Central Locking red & black wire question

[Walter]

Afternoon...
I've got a 1990 318i touring with central locking that has a mind of it's own... Door locks pop up and down when they feel like it !

I'm trying to do the 'red & black wire job' as described in E30 wiki. I've opened the speaker panel up and can see the cluster of wires leading up to the connector leading to the door.
I can see only one red /black wire within a cluster of about 20 wires all taped together. There is no other red / black within that cluster.
However I can see another red / black within a smaller cluster of about 4 wires that also seems to lead to the door connector.

Are these the 2 wires that I need to connect together ?

Thanks... Steve.

[jonny323i]

Your best disconnecting the socket and pulling it out.
The 2 wires you looking for are at the top and bottom of the block.

[Walter]

I'll try that... Thanks.

[Brianmoooore]

Disconnecting the socket and pulling it out isn't necessarily the best idea in the world, especially if you're doing the mod. out of necessity rather than as a preventative measure!
Corroded plugs and sockets that are still connecting are best left undisturbed.
The two red/black wires come from two separate body looms - one that comes along the sill from the rear of the car, and one that comes from the locking relay and associated bits.
BMW designed it in this way so that the A pillar socket and plug could be used to connect power to the central locking system without modifying the body loom or using crimped or soldered joints.
This modification removes permanently live power from the A pillar socket (which is one of the ingredients for corrosion), but you need to make the joint that BMW didn't.

I doubt if this mod will cure your problems, but do it anyway, and post again if the problem persists.

[Walter]

Thanks for this last response.... I know now that the two relevant wires are within different sections of loom.... and I agree with you that I don't think this will solve all my problems... Not that I know much about electrics !... Just got that gut feeling !.. But I'll certainly post another question if the problem persists.... Thanks, Steve.

[Walter]

I've now done the mod.....It's taken 2 years for me to get round to doing this !!!
Unfortunately it hasn't resolved the problem.

Before the mod :
If I unlocked the FOS driver's door, the FNS and the ROS door would unlock. The RNS would remain locked 95% of the time, occasionally popping up if it felt like it. Using the boot to lock, would activate the FNS and ROS but not the driver's FOS.
If I locked the FOS driver's door, the FNS and the ROS would also lock.... but quite regularly the two later doors would immediately pop up and unlock.
Also a lot of unwanted locking/unlocking without even trying to do so.

After the mod :
I've only locked up about 15 / 20 times since the mod. Only on one occasion has the FNS and the ROS also locked at the same time ( the RNS stays locked 95% of the time anyway). All the other times the only door that unlocks is the driver's FOS.
Similarly when locking up by the driver's door, that is the only door that locks.
Using the boot lock only unlocks / locks the boot.
Also only a couple of unwanted locking /unlocking without even trying to do so.

ANY ADVICE ON THIS ISSUE WELCOME... Thanks.