Corroded pins. central locking

[gazm3]

Took the wifes 325i cab to the auto electrian today corroded pins is the problem. Very common?. They disconnected the wing mirrors and swapped with the central locking, so now the central locking works. So sadly no electric wing mirrors.

Has anyone any knowledge of a kit that BMW do to replace all the pins in the door areas?. If so how much are they?.

Cheers Gareth.

[Andy335Touring]

I think Ian said you can still buy the pins from the dealers ?

I think he said they crimp on to the wire and clip in to the plugs ?

[Brianmoooore]

The wire that usually corrodes and stops the locking from working is the red/black main 12V+ supply one. This goes into the door and comes out again on another pin. It serves no purpose inside the door, and the simple cure is to disconnect the two red/black wires going to the socket in the pillat and join them together.
There are loads of unused wires going into the doors. Why did this "auto electrician" choose to use some already in us?. Also there is a large hole right through the door plug and socket which can be used to feed wires from the body to the door without plugs and sockets.

[gazm3]

Brianmoooore,

Thanks bud,

So what do think he's actually done mate, is this a real simple job to sort, is getting the wing mirrors back working an easy job?. I might take a few photos and post them up.

Cheers Gareth.

[Brianmoooore]

God only knows what he's done. A chimp with a pair of wire cutters can do a lot of damage in a short time. Hopefully you'll be able to identify the disconnected wires and reconnect them, possibly by new wires through the rubber boot and the hole in the plug and socket.
Mirror wires are blue/black, blue/white, white black all going to the left hand door, and a supply wire to the switch which should be green/black.

[gazm3]

Top fella, Where are you based lad?.

And do you work as an auto electrian.

Cheers Gareth.

[Brianmoooore]

North Devon, and not an auto electrician, but an ordinary house type one.
Discovered E30s about ten years ago and have driven nothing else since. Even drive a stripped out two door with just a drivers seat for work.

[johnono]

brian? if i took out the plugs and joined the wires permenantly would it be ok? coz i noticed water running directly onto the rubber boot when i openn the door and i know its not helping my cent. locking situation

[Brianmoooore]

The two red/black wires can be disconnected from the door socket and joined together permanently behind the right hand footwell loudspeaker. In every E30 I have ever looked at the red/black wire is not used for any purpose inside the door.
As for the rest of the pins - as long as they are not corroded already, get plenty of silicon grease (plumber's merchants - used for lubricating push fit soil and drain pipes) inside the plug under the rubber boot, make sure the boot is on properly, put more silicon grease on the pins and into the socket, and push the plug fully into the socket.
Should then all be fine.

[johnono]

cheers brian, the pins are soppin wet and they are rusty lookin. could i replace the plugs on both easly enough? or can i remove the plastic plugs and jon them all direct?

[Brianmoooore]

No reason why you shouldn't cut the affected wires off the pins and sockets and join them together if the pins are completekly knackered. There is a big hole in the door pillar socket for wires to pass through.
Depending on what equipment your car has, then probably only a few of the pins are actually in use.
Make sure you insulate the joins properly though. Heat shrink tubing on soldered joints ia best.

[johnono]

brian moore the master

nice one geez, i wanted to do this for a while. shrink tubes and solder it is!

[Brianmoooore]

Don't put the joints where they are going to bend every time you open and close the door though.