» Site Navigation | | » Recent Threads | | | | | | | 11-14-2006, 11:02 PM | #1 | Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Dublin, Ireland Posts: 47 | 316i Compact OnBoard Computer Retrofit Hi all, I wonder if someone can help me with details of the parts required to retrofit a 2 button OBC into a Compact. I know I need the following 1. The OBC Unit with thin connection wiring 2. Selector Stalk Are there any other bits? Also, where does the OBC connect to ? Should there be a spare socket on the rear of the instrument cluster ? Cormac | | | 11-14-2006, 11:06 PM | #2 | Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Manassas, VA Posts: 4,129 | I'm planning on doing that retrofit this Sunday. You will need a harness to connect everything. I was wondering if there is anything behind the cluster to deal with too. I don't think there is. I can see what parts I have at home, to give you a more precise parts list. I don't have the OBC computer/clock , so I will not actually be completing this mod on Sunday. Quote: Originally Posted by championc Hi all, I wonder if someone can help me with details of the parts required to retrofit a 2 button OBC into a Compact. I know I need the following 1. The OBC Unit with thin connection wiring 2. Selector Stalk Are there any other bits? Also, where does the OBC connect to ? Should there be a spare socket on the rear of the instrument cluster ? Cormac | __________________ 1998 (July) 318ti, 5-spd OEM Armrest Blaupunkt Heidelberg CD50 CD Player/Compact Drive MP3 Player Diamond Audio 5.25" rear speakers Navman ICN 530 GPS BMWALARM.COM (with comfort settings) after market alarm system Magnecor 8.5mm wires M-Z3 Shifter/Momo Knob Burlwood Dashboard Stromung Exhaust X-brace Racing Dynamics Front Strut Bar Carbonio C.A.I. 17" Rial Rims Vader Seats/Heated/Lumbar Support M-tech Steering Wheel/Front Sway Bar/Front & Rear Bumper Depos/w 6500K Angel Eyes/6000K HIDs Clear Corners M3 Mirrors UUC Light Weight Flywheel/M5 Clutch/M3 Clutch Slave E28 3.46 LSD/Mcoupe Cover/E30 Flanges & Halfshafts UUC S.S. Brake/Clutch Lines Hartge Roof Spoiler BavAuto Springs Bilstein Sport Struts/Shocks E46 M3 Rear Shock Mounts SPC Front Camber Kit Reiger Hatch Spoiler BavAuto Rear Camber Kit Dinan Stage II Software Turner Rear Sway Bar Reinforcements BMW E46 Auto dimming mirror with Clown Nose alarm Engine Compartment Light Heated Wiper Fluid Retrofit OEM Fire Extinguisher Da'lan Trailer Hitch Rear Sun Shade OEM Fog Light Retrofit H & R MZ3 Rear Sway Bar/ UUC Adjustable End Links Cruise Control Retrofit On Board Computer Retrofit M3 twistie style side skirts Carbon Fiber Hood | | | 11-14-2006, 11:30 PM | #3 | Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Bouncing off the rev limiter in CT! Posts: 3,156 | I'm reasonably certain you connect to the ECU, and not the cluster. But, I don't have one and don't plan to, so I am not the authority on this... | | | 11-15-2006, 12:22 AM | #4 | Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Manassas, VA Posts: 4,129 | I think I have the BMW retrofit instructions, need to read through them again. Quote: Originally Posted by championc Hi all, I wonder if someone can help me with details of the parts required to retrofit a 2 button OBC into a Compact. I know I need the following 1. The OBC Unit with thin connection wiring 2. Selector Stalk Are there any other bits? Also, where does the OBC connect to ? Should there be a spare socket on the rear of the instrument cluster ? Cormac | __________________ 1998 (July) 318ti, 5-spd OEM Armrest Blaupunkt Heidelberg CD50 CD Player/Compact Drive MP3 Player Diamond Audio 5.25" rear speakers Navman ICN 530 GPS BMWALARM.COM (with comfort settings) after market alarm system Magnecor 8.5mm wires M-Z3 Shifter/Momo Knob Burlwood Dashboard Stromung Exhaust X-brace Racing Dynamics Front Strut Bar Carbonio C.A.I. 17" Rial Rims Vader Seats/Heated/Lumbar Support M-tech Steering Wheel/Front Sway Bar/Front & Rear Bumper Depos/w 6500K Angel Eyes/6000K HIDs Clear Corners M3 Mirrors UUC Light Weight Flywheel/M5 Clutch/M3 Clutch Slave E28 3.46 LSD/Mcoupe Cover/E30 Flanges & Halfshafts UUC S.S. Brake/Clutch Lines Hartge Roof Spoiler BavAuto Springs Bilstein Sport Struts/Shocks E46 M3 Rear Shock Mounts SPC Front Camber Kit Reiger Hatch Spoiler BavAuto Rear Camber Kit Dinan Stage II Software Turner Rear Sway Bar Reinforcements BMW E46 Auto dimming mirror with Clown Nose alarm Engine Compartment Light Heated Wiper Fluid Retrofit OEM Fire Extinguisher Da'lan Trailer Hitch Rear Sun Shade OEM Fog Light Retrofit H & R MZ3 Rear Sway Bar/ UUC Adjustable End Links Cruise Control Retrofit On Board Computer Retrofit M3 twistie style side skirts Carbon Fiber Hood | | | 11-15-2006, 09:41 PM | #5 | Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Dublin, Ireland Posts: 47 | With the Compact, can someone please tell me how or where does the Compact two button unit get it's fuel consumption details from? Cormac | | | 11-17-2006, 02:11 PM | #6 | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 9,356 | E36/5 On Board Computer Installation __________________ ...steven BMW CCA #146825 1996 BMW 328ti 2003 MINI Cooper S 2016 M235i www.bmwcca.org | | | 11-18-2006, 01:55 AM | #7 | Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Dublin, Ireland Posts: 47 | You are an absolute star - thank's a million for this. I now know what I'm letting