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

DISCUSSION => Interior => Topic started by: strad on November 17, 2008, 07:44:32 PM

Title: 13 button obc
Post by: strad on November 17, 2008, 07:44:32 PM
Is it possible to install one in an M42 car and get the right coding plugs for it?  I might do this someday if I can make it work.   Seems there's a wealth of 13 button obc parts laying around in the junkyard I frequent for dirt cheap.
Title: 13 button obc
Post by: JP 91iS on November 17, 2008, 07:54:06 PM
I'm pretty sure for a correct install you'd need the 13 OBC, wiring and the turn signal stalk with the selector button.  I'd guess you would also need one from an airbag car for the stalk to fit properly? Not sure on that though.
Title: 13 button obc
Post by: roundel318 on November 17, 2008, 08:38:25 PM
There are 3 or 4 different part numbers for having the OBC, non OBC, airbag, etc.
So yes, there are many stalks.
Title: 13 button obc
Post by: roundel318 on November 17, 2008, 08:39:10 PM
When performing this, its really worth while to have cruise control and or migrate it at the same time.
Title: 13 button obc
Post by: strad on November 17, 2008, 09:33:35 PM
Damn, I hadn't thought about cruise.  This is getting more complicated.  So I might need everything to come out of an airbag car?  

I know for my 92 cabrio, its obc started acting screwy, so I got a computer out of an 86 325e.  With the 92's coding plug, the 86 computer worked fine.
Title: 13 button obc
Post by: JP 91iS on November 17, 2008, 10:04:46 PM
Are you referring to the coding plug on the gauge cluster?
Title: 13 button obc
Post by: strad on November 17, 2008, 11:32:58 PM
No, the one that plugs into the back of the obc.  I tried running the one from the "e" in my ic just for laughs and it came up with some really screwy data (as in numbers waayy off lol).  Putting the plug from the ic in fixed that. So I'm pretty sure I need something from a four cylinder, and maybe even an M42, in the way of a coding plug for that thing.
Title: 13 button obc
Post by: roundel318 on November 17, 2008, 11:59:46 PM
You need the corresponding stalk on your steering wheel, there is a programming mode you put the OBC in, and change the car preset. The stalk has a extra direction (in twards the steering wheel) that it can be pushed, essentially another button being pressed on the OBC.
Digging around on the net will provide you some help on the exact procedure.
Title: 13 button obc
Post by: txleadfoot on November 18, 2008, 12:09:52 PM
There's all kinds of DIY info at r3vlimited.com on this subject.
Title: 13 button obc
Post by: strad on November 19, 2008, 06:40:53 PM
Thanks.  I guess I'm not so interested in the "how" (I can get that info) as I am in getting the correct coding plug for the computer.  It's a white plug-in deal on the back side of the housing.  I do not see the M42 listed in online sources, but I do see the 318i (I'm assuming the early one).  The problem there is that it's for a different engine, which will result in screwy numbers if installed in an M42 car.  So. . . does anyone know if the correct M42 plug is available from BMW, and if so, a part #?  I can't find it on realoem.
Title: 13 button obc
Post by: E30tii on November 19, 2008, 06:59:30 PM
65 81 1 394 111

From write-up here: http://zoso.no-ip.org/318i-obc.html

Seems accurate within 1 MPG for me. It ended up costing me more for the coding plug than the rest of the parts combined since I had to buy it new.
Title: 13 button obc
Post by: Royalratch on November 20, 2008, 08:01:37 AM
Any 4-Cylinder coding plug will do.

You don't need the stalk for it to work either.

A lot of people don't bother because it adds 20min to the job.
Title: 13 button obc
Post by: Royalratch on November 20, 2008, 08:04:42 AM
Any 4-Cylinder coding plug will do.

You don't need the stalk for it to work either.
Title: 13 button obc
Post by: strad on November 20, 2008, 08:43:44 AM
Thanks E30tii.  Exactly what I was looking for!  Now I gotta pull the rest of the stuff off a jy parts car this Christmas.
Title: 13 button obc
Post by: Cobra Jet on November 20, 2008, 10:25:04 AM
Quote from: Royalratch;61300
Any 4-Cylinder coding plug will do.

You don't need the stalk for it to work either.

A lot of people don't bother because it adds 20min to the job.


So, basically you can take the M42 coding plug from the 6 button OBC and install it into the 13 button OBC and things will be fine?  Please clarify your statement - or are you saying that any PRE-M42 4 cyl coding plug will work correctly in a 13 button OBC once it's installed into a 4 cyl?

I have also read that one does not need the stalk to do the conversion - that you would only need the stalk for if using cruise control or if wanting to use the "code" feature on the 13 button OBC.

