Fitting E36 window switches

Need technical Q/A then you're in the right place

Moderator: martauto

User avatar
FlashBastd
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 233
Joined: Sat Aug 13, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: West Yorks

Mon Nov 06, 2006 2:42 pm

Saw in the gallery that another member has done this, what is involved, is it difficult? Which switches are compatible?
1993 E30 318i Lux Auto Touring - SOLD
2001 Ford Mondeo 2.5 Zetec-S 5dr - SOLD
2004 Lexus IS300 Limited Edition Auto - SOLD
2005 Honda CR-V 2.0i Executive Auto
2001 Ford Puma 1.7i Black
cliffybabe
Powered by Nelly
Powered by Nelly
Posts: 10020
Joined: Sun Dec 18, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Croydon

Mon Nov 06, 2006 2:59 pm

whats ur email address ill email u a doc i got sent when i was looking into a e36 switch mod its a really good document, i can put all 12 pages here as jpegs if its alright with the mods??
Image
Considering Selling the Cabby, looks like its gonna go
dobbie82
E30 Zone Addict
E30 Zone Addict
Posts: 4125
Joined: Thu May 05, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Dolgellau, Wales (NOT A TRADER,broken a car,got lots of bits)
Contact:

Mon Nov 06, 2006 3:01 pm

what is the benefit of having the e36 switches?
e30 related ebay auctions + shop(MY Stuff for Sale), http://tinyurl.com/64aufr
My Feedback on the e30zone: http://tinyurl.com/dobbie82feedback
cliffybabe
Powered by Nelly
Powered by Nelly
Posts: 10020
Joined: Sun Dec 18, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Croydon

Mon Nov 06, 2006 3:09 pm

i htink they have one touch roll down and up option i think, IM sure someone wil clarify though
Image
Considering Selling the Cabby, looks like its gonna go
smithy318i
Engaged to the E30 Zone
Engaged to the E30 Zone
Posts: 5797
Joined: Thu Apr 28, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Tyne & Wear

Mon Nov 06, 2006 3:15 pm

Image
jmc330i
Engaged to the E30 Zone
Engaged to the E30 Zone
Posts: 6621
Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Somerset

Mon Nov 06, 2006 3:20 pm

cliffybabe wrote:i htink they have one touch roll down and up option i think, IM sure someone wil clarify though
Not really - there was a thread about doing the one-touch thing, I cant remember whats needed exactly but the E36 switches wont do it alone.
James
'91 325i Sport
'93 318i touring 16v
User avatar
FlashBastd
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 233
Joined: Sat Aug 13, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: West Yorks

Mon Nov 06, 2006 3:25 pm

The E30 switches seem to need a damn good push to actually work, I think the E36 ones are less industrial.
1993 E30 318i Lux Auto Touring - SOLD
2001 Ford Mondeo 2.5 Zetec-S 5dr - SOLD
2004 Lexus IS300 Limited Edition Auto - SOLD
2005 Honda CR-V 2.0i Executive Auto
2001 Ford Puma 1.7i Black
smithy318i
Engaged to the E30 Zone
Engaged to the E30 Zone
Posts: 5797
Joined: Thu Apr 28, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Tyne & Wear

Mon Nov 06, 2006 3:25 pm

E36 one touch windows are controlled by a control unit ECU brain thingy.
Image
cliffybabe
Powered by Nelly
Powered by Nelly
Posts: 10020
Joined: Sun Dec 18, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Croydon

Mon Nov 06, 2006 3:28 pm

my bad on the one touch getting confused with a chat i had with Ali a while back, they look nice though :cool:
Image
Considering Selling the Cabby, looks like its gonna go
User avatar
FlashBastd
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 233
Joined: Sat Aug 13, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: West Yorks

Mon Nov 06, 2006 3:32 pm

Just read Smithy's link, thank you.

While I am confortable with what's involved, I had hoped it might be a bit more "plug'n'play" as I may wish to return the car to standard at some point in the future, so I doubt I will go ahead, but thank you very much for all your comments.
1993 E30 318i Lux Auto Touring - SOLD
2001 Ford Mondeo 2.5 Zetec-S 5dr - SOLD
2004 Lexus IS300 Limited Edition Auto - SOLD
2005 Honda CR-V 2.0i Executive Auto
2001 Ford Puma 1.7i Black
StefanAnghel
E30 Zone Camper
E30 Zone Camper
Posts: 1403
Joined: Tue Nov 20, 2007 11:00 pm
Location: Essex/Hertfordshire/London
Contact:

Wed Jun 18, 2008 10:25 pm

Hello again guys
I've found some e36 window switches and they are with the wires...I'd like to put them on...
the problem is that on them (e36) I have 4 wires and on the e30 ones 5
can anybody help me?
cheers
User avatar
siddiqi1
BFG Zone Contributor
Posts: 1383
Joined: Sat Nov 04, 2006 11:00 pm
Location: Epsom & Middlesex

Thu Jun 19, 2008 12:44 am

the link doesnt work :(
StefanAnghel
E30 Zone Camper
E30 Zone Camper
Posts: 1403
Joined: Tue Nov 20, 2007 11:00 pm
Location: Essex/Hertfordshire/London
Contact:

Thu Jun 19, 2008 1:28 am

I know...
shedrool83
Old Skooler
Old Skooler
Posts: 4395
Joined: Thu May 10, 2007 11:00 pm
Location: Dundee Scotland

Thu Jun 19, 2008 6:24 am

It needs to be the white backed switches you use.Think you can also use the blue backed.
I done this a few months back.
Image
StefanAnghel
E30 Zone Camper
E30 Zone Camper
Posts: 1403
Joined: Tue Nov 20, 2007 11:00 pm
Location: Essex/Hertfordshire/London
Contact:

Thu Jun 19, 2008 9:14 am

mine are green
and the wires are: brown,white/green,blue/green,grey/red
I had a try today and I've smoked one...so I really need some help
StefanAnghel
E30 Zone Camper
E30 Zone Camper
Posts: 1403
Joined: Tue Nov 20, 2007 11:00 pm
Location: Essex/Hertfordshire/London
Contact:

Thu Jun 19, 2008 11:49 pm

nobody?
wks79
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 65
Joined: Fri Jul 13, 2007 11:00 pm

Fri Jun 20, 2008 5:39 am

stefananghel wrote:nobody?
mine is with 1 touch window wired up for both sides..only searching for the e36 switches now ..so just look for the white back ones? or can we use blue ones also ?
shedrool83
Old Skooler
Old Skooler
Posts: 4395
Joined: Thu May 10, 2007 11:00 pm
Location: Dundee Scotland

Fri Jun 20, 2008 7:15 am

stefananghel wrote:mine are green
and the wires are: brown,white/green,blue/green,grey/red
I had a try today and I've smoked one...so I really need some help
The green ones dont work for some reason.(someone tried them dont remember who)

If i get a chance to look i'll post which wire gos where( i writing down somewhere)
Image
StefanAnghel
E30 Zone Camper
E30 Zone Camper
Posts: 1403
Joined: Tue Nov 20, 2007 11:00 pm
Location: Essex/Hertfordshire/London
Contact:

Sat Jun 21, 2008 12:49 pm

Got the white backed now..so I'm waiting for wires details please :wink:
User avatar
siddiqi1
BFG Zone Contributor
Posts: 1383
Joined: Sat Nov 04, 2006 11:00 pm
Location: Epsom & Middlesex

Sat Jun 21, 2008 1:00 pm

ooooooooooooooooooooo....................can someone host them on the site; so we can all see them pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee :D
StuBeeDoo
Engaged to the E30 Zone
Engaged to the E30 Zone
Posts: 6756
Joined: Sat Feb 05, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Up My Own Arse

Sat Jun 21, 2008 1:03 pm

shedrool83 wrote:someone tried them dont remember who
I was one of them.
You need the white or blue switches with the large plugs. Any other colour - or the blue or white with the small plugs - won't work. Don't ask me why because a switch is a switch is a switch. :mad:

The rationale for changing them is that they aren't so "heavy" to operate.

The only way you can get one-touch in an E30 is to find a module which will do the job. Just fitting switches from an E36 with one-touch won't make your E30 windows work that way.

HTH
Stuart.
This is why I no longer drive an E30......

Image
StuBeeDoo
Engaged to the E30 Zone
Engaged to the E30 Zone
Posts: 6756
Joined: Sat Feb 05, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Up My Own Arse

Sat Jun 21, 2008 1:11 pm

This is what they look like......


Image


Don't forget you'll need the carriers for the rear door switches (or the sunroof switch) for the E36. The centre console carriers in the E36 are curved and won't fit properly in the flat E30 console.
This is why I no longer drive an E30......