myself in for which thankfully looks reasonably straight forward. Cormac | | | 11-18-2006, 04:27 PM | #8 | Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Dublin, Ireland Posts: 47 | Sorry guys, One final (I hope) question. It says on the instructions that the "vehicle data must be programmed into the unit within 36 hrs" If I bought a second hand unit which came from a 316i, would this mean that this step would NOT be required ? Cormac | | | 03-18-2007, 07:41 PM | #9 | Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Dublin, Ireland Posts: 47 | So I have finally finished the OBC retrofit but not quite with the ease in which I thought at the beginning. I started by replacing the stalk which was straightforward. Armed with the BMW retrofit instructions (referring to the wiring layout on the bottom of page 4, Diagram No.2, I got the wiring loom and firstly plugged in the OBC unit (a) followed by the connector to the stalk (c). I then joined up the two earth cables (b) to any earth I could find (all earth wires were brown - I never found any Brown/Orange). Next I went for the six wires (d to i) that were to be connected to the fan connector under the instrument panel. On my car, only two strips had space to add another wire so I had to use scotch clips to join the other four onto existing clips. The instructions said to concentrate on the wiring positions and NOT on the colours. However, nowhere could I find anywhere giving a layout of the fan connector so I hadn't a clue where X182, X183, X188 etc were located so I could only go by the matching colours which worked out fine. Now the fun started. The next one up was the fuel sensor (j). I eventuall located the connector in the footwell but it was impossible to find the cable to snip within the mass of wires. I aborted this and decided to connect it at the back of the instrument panel instead. The wire was Pin 1 on the small black 12 pin connector. Next up was to get the cables through the bulkhead. I could not release the clasp holding the wiring loom in place. I eventually decided to punch a hole through the same plastic panel under the loom. Installing the temp sensor (n) was easy but the final piece was the TI Sensor (m) I found the X20 connector under the battery tray. However, plug in station No. 24 was already filled. From wiring diagrams, it would appear that it should be connected to Pin 25 on the blue 26 pin connector on the rear of the instrumental panel which is what was suggested in Diagram 13. Hopefully this will prove useful for anyone else who decides to embark on this. It's a piece of cake in hindsight. My problems were so easily solvable but I wasted ages in the first place trying to do things by the book. Cormac | | | 03-18-2007, 08:51 PM | #10 | Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Posts: 197 | Super write up, I bought an OBC for my 316 (328) compact of ebay in Germany. It comes with loom, stack, obc unit. I imagine my install will be similar to yours, start by going by the book, then throw the book out and just wire it in. I already have an mpg wire from installing a new dash with mpg guage. I noticed the other day that I already have a temp sensor in the brake duct so i'll just need to find where the wire goes to. Did you have any trouble with the coding, or did it just work? | | | 03-18-2007, 10:18 PM | #11 | Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Dublin, Ireland Posts: 47 | The one I bought was for the same car as mine, a 316i 1.9 so no re-coding necessary. I reckoned that any gains that I might make with buying the bits on eBay could be wiped out by a re-coding by BMW. And you're snookered if they decided to charge you a fortune to re-code it. Be prepared to sell the OBC to buy one already coded for your Compact The Compact OBC's are very rare on the UK eBay so could get decent price there if needed C | | | 03-19-2007, 12:37 PM | #12 | Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Bremerhaven, Germany Posts: 977 | Quote: Originally Posted by Rich I imagine my install will be similar to yours, start by going by the book, then throw the book out and just wire it in. | Having been in this situation before, I might instead suggest asking about what you find unclear or wrong in the BMW installation instructions. With one big exception, I haven't read much that was "going by the book" as directed by the instructions. Why? Because the instructions assume you already know "the book" and therefore leave it out! I think you might have an easier install if you were to ask more questions: to learn the missing book and some tricks and shortcuts you won't find in it. That certainly helped me. But to do that, first one has to become socratic, recognize one's ignorance and ask questions! | | | 03-19-2007, 04:42 PM | #13 | Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Bremerhaven, Germany Posts: 977 | Quote: Originally Posted by championc I found the X20 connector under the battery tray. However, plug in station No. 24 was already filled. From wiring diagrams, it would appear that it should be connected to Pin 25 on the blue 26 pin connector on the rear of the instrumental panel which is what was suggested in Diagram 13. | My ETM shows X17 pin 25 as not used. X20 pin 24 is the 'ti' (fuel injection signal) from the DME. I have a couple questions: - Does your car have an automatic transmission?
