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Fitting E36 window switches
Posted: Mon Nov 06, 2006 2:42 pm
by FlashBastd
Saw in the gallery that another member has done this, what is involved, is it difficult? Which switches are compatible?
Re: Fitting E36 window switches
Posted: Mon Nov 06, 2006 2:59 pm
by cliffybabe
whats ur email address ill email u a doc i got sent when i was looking into a e36 switch mod its a really good document, i can put all 12 pages here as jpegs if its alright with the mods??
Re: Fitting E36 window switches
Posted: Mon Nov 06, 2006 3:01 pm
by dobbie82
what is the benefit of having the e36 switches?
Re: Fitting E36 window switches
Posted: Mon Nov 06, 2006 3:09 pm
by cliffybabe
i htink they have one touch roll down and up option i think, IM sure someone wil clarify though
Re: Fitting E36 window switches
Posted: Mon Nov 06, 2006 3:15 pm
by smithy318i
Re: Fitting E36 window switches
Posted: Mon Nov 06, 2006 3:20 pm
by jmc330i
cliffybabe wrote:i htink they have one touch roll down and up option i think, IM sure someone wil clarify though
Not really - there was a thread about doing the one-touch thing, I cant remember whats needed exactly but the E36 switches wont do it alone.
Re: Fitting E36 window switches
Posted: Mon Nov 06, 2006 3:25 pm
by FlashBastd
The E30 switches seem to need a damn good push to actually work, I think the E36 ones are less industrial.
Re: Fitting E36 window switches
Posted: Mon Nov 06, 2006 3:25 pm
by smithy318i
E36 one touch windows are controlled by a control unit ECU brain thingy.
Re: Fitting E36 window switches
Posted: Mon Nov 06, 2006 3:28 pm
by cliffybabe
my bad on the one touch getting confused with a chat i had with Ali a while back, they look nice though

Re: Fitting E36 window switches
Posted: Mon Nov 06, 2006 3:32 pm
by FlashBastd
Just read Smithy's link, thank you.
While I am confortable with what's involved, I had hoped it might be a bit more "plug'n'play" as I may wish to return the car to standard at some point in the future, so I doubt I will go ahead, but thank you very much for all your comments.
Re: Fitting E36 window switches
Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2008 10:25 pm
by StefanAnghel
Hello again guys
I've found some e36 window switches and they are with the wires...I'd like to put them on...
the problem is that on them (e36) I have 4 wires and on the e30 ones 5
can anybody help me?
cheers
Re: Fitting E36 window switches
Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2008 12:44 am
by siddiqi1
the link doesnt work

Re: Fitting E36 window switches
Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2008 1:28 am
by StefanAnghel
I know...
Re: Fitting E36 window switches
Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2008 6:24 am
by shedrool83
It needs to be the white backed switches you use.Think you can also use the blue backed.
I done this a few months back.
Re: Fitting E36 window switches
Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2008 9:14 am
by StefanAnghel
mine are green
and the wires are: brown,white/green,blue/green,grey/red
I had a try today and I've smoked one...so I really need some help
Re: Fitting E36 window switches
Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2008 11:49 pm
by StefanAnghel
nobody?
Re: Fitting E36 window switches
Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2008 5:39 am
by wks79
stefananghel wrote:nobody?
mine is with 1 touch window wired up for both sides..only searching for the e36 switches now ..so just look for the white back ones? or can we use blue ones also ?
Re: Fitting E36 window switches
Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2008 7:15 am
by shedrool83
stefananghel wrote:mine are green
and the wires are: brown,white/green,blue/green,grey/red
I had a try today and I've smoked one...so I really need some help
The green ones dont work for some reason.(someone tried them dont remember who)
If i get a chance to look i'll post which wire gos where( i writing down somewhere)
Re: Fitting E36 window switches
Posted: Sat Jun 21, 2008 12:49 pm
by StefanAnghel
Got the white backed now..so I'm waiting for wires details please

