BMW Repair: 318i 1996 Electrical Issue, low beam, indicator light


Question
Hello there,

I am a little confused and wondering if you can help me or point me in the direction i need to look in.

The back light in my instrument panel went out, at first i thought it was just a bulb so went to the trouble of removing the panel to find all the bulbs fine, however the milage counter and all the other independant lights still work fine on the panel. Open up the hood and sure enough a fuse had blown, red 10amp one, replaced it but it just blows the moment i turn the lights on.

At the same time my low beam drivers front and pretty much all of my drivers rear cluster doesnt work but all the bulbs are fine.

On the rear cluster no light works at all except the indicator light.  I am guessing there is a wiring/grounding issue somewhere but i dont know where to look, what to look for and where to begin. Wondering if you could help at all.

Answer
I've read this a couple of times, and want to make sure I understand.

1.  has the back light in your instrument panel and your headlight always been out together?  Of does one of them work sometimes?  Did one go out before the other?

2.  by rear cluster do you mean the rear light cluster (tail light, turn signal, brake light)?  If so, what do you mean by the indicator light?

3. Is this a US car?