E36 OBC Retrofit - Few Questions!

Finally going to do this!

So far have everything removed and ready to start & have the complete kit bought.

Folowing the guide on Driver,
http://www.bmw-driver.net/forum/showthread.php?t=20821


Just a few questions,

- I need extra pins for dash cluster.
If I get a blue or white dash cluster connection from another E36 (To extract and use the pins in mine)
How are the pins extracted and is it possible to extract them leaving the wire connected so I can simply join on another wire?

- Guide says, 25m-30m of 'Assorted equipment wire'
What exactly is this? What I do I ask for and where can I buy it?

- Code Function,
Is this all it does 'Press code button then input a 4 digit code to start car' If so can I get away without it?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RossYB

Finally going to do this!

So far have everything removed and ready to start & have the complete kit bought.

Folowing the guide on Driver,
http://www.bmw-driver.net/forum/showthread.php?t=20821


Just a few questions,

- I need extra pins for dash cluster.
If I get a blue or white dash cluster connection from another E36 (To extract and use the pins in mine)
How are the pins extracted and is it possible to extract them leaving the wire connected so I can simply join on another wire?

- Guide says, 25m-30m of 'Assorted equipment wire'
What exactly is this? What I do I ask for and where can I buy it?

- Code Function,
Is this all it does 'Press code button then input a 4 digit code to start car' If so can I get away without it?

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1. Yep, you can open up tue connecter and just pull them out.

2. I used. 2mm wire, ripped off in maplins! By online but if i was doing it again I'd use a slightly heaver gauge.

3. Yep you can do without, never used it on my e36

There is a few edits to the same thread on here :)

Perfect!

So use maybe 2.5mm or 3mm wire? What AMP rating should it be?
Anyone any links to an example of what to get ?


And does anyone have Dash Cluster plugs from a Scrap E36? :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RossYB

Perfect!

So use maybe 2.5mm or 3mm wire? What AMP rating should it be?
Anyone any links to an example of what to get ?


And does anyone have Dash Cluster plugs from a Scrap E36? :)

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Sorry, phone :D

I used 0.2 wire, maybe 0.3?


Here

^ Shows how much I know! :D

Looks fairly do-able and guide seems to be very detailed. :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RossYB

Perfect!

So use maybe 2.5mm or 3mm wire? What AMP rating should it be?
Anyone any links to an example of what to get ?


And does anyone have Dash Cluster plugs from a Scrap E36? :)

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Yeah as per FB I should do. Interested to see how you get on as I've the kit there to do this as well and has been on the long finger :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ketron

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RossYB

Perfect!

So use maybe 2.5mm or 3mm wire? What AMP rating should it be?
Anyone any links to an example of what to get ?


And does anyone have Dash Cluster plugs from a Scrap E36? :)

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Sorry, phone :D

I used 0.2 wire, maybe 0.3?


Here

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That's the one you used?
I know you said ticker but the next up seems to .6mm

So would this be okay?
http://www.maplin.ie/p/maplin-equipment-wire-7-02mm-black-100m-pa45y

If this is successful I'll be doing a few more retrofits in my car so will always use the extra wire.

Sorry for all the questions but I know absolutely nothing about wiring/electrics but I can follow a guide. :)

Okay, I'v run into a problem already.

Black Harness (X1070):
Pin 6: (blue/brown/yellow) Goes to ----------------------> Pin 26 of X17. OK
Pin 9: (green/blue) Goes to ----------------------> Pin 4 of X17 OK
Pin 10: (blue/white) Goes to ----------------------> Gong (blue/white) I have 2 of these?
Pin 11: (red/white) Goes to ----------------------> Gong (red/white) OK
Pin 12: (brown/grey) Goes to ----------------------> Temp Sensor I have 2 of these?
Pin 13: (black/white) Goes to ----------------------> Pin 2 of X17 OK
Pin 14: (violet/white) Goes to ----------------------> violet white wire under steering wheel (pic included later) OK
Pin 15: (blue/violet/white) Goes to ----------------------> Pin 24 of X17 OK
Pin 16: (grey/red) Goes to ----------------------> Old clock (also grey/red) OK
Pin 17: (brown) Goes to ----------------------> Old Clock (also brown) Don't have?
Pin 18: (red/yellow) Goes to ----------------------> Old Clock (also red/yellow) Don't have?

Have a Black/Green, Green/White, Grey/White and Blue/Red wires left. (I think these are all the check control wires)


Wires are all Ok on the White plug, Gong wires are all present and correct.

Temp sensor has 2 wires Brown/Grey and Brown/Orange. I assume the Brown/Grey connects to X1070 Pin 12 & the Brown/Orange is then the earth wire.