- Is the OBC displaying plausible fuel consumption values?
| | | 07-29-2007, 10:17 PM | #14 | Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Manassas, VA Posts: 4,129 | I just started closely reading my OBC instructions, was gonna install the harness today, but rained all day. I totally agree about the X183, X184..etc identifications. You can't see any of that crap, so you MUST go by the colors. Found that out wiring Cruise Control and Fog lights. As you mentioned the hardest part is item "J" and "M" in the instructions. I've posted three pics detailing all the necessary data. You're saying for item "J", tap into pin #1 of the black 12 pin connector of the gauge cluster? The kit came with a fan connector and some piggy back wiring. But you're saying I can avoid that mess in the instructions by using the gauge cluster pin#1? For item "M", I should find it in my engine compartment? I don't see what problem that step should be. My car is a manual tranny. Can you make sure I haven't missed anything? This seems totally backwards. The picture is showing item "M" tapping into the gauge cluster, and you said you put item "J" into the cluster. Please explain both "J" and "M" as clearly as possible. I hate all the piggy back taps I have installed for my fog lights and cruise control. I'm not convinced all are making good contact. What I want to do is buy some of those fan connectors from the dealer, and add more spades to the current fan connectors, basically do it right. http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...49&hg=61&fg=15 Quote: Originally Posted by championc On my car, only two strips had space to add another wire so I had to use scotch clips to join the other four onto existing clips. The instructions said to concentrate on the wiring positions and NOT on the colours. However, nowhere could I find anywhere giving a layout of the fan connector so I hadn't a clue where X182, X183, X188 etc were located so I could only go by the matching colours which worked out fine. Now the fun started. The next one up was the fuel sensor (j). I eventually located the connector in the footwell but it was impossible to find the cable to snip within the mass of wires. I aborted this and decided to connect it at the back of the instrument panel instead. The wire was Pin 1 on the small black 12 pin connector. Next up was to get the cables through the bulkhead. I could not release the clasp holding the wiring loom in place. I eventually decided to punch a hole through the same plastic panel under the loom. Installing the temp sensor (n) was easy but the final piece was the TI Sensor (m) I found the X20 connector under the battery tray. However, plug in station No. 24 was already filled. From wiring diagrams, it would appear that it should be connected to Pin 25 on the blue 26 pin connector on the rear of the instrumental panel which is what was suggested in Diagram 13. Cormac | __________________ 1998 (July) 318ti, 5-spd OEM Armrest Blaupunkt Heidelberg CD50 CD Player/Compact Drive MP3 Player Diamond Audio 5.25" rear speakers Navman ICN 530 GPS BMWALARM.COM (with comfort settings) after market alarm system Magnecor 8.5mm wires M-Z3 Shifter/Momo Knob Burlwood Dashboard Stromung Exhaust X-brace Racing Dynamics Front Strut Bar Carbonio C.A.I. 17" Rial Rims Vader Seats/Heated/Lumbar Support M-tech Steering Wheel/Front Sway Bar/Front & Rear Bumper Depos/w 6500K Angel Eyes/6000K HIDs Clear Corners M3 Mirrors UUC Light Weight Flywheel/M5 Clutch/M3 Clutch Slave E28 3.46 LSD/Mcoupe Cover/E30 Flanges & Halfshafts UUC S.S. Brake/Clutch Lines Hartge Roof Spoiler BavAuto Springs Bilstein Sport Struts/Shocks E46 M3 Rear Shock Mounts SPC Front Camber Kit Reiger Hatch Spoiler BavAuto Rear Camber Kit Dinan Stage II Software Turner Rear Sway Bar Reinforcements BMW E46 Auto dimming mirror with Clown Nose alarm Engine Compartment Light Heated Wiper Fluid Retrofit OEM Fire Extinguisher Da'lan Trailer Hitch Rear Sun Shade OEM Fog Light Retrofit H & R MZ3 Rear Sway Bar/ UUC Adjustable End Links Cruise Control Retrofit On Board Computer Retrofit M3 twistie style side skirts Carbon Fiber Hood | | | 07-30-2007, 12:02 PM | #15 | Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Dublin, Ireland Posts: 47 | I made 2 connections onto the plugs at the rear of the instrument panel "J" - onto Pin 1 on the small black 12 pin connector. "M" - onto Pin 25 on the blue 26 pin connector. Cormac | | | | | Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | | Posting Rules | You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts HTML code is Off | | | |