trunk light switch 1995 525i

[John in CT]

I've had a presistant draw on my battery for the last few months, if the car sits for more than a few days it will be dead battery time. This winter has been brutal here in Connecticut and I have had no time to look into this issue. Tonight I was in the trunk when I thought about the three lights in there. I triggered both of the lid mounted switches and the lights stayed on.
I removed the bulbs, two one the inside of the lid and the one in the center under the third brake light was actually hot to the touch.

Is there another switch besides the two atteched to each lower corner on the lid?

Thanks in advance,

John

[shogun]

I would check both trunk wire looms for broken wires, so check the looms on left and right side. Here some pics
Pics
Courtesy of the Japanese E34 repair community, trunk lid wire loom repair
http://dd.jpn.org/BMW_HP/20100501/index.shtml
http://dd.jpn.org/BMW_HP/20090410/index.shtml

Germany/Austria
http://de.tinypic.com/view.php?pic=2m64g1y&s=7#.UzlqZGe9KUk
http://de.tinypic.com/view.php?pic=vrzcyd&s=7#.Uzlqqme9KUk
and here in German language which wire color is for which part
http://de.tinypic.com/view.php?pic=j6lzeu&s=7#.Uzlq22e9KUk
http://de.tinypic.com/view.php?pic=2pr8qs8&s=7#.UzlrFGe9KUk
http://de.tinypic.com/view.php?pic=x2l5ee&s=7#.UzlrMWe9KUk
http://de.tinypic.com/view.php?pic=rmitc9&s=7#.UzlrXGe9KUk

how to remove the trunk shock
http://de.tinypic.com/view.php?pic=of8t95&s=7#.UzlrfGe9KUk
more wire fixing
http://de.tinypic.com/view.php?pic=122jkf5&s=7#.UzlrnWe9KUk
http://de.tinypic.com/view.php?pic=qnwcxi&s=7#.UzlruWe9KUk
http://de.tinypic.com/view.php?pic=vy83dd&s=7#.Uzlr0We9KUk
http://de.tinypic.com/view.php?pic=34g2ejb&s=7#.Uzlr7We9KUk
http://de.tinypic.com/view.php?pic=2mwh4kj&s=7#.UzlsA2e9KUk
http://de.tinypic.com/view.php?pic=2rnafsm&s=7#.UzlsIme9KUk

[John in CT]

Boy those are some great pictures, thanks for sharing. i had heard about this type of failure but never saw the gory details. I'll be tearing into mine this weekend, thanks for the great tips,

John

[Russell]

BTW I used my iPhone video to see if the trunk lights were on when it was closed. They were not. Check your flashlight circuit. I heard it can cause a drain.