Rear license plate light brackets

[Bbruins72]

Today I have been working on a number of simple projects on my 91ix. One problem area I have had that I put off working on was the rusted out license plate light area. It is so bad that the rust has eaten away the section to hold the screw in place and I was forced to tape it on the light fixture. I know very weak fix, but it worked.

2 questions: anyone know if a ground or screw missing in these lights would cause the cluster lights to go out. If so how to fix?

Second question: Anyone use these before to fix this area?

https://www.google.com/search?client=ms-android-verizon&ei=7gJ8V4WPEsGx-QHe7LSAAQ&q=e30+license+plate+light+rust&oq=e30+license+plate+light+rust&gs_l=mobile-gws-serp.3..0.1501.9882.0.11339.59.38.0.2.2.0.199.4086.15j22.37.0....0...1c.1j4.64.mobile-gws-serp..26.33.3548...30i10j33i21j0i13j0i13i30j0i13i5i30j0i8i13i30j0i22i30j35i39j0i67j0i20.ftvmXvDBGwc#imgrc=hk2D2ng6wxy_sM%3A

[roguetoaster]

Since you could cover the area later with a plate area filler you could try patching it with fabricated panels, or you could of course find one with minimal/no rust. If the holes aren't huge you could also look in to using POR-15 and a non-Bondo filler (I'd suggest Lab Metal).

I don't see any reason, no do I recall reading any reason why an electrical failure there would relate to the cluster. Further, don't the lights have both a power and ground wires, not a more local ground point?

[Bbruins72]

Rogue thanks for the input. The holes are not larger than the light fixture itself. When I sand down the rust it will be. So yes some form of fabrication or metal will be needed. The question becomes how deep to go and what will follow, grind down put in new pieces, then paint is needed etc...

Secondly the reason I ask about the light issue with the cluster is because about a year ago when I took the license plate lights out to put working bulbs in the dash cluster lights worked after I installed new license plate light bulbs. Cluster lights stopped working when I got home and the screw holes had rusted out of the plate light assembly and it was dangling (that's when I tapped them). The cluster lights worked only 2 more times during the fall. No cluster lighting prior to new license plate light bulbs. Then new bulbs cluster worked... Fixture broke through rust and cluster stopped working, did work 2 more times in fall. So obviously I am chasing an electrical issue, just wasn't sure if anyone knew of or experienced a similar issue

[roguetoaster]

I'd look at your cluster or headlight switch for the source of the the cluster light failure.

As to paint, on the E34 M5 touring there was factory satin paint applied at the license plate mount area, and something like that should look good with almost any color so that you don't have to go crazy trying to match paint with 25+ year old original finishes.

[Bbruins72]

I'd look at your cluster or headlight switch for the source of the the cluster light failure.

As to paint, on the E34 M5 touring there was factory satin paint applied at the license plate mount area, and something like that should look good with almost any color so that you don't have to go crazy trying to match paint with 25+ year old original finishes.

Yes that was my main concern doing any work, how I would get it prepped back and not look bad. Honestly the tape hide it pretty well. But Damn that is a weak and horrible fix for a car I care about. Great idea above thanks