Image
StefanAnghel
E30 Zone Camper
E30 Zone Camper
Posts: 1403
Joined: Tue Nov 20, 2007 11:00 pm
Location: Essex/Hertfordshire/London
Contact:

Sat Jun 21, 2008 1:26 pm

winkeye I have a sunroof one
can you help me with the wires color please
I'm a little bit confused as E30 has 5 wires and e36 only 4
cheers
StuBeeDoo
Engaged to the E30 Zone
Engaged to the E30 Zone
Posts: 6756
Joined: Sat Feb 05, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Up My Own Arse

Sat Jun 21, 2008 1:34 pm

stefananghel wrote:can you help me with the wires color please
All explained here Dude. :thumb:
This is why I no longer drive an E30......

Image
shedrool83
Old Skooler
Old Skooler
Posts: 4395
Joined: Thu May 10, 2007 11:00 pm
Location: Dundee Scotland

Sat Jun 21, 2008 1:54 pm

Heres the wiring for e36 switches.
This is from a 1990 cab and i also have the plugs with some wire on from the E36

Front switches
E30....................................E36

Brown...............................Brown
Green/gray....................... red
purple/gray.....................purple gray
black gray.......................black/gray


Back switches


brown.................................brown
black/yellow.......................purple/gray
green/gray...........................red
blue/green..........................black/gray

dont know if a 2/4 or touring is the same

HTH
Image
User avatar
siddiqi1
BFG Zone Contributor
Posts: 1383
Joined: Sat Nov 04, 2006 11:00 pm
Location: Epsom & Middlesex

Sat Jun 21, 2008 4:02 pm

nice one shedrool!
User avatar
Brianmoooore
E30 Zone Team Member
E30 Zone Team Member
Posts: 49358
Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm

Sat Jun 21, 2008 6:05 pm

StuBeeDoo wrote: You need the white or blue switches with the large plugs. Any other colour - or the blue or white with the small plugs - won't work. Don't ask me why because a switch is a switch is a switch
Pure guess, but I expect it's that the white and blue switches control the motors directly, like E30 ones, but the green ones just instruct a computer module, so are low current devices.
wks79
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 65
Joined: Fri Jul 13, 2007 11:00 pm

Sat Jun 21, 2008 9:33 pm

these are the switches which i just bought from the spare part yard here.
costed me bout 8quid which is about 60 malaysian ringgit for the pair including the trim.
they're decent condition havent got time to test em out yet.
not really clever with wiring so will get the mechanic to have a go at it for me.
and yes, i found them without the original e36 wires on it, no biggie .

previously , my car is already wired with one touch fully working just that its wiht the e30 window switches.
now to complete the other part of the mod i guess :D

Image

Image
StuBeeDoo
Engaged to the E30 Zone
Engaged to the E30 Zone
Posts: 6756
Joined: Sat Feb 05, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Up My Own Arse

Sun Jun 22, 2008 6:06 am

wks79 wrote:Image
That's the ones. If they don't look like these, they won't work.
This is why I no longer drive an E30......

Image
StefanAnghel
E30 Zone Camper
E30 Zone Camper
Posts: 1403
Joined: Tue Nov 20, 2007 11:00 pm
Location: Essex/Hertfordshire/London
Contact:

Fri Jul 25, 2008 10:06 pm

I've done mine...fully working and with light
Take care when you buy them cause some of them dont have bulb
Image
Image
User avatar
Brianmoooore
E30 Zone Team Member
E30 Zone Team Member
Posts: 49358
Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm

Sat Jul 26, 2008 12:23 am

stefananghel wrote:I've done mine...fully working and with light
Take care when you buy them cause some of them dont have bulb
Image
Image
I trust that's not the finished wiring!!!
StefanAnghel
E30 Zone Camper
E30 Zone Camper
Posts: 1403
Joined: Tue Nov 20, 2007 11:00 pm
Location: Essex/Hertfordshire/London
Contact:

Sat Jul 26, 2008 2:02 am

nop 8O
thats the excitement photo! after I realized that they are working :wink:
User avatar
siddiqi1
BFG Zone Contributor
Posts: 1383
Joined: Sat Nov 04, 2006 11:00 pm
Location: Epsom & Middlesex

Sat Jul 26, 2008 2:22 pm

Brian,

what do you suggest one does after having soldered? heatshrink?

Saboor
User avatar
Brianmoooore
E30 Zone Team Member
E30 Zone Team Member
Posts: 49358
Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm

Sat Jul 26, 2008 10:09 pm

siddiqi1 wrote:Brian,

what do you suggest one does after having soldered? heatshrink?

Saboor
Heatshrink is the stuff to use.
User avatar
siddiqi1
BFG Zone Contributor
Posts: 1383
Joined: Sat Nov 04, 2006 11:00 pm
Location: Epsom & Middlesex

Mon Jul 28, 2008 11:24 am

thanks matey! :o:
Post Reply