E30 Zone

Can anyone give me any pointers for wiring an alarm up to the indicators and central locking?

Not sure if they're negative or positive switched

It's a 1985 2 door 325i if it makes any difference?

Cheers!

Alex

Turbo-Brown wrote:Can anyone give me any pointers for wiring an alarm up to the indicators and central locking?

Not sure if they're negative or positive switched

It's a 1985 2 door 325i if it makes any difference?

Cheers!

Alex

Alex,

The central locking is negative (GND) switched. On the central locking control unit, you can use either pin 7 (yellow/blue) or pin 8 (green/black) for the lock signal and pin 6 (green/blue) or pin 9 (yellow/black) for the unlock signal.

Basically, it you momentarily connect pin 7 or 8 to GND, it should lock, and do the same on pins 6 or 9 it should unlock.

As for the indicators, you are going to need to connect into the blue/black & blue/red wires from either the Hazard or Indicator switches. These wires connect to the left and right indicator lamps. 12v will make the lamps turn on.

If your alarm has seperate output wires for the left and right indicators, then you can connect directly to the above wires. If you only have a single output wire from the alarm, then you are going to have to use a couple of Diodes to hook it up. If you connect this single wire to both the left and right indicators, it will make all your indicators flash at the same time (when you indicate). Using the Diodes will stop the left and right indicators from effectively shorting together. I use 1N4004 Diodes for this sort of thing. Any Maplins or other electrical shop should have them. Failing that, PM me your address, and I'll pop a couple in the post.

Cheers,

Ian.

Ian, you're the absolute MAN!

Now, do I tackle the alarm installation tonight, or get on with the welding. Hmmmmmm

Many thanks indeed!

Alex

Sorry to butt in I'm totally new to wiring but want to hav a go.My alarm has a single output wire, if I connect the wire to one end of the diodes how do I connect the other ends to the indicator wires which go into the indicator stalk, does it matter where I connect the other ends to the indicator wires

I scanned the wiring image from the manual if you need to see it




Another thing whats the best way to route the alarm wires from the engine bay to the inside of the car?

really would appreciate the help thanks

Here's a quick picture I knocked up that will hopefully help.



It does not matter where you physically connect the Diodes into the system, but they do need to be connected the right way round (as shown in the drawing). Also, the wire colours listed above are for an early (pre 87) E30. The colours changed on the later cars.

Cheers,

Ian.

Chanks Ian for the picture , that cleared it up for me. Could you also tell me where to route the alarm wires from the engine bay into the inside of the cabin.

Thanks.

It depends where you want to mount the alarm unit really.

On the drivers side, you can run them through the same grommet as the main engine harness (there are some extra holes on the underside of the grommet), or run them through with the large battery cable (if you have a boot mounted battery).

On the passengers side, there are a number of grommets down near the fuse box that can be used.

Ian.

Hiya mate would it be possible to get some pics of the grommets if u can't do it no problem I've appreciated all the help so far anyway.

Thanks.

All the wires you need to connect to for an alarm are behind the access cover above and behind the glovebox. There is also a big rubber grommet with spare cut outs that goes through to the engine compartment.

Thanks brian, also thanks again ian.

Sorry to be a pain again, can anyone tell me where the central locking module is? Had a look in Haynes but it's being it's usual unhelpful self

Cheers!

Turbo-Brown wrote:Sorry to be a pain again, can anyone tell me where the central locking module is? Had a look in Haynes but it's being it's usual unhelpful self

Cheers!

It's hidden down below the drivers front speaker! obvious really...

Pop off the speaker grill, and remove the speaker. Then you will see a black plastic cover which pulls out. Remove 2 screws and the metal plate the module is mounted on will lift out.

You don't need to go anywhere near the locking module.
The correct place to tap into the lock/unlock request wires is where they emerge behind the glovebox from the left hand door connector.
The two indicator wires are just above here, going into the large multipin plug and socket.

Check this out alex, go to the bottom of the page this is what brian is talking about. I think you need to take down your glove box and kick speaker panel. The wires are behind the speaker. Correct me if Im wrong brian but this is were to tap into the wires right?

http://www.bmwe30.net/cgi-bin/datacgi/d ... Section=02

If you don't have ABS on the car you will have a bit more room above the glovebox to fit the alarm and can still squeez it in even if you do have the ABS ECU in there, Then all you do is run all the wires down about 18 inches to the main loom that comes through from the fuse box and in there you will find ALL the wires you need for the alarm.
(well maybe not the bonnet switch and siren )

Eeeeexcellent! Cheers guys

One last question!

I've got one wire left to connect, it's supposed to run to the fuse box and connect to a wire that goes to 12V when the ignition's on, it must also not drop to 0V whilst cranking.

Can anyone recommend a wire in the fuse box to tap into?

Spent ages looking through the lame wiring diagrams in Haynes, but can't decide what would be suitable.

Cheers!

Alex

That would be the ignition circuit.
green wires

Turbo-Brown wrote:One last question!

I've got one wire left to connect, it's supposed to run to the fuse box and connect to a wire that goes to 12V when the ignition's on, it must also not drop to 0V whilst cranking.

Can anyone recommend a wire in the fuse box to tap into?

Spent ages looking through the lame wiring diagrams in Haynes, but can't decide what would be suitable.

Cheers!

Alex

Alex,

Any of the circuits that are running from Fuses 9 & 10 should be okay for this.

Cheers,

Ian.

Fantastic!

Huge thanks for all the help guys

Getting all paranoid about connecting the battery now as I'll inevitably done something wrong so the alarm'll go off in the middle of the night etc.

Thanks again!

Alex.

Yay!

It all seems to work with indicators and central locking all doing their bit, except that the boot doesn't seem to lock/unlock for some reason. Having said that, couldn't be sure it ever did!

Many many thanks indeed for the invaluable pointers guys! Would've been completely lost without your input!

Cheers!

Alex

Turbo-Brown wrote:the boot doesn't seem to lock/unlock for some reason. Having said that, couldn't be sure it ever did!

It didn't - You had to use the key

miamistu wrote:

Turbo-Brown wrote:the boot doesn't seem to lock/unlock for some reason. Having said that, couldn't be sure it ever did!

It didn't - You had to use the key

good job someone's got a good memory!