Hello from a new, first time BMW owner

[steve64h]

Hi! I'm glad to find so many people are so enthusiatic about their TIs!
I just bought mine this July and I love it... It's been giving me a hard way to go though! I just replaced the fuel pump, and now the number 31 fuse keeps blowing and I can't start my car! I spent about three hours dismantling my dash and unplugging everything I could including the alarm module and the clock. It's still in the parking lot at my job! Is there a common problem that causes this fuse to ground out? The car has suffered a front hit while in the care of its previous owner, also the radio has been replaced. I'm thinking of hot-wiring it so I can atleast drive it home. any suggestions?

Car is a '97 318 ti with 5sp. 3.19L engine and LSD.

Thanks,
Steve

[FLJayson318]

welcome, im not sure which fuse is 31 lol its too late to go out and check in my car but when i replaced my headunit i didnt tape off one wire and it blew some electrical stuff in my dash(rehostat...idk how to spell it) so i would make sure everything is taped off there but why are you taking appart your dash and unplugging everything????...

[pnosker]

That's weird... looks like Fuse 31 is essential for the dash electronics (OBC, etc.). Has it been raining? Maybe it got a little wet back there.

Good luck man. BTW it's a 1.9L, not a 3.19L... that would be nice though.

[tiFreak]

welcome, sucks that you're having big problems this early in your ownership though

[steve64h]

Thanks to everyone for the replys.
I found one end of the short by tracing the fuse with the aid of the downloadable electrical schematic and then pulling wires from the splice under the dash. (I had torn the dash apart because the previous owner had installed a radio and I figured he probably pinched a wire with the tin box the radio slides into) I got the car home but am only half way finished with tracing the short.

I am amazed at the amount of unnecessary stuff BMW put in this car to make the interior look neater. I'll bet I removed 25 lb of panels and my instruments and airbags are still in place. Some where in the 1980s car makers decided that owners should think their cars ran by magic and there should be no wires, or even an engine visible to the naked eye. It's my pet peeve with all car makers. just ranting a little, probably a good topic for another thread.
Thanks to pnoscer for the spell check! It's a 1.9 and a 3.19 would be nice, I'd like to have a 1.2 though, probably get 40 mpg with that and still have plenty of ponies for me!