The red/yellow wire is the wire that illuminates the buttons when you pop on your lights. If you have another one somewhere forget about it it's not needed. The thermometer can be earthed in the engine bay or at a solid brown at back of obc. You will know you have this correct when it reads a tempature that's correct. Can't help more working from memory here and a long way from my car. Not all harnesses are the exact same. Some wires on that diy on driver are NOT needed.


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Oh and if you have another earth solid brown pin 17 don't worry about this either iirc I removed pins 17 and 18. Either works or it doesn't. So if ya have lights when your lights are on and it actually works at all. Forget about pins 17 and 18.


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Okay that's helpful, Thanks.
I suppose the 2 wires the same are an easy fix, The temp Sensor/Gong will either work or not.

It says
WHITE HARNESS:
Pin 8: (red/yellow) Goes to ----------------------> Pin 18 of X1070
Pin 13: (brown) Goes to ----------------------> Pin 17 of X1070


Now as the BLACK HARNESS (X1070) Doesn't have either of these wires, Should I join directly to the interior clock? That should provide my earth and light source. (Or Does each connection need a seperate Earth/Light source?)
Is that what you did?

Am I correct in thinking I should at least get the OBC to light up by:

Black Harness:
Pin 16: (grey/red) Goes to ----------------------> Old clock (Grey/Red) - Inner Light

White Harness:
Pin 8: (red/yellow) Goes to ----------------------> Old clock (Red/Yellow) - Power
Pin 13: (brown) Goes to -------------------------> Old clock (Brown) - Earth


Actually ignore that, That means the OBC would be always lit up.
I assume I also need the White/Violet switched wire under the dash.

It's been a while since i wrote that DIY but I think the white/violet wire is a must have anyway. Also, the DIY was specific to my car at the time ('98, no aircon) and I believe there were changes to the wiring colour schemes depending on the model in question

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 318 iS Cosmos

It's been a while since i wrote that DIY but I think the white/violet wire is a must have anyway. Also, the DIY was specific to my car at the time ('98, no aircon) and I believe there were changes to the wiring colour schemes depending on the model in question

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Yes I'v that connected now. :)

This is the diagram I'm using,
http://bmwenthusiasts.co.uk/forum/do...le.php?id=6619

For now I was just trying to get the OBC to light up so I know that's correct before continuing.
And I can't get it to light!

Pin 9 (Black Connection) Has Power.
Pin 14 (Black Connection) Has Power.
Pin 16 (Black Connection) Couldn't get power from clock, So have used the switched light power from cigarette lighter. Has Power.

Pin 8 (White Connection) Has Power.
Pin 13 (White Connection) Is earthed to the old clock wire.

Surely it should now atleast light up with date/time?


Luckily I'm doing all this in a spare E36 to figure out exactly what I'm doing then hopefully transferring it all into my own E36 of it works!!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RossYB

Okay that's helpful, Thanks.
I suppose the 2 wires the same are an easy fix, The temp Sensor/Gong will either work or not.

It says
WHITE HARNESS:
Pin 8: (red/yellow) Goes to ----------------------> Pin 18 of X1070
Pin 13: (brown) Goes to ----------------------> Pin 17 of X1070


Now as the BLACK HARNESS (X1070) Doesn't have either of these wires, Should I join directly to the interior clock? That should provide my earth and light source. (Or Does each connection need a seperate Earth/Light source?)
Is that what you did?

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I can't remember tbh. You need an earth somewhere so you need a solid brown to a solid brown. You should be able to see the display working regardless of backlight or not. I can't see why the obc would need to double up on a light source. The light up is only for the buttons of the obc. The display itself should be powered and emitting light regardless of the lights on or not.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
[hr]
Nothing will work until you get an earth. Need a solid brown to a solid brown. It's just an earth nothing to be afraid of. The solid brown is always the earth anywhere on a 36. Find the brown on either harness and connect to brown at the clock :)


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It's looking more and more like the OBC I have is a Dud (Even though it was supposed to be working before removal but that was 6+ months ago)


Need to either try it in a car to check it works or get another one.

After getting another OBC, With no luck again. It HAD to be wiring.

Then emailed a guy on E36Coupe. Provided me with a link on Bimmerforums for another guide.
Pleased to say I now have the OBC lighting up. :D

All you need is the WHITE plug, (For initial power on)
Red/Yellow Wire to Old Clock, (Permanent Live so holds time/date memory)
Brown to Old Clock, (Earth)
Red/Brown to a switched live, (So it only comes on with ignition)


Also have the temperature working. :)

Hopefully the rest goes smoothly!

whats the wire that need to go to the back of the clocks for your mpg i still need to do that one