I've set fire to my car

[Jona1971]

To cut a long story short, it turns out you should remove the carpet before welding in a piece underneath to block up a hole or this happens...









So, the Fire Brigade and my wife have already told me I'm a Kn0b, I now need to sort this out.

I need a replacement loom of some sort from the inside of the car to the fuse box. Is there a plug at the back of the fusebox?

The relays have melted, and their sockets.

Also, I put a water hose down the vents and the back of dashboard as it was enthusiastically refusing to stop smoking.

I've now removed the carpets and the seats and am drying it out. The battery is disconnected.

What on earth do I do now?

[Speedtouch]

Oops, looks like you'll need a new loom, or at least the section of one to replace the burnt bit.

Whereabouts on the car is that section?

[sweep]

What model/year is the car?

[DanThe]

Now thats a lesson learned the hard way!

Cut your losses and get a complete loom from a breaker, it does not disconnect from the fusebox

[Jona1971]

Yep, hard lesson learned.

So, I need a complete loom for a 1986 prefacelift 318i moredoor auto.

That section is under the glovebox, directly under the fusebox. Nearside floor area.

[sweep]

I have a d plate 325i 4 automatic door im breaking in sheffield no carpet in it

[Jona1971]

The car was mint until I did this.

New respray, bigger front struts, Eibach Springs, B6s, rear disc conversion, new brakes and bushes all round ready for my engine conversion...

[Brianmoooore]

The car was mint until I did this.

welding in a piece underneath to block up a hole

Bit of an oxymoron there???

That needs a complete new main loom and fusebox, especially if the battery was connected at the time.

[Jona1971]

Battery wasn't connected.

Yeah, the hole was only the size of a 5p! Trying to stop the progression of rust.

Complete new loom install? Doable?

[Brianmoooore]

Loom is easy enough to install with the carpets and access panels out, as long as you remember what goes where. Label the old one up as you take it out, lay it alongside the new one, and transfer the labels.

[sweep]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-E30-325I- ... 3f4ad30ab3

[Jona1971]

That's good sensible advice, exactly what I need.
Much appreciated.

Yes, the seats and carpets are now out. Along with the glovebox, centre console and access panels.

[magpie]

ouch !

[Jona1971]

I've removed the old fried loom as best I can, one last pesky bit remains:

What is the best way to remove the section that runs across the front of the car from the N/S headlights to the O/S headlights? Remove front bumper/Grill?

Thanks in advance.

(I feel better today as it now feels achieveable, thanks for everyones kind comments and support...)

[magpie]

the front loom is clipped to the back of the front valance .

[Jona1971]

OK, so remove undertray and unclip from below?

[DanThe]

Removing the headlights and grill is the best way

[Jona1971]

Thanks, will do.

Do I need an M10 loom or will an M40 one be the same?

Thanks,

[DanThe]

Body looms are more dependant on year/body spec than engine

[aimlessrock]

Jona I have a full 320i loom that i removed from a breaker, the car ran fine i only broke it due to advanced tin worm.

PM me if you need it.

[Brianmoooore]

It'll need to be a pre facelift loom to avoid having to change things like headlamp plugs, but a 6 pot pre facelift loom will be OK with minor mods, although it'll have a few spare wires.

[aimlessrock]

Good point Brian..its from a pre-facelift.

[Jona1971]

Thank you Aimlessrock, but Sweep is sorting me out with a loom from a car of the same age he posted above. If there are any problems i'll be back to you.

When I get the loom it may be there are other side looms that are missing that I may need too e.g. door, central locking, dash, etc. Some relays were fried as well.

[aimlessrock]

No worries mate, good to hear you secured a look.

[Jona1971]

Hello,
how do I remove the plug behind the near side front speaker that connects to the door loom?
Thanks,

[Brianmoooore]

'Plug' is in the door shut. Pull back the rubber cover, remove a little plastic piece from the centre of the plug, that pushes into three holes, pull the two tabs inwards, and pull.
With the plug out of the way, the sockets are held to the A pillar by four (?) small tabs.
When refitting, the plug must be fully assembled, with the rubber boot fully in place, before you plug it back in.
Be sure to do the "red/black wire" modification as you fit the looms.

[Jona1971]

Wow Thanks Brian, that came straight out! I've been faffing from the other side for ages.

Erm, I've just read the WIKI RE: the Red/Black wire Mod, and I haven't got one.




I'm working on the nearside, is it only on the Offside?

[daimlerman]

Offside only.

Driver's side!

C/L module is always in the driver's side sill....

So o/s for RHD and n/s for LHD.

[Jona1971]

Thanks chaps.

Loom 1 in - just the dashboard loom, body loom, auto box selector wiring, stereo and side repeater looms to go...

[Jona1971]

Hi,

This is the progress so far...Feeling sick.



Anyway, I've just installed the Auto Selector loom, all plugs were the same except I have one wire left over. Its about 6-7 feet long and has this plug on the end? Donor car loom was from was a 320i Auto.



Any ideas?

Thanks.

[Brianmoooore]

Why are you installing a gearbox loom on a 4 pot car?

[Jona1971]

The wires from the loom to the auto selector were melted so I replaced them with a new loom. Just the wires, I kept the gear selector original.

[Brianmoooore]

The spare plug goes on under the driver's seat, forwards along the sill, up under the dash, and connects to one of the plugs hanging off of the engine loom close to the ECU.