Hi, I'm doing a V8 engine swap, currently the engine is out and won't be going in for a while. I now need to lower the rear windows to lower the roof. I tried connecting the battery to the fuse box wire and earth but the car is dead. How can I connect the battery to power the windows?
Car is 1992 318i cabriolet
Thanks
Engine out, need to lower roof.
Moderator: martauto
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e30-unit-soldier
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I'm assuming it's a electric roof?
You can lower it manually by disengaging the 2 roof motors
You can lower it manually by disengaging the 2 roof motors
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andysheep
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Door card off fumble about inside bottom of door find power conecter for window motor 12 volt battery one way up one way down,rear windows look for same conector behind rear side card (bugger to get out ,take your time )make sure its goin throu to window motor first and samedeal as front 
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e30-unit-soldier
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I had a total closure alarm in my cab years ago and it was wired to each one of the window switches...
You might be able to run power through them? But please do your own research and don't blame me if your car gets goosed
You might be able to run power through them? But please do your own research and don't blame me if your car gets goosed
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Brianmoooore
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Find the green/black wire that went to the starter motor (smallest ring terminal), and temporarily connect it to a good body earth, OR remove relay K5 and link together pins 30 and 87 of its socket with a piece of wire.
interior lights came on, but windows didn't workBrianmoooore wrote:Find the green/black wire that went to the starter motor (smallest ring terminal), and temporarily connect it to a good body earth, OR remove relay K5 and link together pins 30 and 87 of its socket with a piece of wire.
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Brianmoooore
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What interior lights???
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Brianmoooore
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Interior lights should work anyway, and wipers as well, when the ignition is on, regardless of whether there's an engine in the car or not.
Sure you found relay K5?
Come to think of it, just opening a front door should make the windows circuit come to life on European/UK E30s. No need for any relay shorting on green/black earthing.
Which wire did you connect to the battery +? It's one of the red wires bolted to the terminal that goes to the fusebox, not the big wire permanently attached to the terminal clamp.
Sure you found relay K5?
Come to think of it, just opening a front door should make the windows circuit come to life on European/UK E30s. No need for any relay shorting on green/black earthing.
Which wire did you connect to the battery +? It's one of the red wires bolted to the terminal that goes to the fusebox, not the big wire permanently attached to the terminal clamp.
When I took the engine out all the wiring went with it. I'm left with the fuse box wire that goes directly to the battery.
I looked at the fuse box lid to find relay K5.
What do you mean terminal clamp? The ground near the battery?
I looked at the fuse box lid to find relay K5.
What do you mean terminal clamp? The ground near the battery?
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Brianmoooore
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Terminal clamp is the bit with the big round tapered hole that fits onto the battery terminal.
This clamp has the big wire that goes to the starter motor permanently attached to it.
Bolted to the clamp will be a red wire that goes into the engine loom, a red wire that goes to the fusebox, and depending on spec., a red wire that goes to the ABS pump.
From what you say, the only one you have left is the one the fusebox, and if you refit the battery, connect the negative clamp to the negative terminal and the red wire to the positive terminal, the car's body electrics should power up, with the exception of those that are fed by the two unloader relays, K5 and K7.
You say the interior lights and wipers work, so you have correctly connected up the battery.
Relay K5 feeds the windows (and heated seats, if fitted), and K7 feeds the heater fan and electric mirrors. Both of these relays can be bypassed by linking 30 and 87 of their sockets, and if you do so, all body electrics, including the windows, should work, with the exception of a couple of engine warning lights in the instrument cluster.
As i belatedly remembered, on UK E30s, the windows will work with the ignition off and a front door open.
Do the window switches light up when you connect the battery and open a door?
This clamp has the big wire that goes to the starter motor permanently attached to it.
Bolted to the clamp will be a red wire that goes into the engine loom, a red wire that goes to the fusebox, and depending on spec., a red wire that goes to the ABS pump.
From what you say, the only one you have left is the one the fusebox, and if you refit the battery, connect the negative clamp to the negative terminal and the red wire to the positive terminal, the car's body electrics should power up, with the exception of those that are fed by the two unloader relays, K5 and K7.
You say the interior lights and wipers work, so you have correctly connected up the battery.
Relay K5 feeds the windows (and heated seats, if fitted), and K7 feeds the heater fan and electric mirrors. Both of these relays can be bypassed by linking 30 and 87 of their sockets, and if you do so, all body electrics, including the windows, should work, with the exception of a couple of engine warning lights in the instrument cluster.
As i belatedly remembered, on UK E30s, the windows will work with the ignition off and a front door open.
Do the window switches light up when you connect the battery and open a door?