Our left rear indicator went out a few days ago and when I went to replace it I learned that the entire rear left lighting unit is out. No brake lights, not turn signal, no driving lights. Any advice about what to check would be much appreciated. I haven't looked at any fuses yet but can do that later today.

TIA

 

What year is your car? Sounds like it could be the tail light recall problem. BMW used too small a ground to the tail light assembly and in some cars it has melted plastic and insulation.

 

Here's one document:
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/acms/cs...3V407-5690.pdf

You can Search on this site and find more on this. BMW came out with an improved tail light assembly that has an extra ground that is to be attached to the ground harness located under the tail light.

 

Here is the SIB from BMW:
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/acms/cs...3V407-5990.pdf

 

very common on our cars its the ground cable if you pull out the bulb holder you will see its kind of melted or burned it needs to be replaced with new socket new tailight bulb holder and i would also replace the ground able