E30 Zone

Hi Guys...

Changed the cambelt, waterpump and thermostat on my 316i (M40) today and in doing so snapped the wire that is looped round the number 4 HT lead that runs round the other side of the engine and plugs into a bank of other electrical stuff (well technical me!) - does anyone know what its for? Car runs ok without it connected?? Will be picking up a new set of leads tomorrow but will have to drive the car in the meantime, should I be with this thing disconnected??!

Any ideas?

Cheers

Skip

should be okay with it not pluged it. Its a cam pulse sensor.

A

Ok thanks, do you think it would matter if I didnt replace it at all? New lead set is over Ԛ£70 and I would like to avoid that cost if possible!

I remember a thread about this a while back, and after a lot of people saying it would be OK to run without, it turned out that it can't?

I had a long running problem with my old 316i, I changed everything, and eventually it came down to this lead, as it was snapped where it passes in front of the engine.

Simon wrote:I remember a thread about this a while back, and after a lot of people saying it would be OK to run without, it turned out that it can't?

I had a long running problem with my old 316i, I changed everything, and eventually it came down to this lead, as it was snapped where it passes in front of the engine.

Thanks mate, I have ordered a set of leads anyway and I think I will errr on the side of caution and fit them...

Skip wrote:

Simon wrote:I remember a thread about this a while back, and after a lot of people saying it would be OK to run without, it turned out that it can't?

I had a long running problem with my old 316i, I changed everything, and eventually it came down to this lead, as it was snapped where it passes in front of the engine.

Thanks mate, I have ordered a set of leads anyway and I think I will errr on the side of caution and fit them...

If you've bought leads from GSF/ECP, they come with everything needed, including the pulse lead and the lead covers etc.

Its okay to run it without the sensor. Dont worry. One of the new leads will have a disconnected connector you will then need to put the lead through the sensor and terminate the connector which goes to the Dizzy cap.


A

Simon wrote:I remember a thread about this a while back, and after a lot of people saying it would be OK to run without, it turned out that it can't?

I had a long running problem with my old 316i, I changed everything, and eventually it came down to this lead, as it was snapped where it passes in front of the engine.

I had exactly the same thing with the missus 316i, crap idling and hesitation under load. Eventually replaced this ignition pick-up and all the problems went away.

Cheers,

Iain T

Does anyone know the ht-lead where this pulse sensor goes to on M40B18?
Car is working well but I would like to know.

From what i can remember of the M40 the loop your talking about is the pulse sensor for the diagnostic plug and is not used by the car's ECU.
It should also go on the number one HT lead (front one) and does not come with the HT lead set, they come with the right angle connector for the shortest lead detatched so you can thread it through the loop and then push the lead into the connector.
It might be worth canceling the order.

think i've got one of these on my 325i m20
been disconnected for a few months since i fitted new leads
how does it fit arounfd the new leads

TFYA

Martinaston wrote:From what i can remember of the M40 the loop your talking about is the pulse sensor for the diagnostic plug and is not used by the car's ECU.
It should also go on the number one HT lead (front one) and does not come with the HT lead set, they come with the right angle connector for the shortest lead detatched so you can thread it through the loop and then push the lead into the connector.
It might be worth canceling the order.

Only if you buy some rubbish aftermarket set, I've bought a couple of sets from GSF for M40 and M20, and have always come with the new pulse sensor, and covers.

Don't know about M40s specifically, but I have come across E30s where this pulse sensor lead only goes to the diagnostic connector, as in the Haynes diagram, so its absence would be no problem at all, and other E30s where it connects to the ECU as well and is important to the running of the engine.