[audiquattrot]

can anyone tell me where this instrument light cluster relay is located?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-E30-3SERIES-BLACK-INSTRUMENT-CLUSTER-LIGHT-RELAY-1375909-/261211846982?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item3cd1707946

[spdracrm3]

left rear of trunk ,above power antenna and behind amplifier

[audiquattrot]

left rear of trunk ,above power antenna and behind amplifier

perfect thanks! Do you know exactly what this relay controls? Would my issue above be the cause of this relay going bad you think?

[audiquattrot]

this was the culprit.