check panel retrofit

[gazza]

i know its a lot of work or nigh on impossible but all i want to know is can the following be wired direct to it
the screen washer fluid ...from the sensor on the side of the reservoir
the oil level..from its sensor
the coolant level from the radiator
or are all the voltages different it would give a little piece of mind on a journey to let you know the radiator level has dropped and not when its starts too cook the engine and maybe its all to late

[robmpulse]

I don't understand what you are trying to do........

the check panel has all those already.......

[cliffybabe]

its to much work mate, u'd be better off with extra dials like volts etc.

The check panel would be a nightmare to fit

[Sharknose3]

gazza,

Here is a Document on retrofitting Check Control from the German www.E30.de website.

http://wp1016621.wp027.webpack.hosteuro ... f01105.htm

Even if you can read German it doesn't help a lot as it is complicated.

The following is a problem with this retrofit:

- no sensor for oil level on M40/M10 engines, I assume the same applies to M42. There is no easy way around this according to the document except to direct Pin 16 & 20 across a 1kOhm resistor to earth.

Sharknose

[smithy318i]

it is a hastle to fit... but not impossible.

not worth the effort IMO.

[robmpulse]

are you talking about fitting one into a car that doesn't already have one? I thought they all came with the check panel??? Or is some just a dummy light for a seatbelt without all the other indicators?

[smithy318i]

are you talking about fitting one into a car that doesn't already have one? I thought they all came with the check panel??? Or is some just a dummy light for a seatbelt without all the other indicators?

UK 316 and 318 didnt come as standard (or option)

[smithy318i]

this may also help...

[Martinaston]

You have to change the whole car loom (and fusebox). It the only optional extra that doesn't just plug in.

[Brianmoooore]

- no sensor for oil level on M40/M10 engines,
Sharknose

That means that no 4 pot ever came with check system then, does it?
Never realised that!
There's enough data in those two posts to retrofit oil, washer and coolant level sensors without too much trouble. Quite a bit of wiring though.

[gazza]

cheers lads its a 318 with a 325 in it but i dont need all the light warning functions i have one and the 325 has all the right sensors and it was only the 3 items i listed i wanted to connect to it it seems straight forwar if the voltages are the same or are they stepped down ....any one know i would never take on the whole loom fit ...what do you reckon

[Brianmoooore]

Your oil level sensor will be wired up on the engine as far as the C101.
Add the extra wires to the socket, run wires from the washer bottle across the front of the car, pick up more wires from the coolant sensor, run them back the LH inner wing, and into the fuse box, via a little rubber nipple on the LH (outer side), which you cut off.
Then run all the sensor wires plus power from the appropriate fuses down through the bottom of the fusebox and into the cabin, and then up to the check control.

[gazza]

lovely just what i wanted to hear

[e30bmlover]

arent we the lucky ones! i wouldnt like to try and fit that, it would take me an eternity, just glad shes got full obc in her, saved my ass a couple of times!

[Simon]

- no sensor for oil level on M40/M10 engines,
Sharknose

That means that no 4 pot ever came with check system then, does it?
Never realised that!

Not quite! M3 has check control, but in general, only 320i/325i/M3 came with check control.

[Brianmoooore]

Does any six pot or M3 use a rad with a combined header tank then?
About three years ago the coolant level light saved me an engine on my wife's 325 when a small hose split at night and a long way from home.
After this, I decided to see if I could fit a coolant warning to my 318.
There is a blanked off boss on the underside of the 318 rad, and I knew that my local GSF had the correct level sensor for bottom fixing, because a month or so before they had sold me the wrong one for the 325!
Bought the sensor, fitted it and connected it up to a spare warning light in the cluster with a small transistor switch. Works fine.

[stevetigger]

Does any six pot or M3 use a rad with a combined header tank then?
About three years ago the coolant level light saved me an engine on my wife's 325 when a small hose split at night and a long way from home.
After this, I decided to see if I could fit a coolant warning to my 318.
There is a blanked off boss on the underside of the 318 rad, and I knew that my local GSF had the correct level sensor for bottom fixing, because a month or so before they had sold me the wrong one for the 325!
Bought the sensor, fitted it and connected it up to a spare warning light in the cluster with a small transistor switch. Works fine.

I wouldn't mind doing that but I'm running out of spare warning light holes in my dash!

[gazza]

as all our cars get older we need to take a bit more attention on their general condition and i think a couple of hours and a bit of wiring could save a lot of money in the long run i am going to have a go and fit the 3 i mentioned above

[smithy318i]

as all our cars get older we need to take a bit more attention on their general condition and i think a couple of hours and a bit of wiring could save a lot of money in the long run i am going to have a go and fit the 3 i mentioned above

let us know how you get on! i half installed mine but gave up.

[cliffybabe]

hope the fitting goes well, let us know how u get along im sur etheres a few zoner who would be really keen to do this mod