M42club.com - Home of the BMW E30/E36 318i/iS

DISCUSSION => Electrical => Topic started by: Sam Cogley on June 19, 2008, 02:23:27 PM

Title: Active check panel vs. plain m42 panel
Post by: Sam Cogley on June 19, 2008, 02:23:27 PM

Is it possible to retrofit the full check panel to a 318?  What would be involved?  I tried searching for information, but couldn't find much.

Title: Active check panel vs. plain m42 panel
Post by: BMWManiac on June 24, 2008, 08:29:35 PM

I'm in the same boat....I have just a panel and when I plugged it in, it would flash "SRS."  I bought a check panel on ebay and hopefully, it plugs right into the same connector....I'll let you know!

Title: Active check panel vs. plain m42 panel
Post by: ak96ss on June 24, 2008, 10:38:58 PM

You can fit the panel, but to get it to actually function is a fair amount of work - we don't have much of the wiring that supports the full-blown check panel. Check relays, etc., are not present in our cars.

Title: Active check panel vs. plain m42 panel
Post by: nomad on June 28, 2008, 07:49:45 PM

I don't feel like doing the wiring work on mine.
If I don't sell my SRS check panel I was going to use I'll just put it in the M42 to make the upper panel "look more interesting'. It always looks like something is supposed to be there...

Title: Active check panel vs. plain m42 panel
Post by: BMWManiac on June 29, 2008, 01:03:40 PM

Is there a light fixture that can go in its place if the check computer doesn't work there?

Title: Active check panel vs. plain m42 panel
Post by: gearheadE30 on July 06, 2008, 09:17:21 PM

I took one out of a silverado. Others have done VW dome lights, I believe. Just run a set of wires above the headliner to one of the stock lights. Mine's even got maplights ;). The interior subforum has a few more pics. These maplights are even aimed right at the driver/passenger's lap. Pretty good for $5.

(http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u169/gearheadE30/IMG_0158.jpg)
(http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u169/gearheadE30/IMG_0144.jpg)

Title: Active check panel vs. plain m42 panel
Post by: BMWManiac on July 07, 2008, 09:12:44 AM

I just got my check panel and the connector is different....anybody want a check panel?

Title: Active check panel vs. plain m42 panel
Post by: Cobra Jet on July 08, 2008, 10:24:15 AM

What harnesses or wiring would be needed to actually retrofit the fully functional E30 325 check panel into a 318?  is it really that hard or complicated to do - even if having to make your own wiring?  I often wonder why BMW did not include a full function check panel in the 318's...

Does anyone have a wiring schematic of the 325 check panel to see the wire layouts as to how it operates?

Title: Active check panel vs. plain m42 panel
Post by: nomad on July 08, 2008, 01:17:23 PM

I have an SRS version of the check panel. Since our 318is has the seatbelt and srs lights standard (there are lights for "airbag" and "overheat" included but not hooked up) I think it can work.

If I don;t sell it then I'll probably take the circuit board out of the 318 one and put it in a gutted check panel. I can solder small wires to the other srs and seatbelt light locations so that they'll light up just like the original.

Certainly all of the lights won't necessarily work but I wonder if you could jump a 12v and a ground to it so that at the minimum the lights could work when you tap the check button?