Re: Fitting E36 window switches
Posted: Sat Jun 21, 2008 1:00 pm
by siddiqi1
ooooooooooooooooooooo....................can someone host them on the site; so we can all see them pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Re: Fitting E36 window switches
Posted: Sat Jun 21, 2008 1:03 pm
by StuBeeDoo
shedrool83 wrote:someone tried them dont remember who
I was one of them.
You need the white or blue switches with the large plugs. Any other colour - or the blue or white with the small plugs - won't work. Don't ask me why because a switch is a switch is a switch. 
The rationale for changing them is that they aren't so "heavy" to operate.
The only way you can get one-touch in an E30 is to find a module which will do the job. Just fitting switches from an E36 with one-touch won't make your E30 windows work that way.
HTH
Stuart.
Posted: Sat Jun 21, 2008 1:11 pm
by StuBeeDoo
This is what they look like......
Don't forget you'll need the carriers for the rear door switches (or the sunroof switch) for the E36. The centre console carriers in the E36 are curved and won't fit properly in the flat E30 console.
Re:
Posted: Sat Jun 21, 2008 1:26 pm
by StefanAnghel

I have a sunroof one
can you help me with the wires color please
I'm a little bit confused as E30 has 5 wires and e36 only 4
cheers
Re:
Posted: Sat Jun 21, 2008 1:34 pm
by StuBeeDoo
stefananghel wrote:can you help me with the wires color please
All explained here Dude. 
Re:
Posted: Sat Jun 21, 2008 1:54 pm
by shedrool83
Heres the wiring for e36 switches.
This is from a 1990 cab and i also have the plugs with some wire on from the E36
Front switches
E30....................................E36
Brown...............................Brown
Green/gray....................... red
purple/gray.....................purple gray
black gray.......................black/gray
Back switches
brown.................................brown
black/yellow.......................purple/gray
green/gray...........................red
blue/green..........................black/gray
dont know if a 2/4 or touring is the same
HTH
Re:
Posted: Sat Jun 21, 2008 4:02 pm
by siddiqi1
nice one shedrool!
Re: Fitting E36 window switches
Posted: Sat Jun 21, 2008 6:05 pm
by Brianmoooore
StuBeeDoo wrote:
You need the white or blue switches with the large plugs. Any other colour - or the blue or white with the small plugs - won't work. Don't ask me why because a switch is a switch is a switch
Pure guess, but I expect it's that the white and blue switches control the motors directly, like E30 ones, but the green ones just instruct a computer module, so are low current devices.
Re: Fitting E36 window switches
Posted: Sat Jun 21, 2008 9:33 pm
by wks79
these are the switches which i just bought from the spare part yard here.
costed me bout 8quid which is about 60 malaysian ringgit for the pair including the trim.
they're decent condition havent got time to test em out yet.
not really clever with wiring so will get the mechanic to have a go at it for me.
and yes, i found them without the original e36 wires on it, no biggie .
previously , my car is already wired with one touch fully working just that its wiht the e30 window switches.
now to complete the other part of the mod i guess

Re: Fitting E36 window switches
Posted: Sun Jun 22, 2008 6:06 am
by StuBeeDoo
wks79 wrote:
That's the ones. If they don't look like these, they won't work.
Re: Fitting E36 window switches
Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2008 10:06 pm
by StefanAnghel
I've done mine...fully working and with light
Take care when you buy them cause some of them dont have bulb

Re: Fitting E36 window switches
Posted: Sat Jul 26, 2008 12:23 am
by Brianmoooore
stefananghel wrote:I've done mine...fully working and with light
Take care when you buy them cause some of them dont have bulb

I trust that's not the finished wiring!!!
Re: Fitting E36 window switches
Posted: Sat Jul 26, 2008 2:02 am
by StefanAnghel
nop
thats the excitement photo! after I realized that they are working

Re: Fitting E36 window switches
Posted: Sat Jul 26, 2008 2:22 pm
by siddiqi1
Brian,
what do you suggest one does after having soldered? heatshrink?
Saboor
Re: Fitting E36 window switches
Posted: Sat Jul 26, 2008 10:09 pm
by Brianmoooore
siddiqi1 wrote:Brian,
what do you suggest one does after having soldered? heatshrink?
Saboor
Heatshrink is the stuff to use.
Re: Fitting E36 window switches
Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2008 11:24 am
by siddiqi1
thanks matey!
