M52b28 e30 swap - Wiring e38 Engine harness to e30?
Moderator: martauto
-
schofield
- E30 Zone Newbie

- Posts: 12
- Joined: Sun Apr 28, 2013 11:00 pm
Hello,
i recently blew the engine in my 316i touring, so i decided to upgrade to a m52b28. i found a engine for sale which already had the front sump fitted so i bought and collected it a few days ago.
it was removed from a 728i Auto, which seems to have caused me some problem that i didn't foresee. i have been reading about this swap for about 2 months and thought i had it sorted but today i found the motor mounts are incorrect so i have had to buy e36 mounts. my main problem is that i cant find a x20 plug on the loom! it hasn't been cut only the plug for the auto box.
i will add some photos when my brother sends them over to me
thanks in advanced for any help
i recently blew the engine in my 316i touring, so i decided to upgrade to a m52b28. i found a engine for sale which already had the front sump fitted so i bought and collected it a few days ago.
it was removed from a 728i Auto, which seems to have caused me some problem that i didn't foresee. i have been reading about this swap for about 2 months and thought i had it sorted but today i found the motor mounts are incorrect so i have had to buy e36 mounts. my main problem is that i cant find a x20 plug on the loom! it hasn't been cut only the plug for the auto box.
i will add some photos when my brother sends them over to me
thanks in advanced for any help
Last edited by schofield on Wed Jul 08, 2015 11:19 am, edited 1 time in total.
-
schofield
- E30 Zone Newbie

- Posts: 12
- Joined: Sun Apr 28, 2013 11:00 pm
<a href="http://s1214.photobucket.com/user/20027 ... 8.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/cc4 ... 52b288.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo m52b288.jpg"/></a>[/img]
e46 BMW 330i M Sport - Black
e30 BMW 325i Sport - Grey
e39 BMW 540i Auto - Grey
e30 BMW 325i 'Rally car' - Red
e30 BMW 320i Auto - Silver
e30 BMW 316i Lux Touring - Grey
e30 BMW 325i Sport - Grey
e39 BMW 540i Auto - Grey
e30 BMW 325i 'Rally car' - Red
e30 BMW 320i Auto - Silver
e30 BMW 316i Lux Touring - Grey
-
schofield
- E30 Zone Newbie

- Posts: 12
- Joined: Sun Apr 28, 2013 11:00 pm
How do i upload pictures?
e46 BMW 330i M Sport - Black
e30 BMW 325i Sport - Grey
e39 BMW 540i Auto - Grey
e30 BMW 325i 'Rally car' - Red
e30 BMW 320i Auto - Silver
e30 BMW 316i Lux Touring - Grey
e30 BMW 325i Sport - Grey
e39 BMW 540i Auto - Grey
e30 BMW 325i 'Rally car' - Red
e30 BMW 320i Auto - Silver
e30 BMW 316i Lux Touring - Grey
-
JoshH
- E30 Zone Newbie

- Posts: 153
- Joined: Mon Mar 02, 2015 11:00 pm
-
schofield
- E30 Zone Newbie

- Posts: 12
- Joined: Sun Apr 28, 2013 11:00 pm
e46 BMW 330i M Sport - Black
e30 BMW 325i Sport - Grey
e39 BMW 540i Auto - Grey
e30 BMW 325i 'Rally car' - Red
e30 BMW 320i Auto - Silver
e30 BMW 316i Lux Touring - Grey
e30 BMW 325i Sport - Grey
e39 BMW 540i Auto - Grey
e30 BMW 325i 'Rally car' - Red
e30 BMW 320i Auto - Silver
e30 BMW 316i Lux Touring - Grey
-
schofield
- E30 Zone Newbie

- Posts: 12
- Joined: Sun Apr 28, 2013 11:00 pm
-
DanThe
- E30 Zone Team Member

- Posts: 28649
- Joined: Sat Sep 10, 2005 11:00 pm
- Location: Staffs
E38 doesn't have an X20
-
schofield
- E30 Zone Newbie

- Posts: 12
- Joined: Sun Apr 28, 2013 11:00 pm
ok thanks for the reply, what should i be looking for, im struggling to find any information on it.
the e38 728i wiring diagram isn't on 'wedophones' is there a manual i can buy like haynes but with good wiring diagrams?
the e38 728i wiring diagram isn't on 'wedophones' is there a manual i can buy like haynes but with good wiring diagrams?
e46 BMW 330i M Sport - Black
e30 BMW 325i Sport - Grey
e39 BMW 540i Auto - Grey
e30 BMW 325i 'Rally car' - Red
e30 BMW 320i Auto - Silver
e30 BMW 316i Lux Touring - Grey
e30 BMW 325i Sport - Grey
e39 BMW 540i Auto - Grey
e30 BMW 325i 'Rally car' - Red
e30 BMW 320i Auto - Silver
e30 BMW 316i Lux Touring - Grey
-
bosers
- E30 Zone Regular

- Posts: 496
- Joined: Sat Jun 29, 2013 11:00 pm
- Location: Devon
I've done a swap from e38, I got a donor loom from an e36 and had it modded by Dan above.
-
schofield
- E30 Zone Newbie

- Posts: 12
- Joined: Sun Apr 28, 2013 11:00 pm
I would rather try to get the e38 harness to work if its possible?
e46 BMW 330i M Sport - Black
e30 BMW 325i Sport - Grey
e39 BMW 540i Auto - Grey
e30 BMW 325i 'Rally car' - Red
e30 BMW 320i Auto - Silver
e30 BMW 316i Lux Touring - Grey
e30 BMW 325i Sport - Grey
e39 BMW 540i Auto - Grey
e30 BMW 325i 'Rally car' - Red
e30 BMW 320i Auto - Silver
e30 BMW 316i Lux Touring - Grey
-
schofield
- E30 Zone Newbie

