simple so I thought!

[Rik178m]

Converting a 316i to a 325i is spose to be dead easy and straight forward right! Wrong! I have just unplugged the engine loom form the donor car, changed the engine plugged the new loom into the original car and all the lights are lit on the instrument cluster! Can't get the car to start but I suspect thats starter motor/flywheel problems. I just get a loud grinding noise from the starter motor! Any help would be verymuch appreciated guys
Cheers Rich

[HairyScreech]

its quite hard to get the motor in perfect alignmnet, try slackening the starter off just slightly and trying again, if it engages you have a bitch of a job getting the thing to line up.

as for the lights i think all of mine light up untill i turn it over and start it. hand brake, battery, oil presure and somthing else.

[1an]

Have you got a direct feed from the battery to the starter motor?

[HairyScreech]

would have to have. if there wasnt it wouldnt turn, as the solinoid ontop fires then the motor turns. so if the motor isnt turning you get a rapid ticking noise and it its missing the teeth on the flywheel its a grinding noise.

[maxfield]

Does the engine start when you bump it?

[irish320i]

did you use the starter that came with the engine or the one of the 316 they have a ddifferent tooth pattern i think
ALan

[Rik178m]

Cant push start it mate as if it didnt work I wouldnt be able to get it back onto my steep drive.
Starter came off the 325i.
The starter has a direct feed yes.
I'll try loosening the starter this weekend then
Sure there might be something missing from the negative mount on the strut. It goes to the battery but the other nut is left spare.
Cheers Lads

[Taylor325i]

I think you also need to swap a coding plug on the front of the instrument cluster. 6 cyl one is white.



Taylor.

[kimbo]

Engine earth wire?

Just a thought.

Kim.

[jmc330i]

I think you also need to swap a coding plug on the front of the instrument cluster. 6 cyl one is white.

Yep but it will just cause a high reading rev counter - damn funny seeing the needle go past 8-9k then go nuts.

Can you get some pics of the wiring you have done? - battery, starter and the bits you think might be missing around the strut.
Other than fitting the battery to starter lead, my 318i to 325i was a simple plug and play - you might indeed be missing some bits.
As Kimbo said, have you refitted the engine earth strap from the inner chassis rail to engine mount? (its on opposite sides between M40 and M20)

[Rik178m]

Some good pointers there I'll be cracking on tomorrow so pics will be taken then aswell! cheers

[jmc330i]

Just a thought, what age is the 316i and donor?

[Rik178m]

316i lux 1990
325iSE touring 1991

[DanThe]

Hope it isnt a missing earth strap! You will melt some wires if there is

[Rik178m]

I checked the Earth strap and that was fine. The starter motor is trying to engage the flywheel and I've tried to adjust it but still no luck! Its a 325i from and auto touring put on a manual box with a new flywheel so could I have a different starter motor to the 1 I need? Could the flywheel be the wrong one? Heres the pics of the wiring. Its all just chucked in and not neat at the min. Bloody weather means havent got the time!

[johnl320]

I think there is one too many positives on that terminal. Where does the one go that goes out of the bottom of the picture, past the clutch resevoir?

john

[irish320i]

what flywheel did you use if the 325 was from an auto
Alan

[bigun]

is there enough juice in the battery

[jmc330i]

I think there is one too many positives on that terminal. Where does the one go that goes out of the bottom of the picture, past the clutch resevoir?

Yep, thats not right.

In this pic.......



the two leads that are in the same insulation (that go down past the clutch reservoir), they should be coming out from the bulkhead, if so they should be connected to the negative terminal on the battery or where the battery connects to the strut tower.

Heres mine....

[johnl320]

He's lucky the thing hasn't gone up in smoke

john

[Rik178m]

Hahahaha DOH!
Good thing I'm not keeping the battery connected for long then!!!!

[johnl320]

Did you get it sorted then??

john

[Rik178m]

Haven't had time yet mate. Where does that wire on the strut go to?

[johnl320]

Haven't had time yet mate. Where does that wire on the strut go to?

Car loom negs and ecu neg I think

john