E30 Zone

What type of connection is there from the OBC to the sensor on the factory setup? I have the OBC loom which puts a few connectors over by the glovebox. I also have a two pin loom which plugs into this and goes through the bulkhead (terminating in 2 wire ends for me).

Hadn't installed my OBC before because the donor car had front end damage and was missing the temperature sensor. Noticed a scrap E34 with OBC today. Measured its probe resistance and saw it was good for the E30 too (later found out they are a shared part for from 89 on).

From the E34 end I have a headlamp type connector which plugs into the sensor which snaps into the E30 brake air duct.

The ETK seems to show a brake wear sensor type connector between the bulkhead and the probe. Is this for the pre-89 setup only? I don't see a need for a 3rd short loom!

BTW, I'm fine electrically here, just wanted to use as many factory type looms as possible.

Dunno if this helps.....

I know you are sh1t hot with electrics but.....

The OBC loom has a clear translucent connector with two pins, this runs down to the brake duct where there is a yellow connector (same connector as the headlight ones as you said) which plugs into the temp sensor.

Did you already know that or has that helped?!?!

Thanks! That's what I needed to know.

The diagram in the ETK made it look like something else.

No probs mate.

Glad to help.

Diagrams on the ETK are for identifying part numbers only. In quite a few cases the actual parts look nothing like those shown on the ETK.

The later E34/E32 sensor is the same as the E30 and the E36 too (part no on the sensor is 1383 204). I've found that the later type sensor can be a tight fit in the air duct hole though and need a good shove.
As for the wires, look on the sensor and it has a flat side and a curved side. The flat side takes the brown/grey wire, the curved side is the blue/red (often with yellow dots).

Now, use a nailbrush and scrub the yellow plug connector clean. Look on the end where the two black connectors go into the yellow connector block and you'll see the numbers 1 and 2. Number 1 (curved side of the sensor) is the live which on an E30 will be blue with a different colour tracer - on an E34 or E32 it's blue with a red tracer. Number 2 (flat side of the sensor) is the earth which is brown. The E32/E34 is brown with a grey tracer.

On the E36, brown orange is earth and brown/grey is live.