- Posts: 12
- Joined: Sun Apr 28, 2013 11:00 pm
-
schofield
- E30 Zone Newbie

- Posts: 12
- Joined: Sun Apr 28, 2013 11:00 pm
bump-anyone?
e46 BMW 330i M Sport - Black
e30 BMW 325i Sport - Grey
e39 BMW 540i Auto - Grey
e30 BMW 325i 'Rally car' - Red
e30 BMW 320i Auto - Silver
e30 BMW 316i Lux Touring - Grey
e30 BMW 325i Sport - Grey
e39 BMW 540i Auto - Grey
e30 BMW 325i 'Rally car' - Red
e30 BMW 320i Auto - Silver
e30 BMW 316i Lux Touring - Grey
-
bosers
- E30 Zone Regular

- Posts: 496
- Joined: Sat Jun 29, 2013 11:00 pm
- Location: Devon
Well said Willinz. Yeah I believe an e36 loom is a much easier base to start from as its all in the Wiki. 
-
schofield
- E30 Zone Newbie

- Posts: 12
- Joined: Sun Apr 28, 2013 11:00 pm
well willnz if you hadn't jumped to conclusion and actually educated yourself of my situation...i have tried to use the WDS wiring but my MAC wont support the website and i don't have a windows laptop or computer.
before this i tried to get a friend to find out for me but he wont be back in the office for the next few days.
i was hoping to find someone that had some experience with the e38 harness or could point me in the direction of a alternate place to find a wiring diagram. i wasn't expecting anything.
i was hoping i wouldn't have to go and buy another harness considering this one is already connected to my engine!
typical of forums like this...why i left the last time.
before this i tried to get a friend to find out for me but he wont be back in the office for the next few days.
i was hoping to find someone that had some experience with the e38 harness or could point me in the direction of a alternate place to find a wiring diagram. i wasn't expecting anything.
i was hoping i wouldn't have to go and buy another harness considering this one is already connected to my engine!
typical of forums like this...why i left the last time.
e46 BMW 330i M Sport - Black
e30 BMW 325i Sport - Grey
e39 BMW 540i Auto - Grey
e30 BMW 325i 'Rally car' - Red
e30 BMW 320i Auto - Silver
e30 BMW 316i Lux Touring - Grey
e30 BMW 325i Sport - Grey
e39 BMW 540i Auto - Grey
e30 BMW 325i 'Rally car' - Red
e30 BMW 320i Auto - Silver
e30 BMW 316i Lux Touring - Grey
-
schofield
- E30 Zone Newbie

- Posts: 12
- Joined: Sun Apr 28, 2013 11:00 pm
i still dont think you understand. if from the start you told me that NOBODY uses the e38 loom and gave some kind of reason! rather than telling me to get a e36 loom with also no real info...then this could have been avoided.
also if you read the thread you would have seen i was asking for a place i can get the wiring diagram not asking people to do it for me.
right i guess im going to have to get a e36 loom then, is the m52b20/b25/b28 engine loom all the same?
also if you read the thread you would have seen i was asking for a place i can get the wiring diagram not asking people to do it for me.
right i guess im going to have to get a e36 loom then, is the m52b20/b25/b28 engine loom all the same?
e46 BMW 330i M Sport - Black
e30 BMW 325i Sport - Grey
e39 BMW 540i Auto - Grey
e30 BMW 325i 'Rally car' - Red
e30 BMW 320i Auto - Silver
e30 BMW 316i Lux Touring - Grey
e30 BMW 325i Sport - Grey
e39 BMW 540i Auto - Grey
e30 BMW 325i 'Rally car' - Red
e30 BMW 320i Auto - Silver
e30 BMW 316i Lux Touring - Grey
-
DanThe
- E30 Zone Team Member

- Posts: 28649
- Joined: Sat Sep 10, 2005 11:00 pm
- Location: Staffs
No, some are some are not, there are also at least 3 different loom versions for M52 so check everything before you commit to a loomschofield wrote: is the m52b20/b25/b28 engine loom all the same?
-
schofield
- E30 Zone Newbie

- Posts: 12
- Joined: Sun Apr 28, 2013 11:00 pm
Ok, it's taken a few weeks but things are going ok.
I bought the e36 loom fitted it and done some wiring for the plug etc...
I have now come across a problem that the m20 starter motor won't fit, I can get it roughly into place but it won't line up due to the bolt holes for other engine mount positions, I have seen that there is another starter that is smaller but only found one page that mentioned it but not into detail.
If not I can grind down the block, but this is not preferred.
Thanks for all of the help so far, wish I had just bought a 328 donor now
I bought the e36 loom fitted it and done some wiring for the plug etc...
I have now come across a problem that the m20 starter motor won't fit, I can get it roughly into place but it won't line up due to the bolt holes for other engine mount positions, I have seen that there is another starter that is smaller but only found one page that mentioned it but not into detail.
If not I can grind down the block, but this is not preferred.
Thanks for all of the help so far, wish I had just bought a 328 donor now
e46 BMW 330i M Sport - Black
e30 BMW 325i Sport - Grey
e39 BMW 540i Auto - Grey
e30 BMW 325i 'Rally car' - Red
e30 BMW 320i Auto - Silver
e30 BMW 316i Lux Touring - Grey
e30 BMW 325i Sport - Grey
e39 BMW 540i Auto - Grey
e30 BMW 325i 'Rally car' - Red
e30 BMW 320i Auto - Silver
e30 BMW 316i Lux Touring - Grey



