Engine check light.

[rsjon]

Transplanted an M42 from an E36 into an E30 complete with EWS and DME from E36.
No issues whatsoever at the moment but it seemed a shame not to utilise the Engine Check warning light function from pin 8 on the E36 DME.
Unfortunately the E30 i am using has no Engine Check window installed in the appropriate hole on the instruments.
OEM may show the correct item but, unfortunately they are all described as "control symbol" so I do not know which one I require. Can anybody help? Or does anybody have a secondhand one to sell?
I would imagine this function was only on very late cars, possibly only ones with Lambda sensor control.
Thanks,
Jon.

[Brianmoooore]

The 'check' window in the middle of an E30 cluster is for the lamp and fluid monitoring system fitted to 6 pot E30s, not to monitor engine problems.
The window itself is just a small piece of plastic, held in place by the retaining bracket for the SI board, and is often found lying on the bench after reassembling the cluster following a SI board battery change.
If you want to utilise this window on a four pot for the engine fault warning function, you need a bulb holder and bulb, such as that used for the ashtray or headlamp leveller illumination, and to connect the second wire of the lamp to ignition switched live.

[rsjon]

I see....so are there no E30's that have a window with "Engine Check" on it?
If not I must be thinking of E36 instruments before the standardized engine picture appeared and was called the MIL lamp.
Still need a window with "Check" on it though, wiring etc not a problem.
Thanks for reply.
Jon.

[gromgsxr]

The 'check' window in the middle of an E30 cluster is for the lamp and fluid monitoring system fitted to 6 pot E30s, not to monitor engine problems.
The window itself is just a small piece of plastic, held in place by the retaining bracket for the SI board, and is often found lying on the bench after reassembling the cluster following a SI board battery change.
If you want to utilise this window on a four pot for the engine fault warning function, you need a bulb holder and bulb, such as that used for the ashtray or headlamp leveller illumination, and to connect the second wire of the lamp to ignition switched live.

you can make this light up providing a ground to a wire in the back of the cluster i use this as a check engine light on an aftermarket ecu.

[Brianmoooore]

you can make this light up providing a ground to a wire in the back of the cluster i use this as a check engine light on an aftermarket ecu.

That will be pin 4 of the blue socket.

US spec. E30s have an engine check light in the cluster amongst the row of lights at the bottom, but this is not the one in the centre.
There's a couple of spare windows along the bottom of UK clusters that are intended for diseasal versions.

[rsjon]

Thank you all.
I think the way forward is to modify a mil light symbol and put it in along the bottom in place of the glow plug light, say.
Wiring is easy so that is what I will do.
Jon.

[Brianmoooore]

That's what I did on a m50 engined E30 that I built years ago. I just used the window for the EH auto gearbox warning, since it is orange in colour and has an exclamation mark as part of it.