I have the 13 button OBC and correct wiring harness but have yet to complete the conversion in my 318ic (no time yet to do it).  I opted not to use the stalk or code feature based on what was stated in zoso's faq write up (and others I have seen online).  I was thinking of using the M42 coding plug from the original 6 button OBC into the back of the 13 button OBC, but was not 100% sure if such a swap would work properly or not... this is why I bring up the above questions to Royal's coding plug statement.

:)
Title: 13 button obc
Post by: roundel318 on November 20, 2008, 11:38:14 AM
Here is the plug.
http://zoso.no-ip.org/images/318i-OBC/16-m42codingplug.jpg

I don't think our 6 button OBC's have the coding plug as our OBC's didnt have the extra features, so you need to procure one it sounds like?

"Matt makes note that the coding plug for the M10B10 may not be accurate because the coding plug was designed for the M10B10 as used in the E28 518i which had a 70l fuel tank as opposed to the 55l tank in the early E30 318i. There is also no plug for the M40 motor or any diesel motors. "

So if you have a EARLY 318i M10 coding plug, the numbers might be wrong.

"Not all the parts are necessary. The relay box, screws, lower wiring harness, alarm horn, and horn wiring harness are all needed if you want to use the code function on the OBC. The code function disables the car until you type a code into the OBC. I have this feature on my E36 M3 and I never use it and decided to skip the hassle necessary to install it."

"
I also don't believe the turn stalk is absolutely necessary. The OBC enabled turn stalks allow you to press the stalk toward the steering column and it cycles the OBC throughout all the OBC modes. I think it is worth the effort as replacing the stalk is not that difficult. "
Title: 13 button obc
Post by: JP 91iS on November 20, 2008, 12:09:51 PM
Quote from: strad;61310
Thanks E30tii.  Exactly what I was looking for!  Now I gotta pull the rest of the stuff off a jy parts car this Christmas.

If you get some extras I'll buy them from you!
Title: 13 button obc
Post by: strad on February 09, 2009, 04:55:50 PM
After a VERY long wait (at least four weeks!), I finally have the coding plug.  I now have everything needed for the swap, and will be installing it this weekend or next.  

Jp, I grabbed two obcs, dunno if either work properly yet.  I'll test both in the process of setting this thing up.  I only pulled one of everything else though -- pretty much all  I could find that was correct.
Title: 13 button obc
Post by: JP 91iS on February 09, 2009, 06:30:40 PM
Quote from: strad;66205
Jp, I grabbed two obcs, dunno if either work properly yet.  I'll test both in the process of setting this thing up.  I only pulled one of everything else though -- pretty much all  I could find that was correct.

Cool, I actually pulled everything for the swap off an 89 325iS about a month ago.  All I need is the coding plug.  Where did you buy yours?
Title: 13 button obc
Post by: strad on February 09, 2009, 07:29:02 PM
Bavarian Autosport.  It was $65 iirc.  

It has a manufactured 2004 stamp on it.  I'm pretty sure they special ordered it from Germany based on how long it took them to get it to me.
Title: 13 button obc
Post by: strad on February 21, 2009, 09:20:10 PM
It is installed, minus the code box and lower wiring harness.  Seems to work fine.  

Managed to break both tabs off the cluster though :mad: dammit.  That would not have happened if I could have gotten the key cylinder out (so I could remove the upper steering column cover) but it didn't want to come.  Oh well.  Damn these airbag E30s.  I'm sure I can fix it sometime.
Title: 13 button obc
Post by: superj on April 04, 2009, 10:30:15 PM
so you put in the black box,  the wiring, and the obc?
Title: 13 button obc
Post by: gearheadE30 on April 06, 2009, 04:33:44 PM
Yup. The signal stalk is optional. Get a new light bar and code plug while you're at it. The code plug will cost you $60ish regardless of where you get it from, BTW.
Title: 13 button obc
Post by: JP 91iS on April 07, 2009, 12:39:45 PM
Quote from: gearheadE30;69585
Yup. The signal stalk is optional. Get a new light bar and code plug while you're at it. The code plug will cost you $60ish regardless of where you get it from, BTW.

Wasn't bmwman91 going to make copies of this chip available for cheap? I realize it wouldn't be high on his priorities but would make some people happy.
Title: 13 button obc
Post by: IvanB on January 15, 2010, 03:14:37 PM
Did anybody succeed to make copy of the chip?
Man from another forum gave me this:
(http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/ss221/johnt0709/codeplug01.jpg)
Title: 13 button obc
Post by: DesktopDave on January 15, 2010, 04:10:42 PM
That looks promising...I wonder if those are correction factors, and if they relate to memory blocks on the eeprom?
Title: 13 button obc
Post by: IvanB on January 16, 2010, 04:11:35 AM
The chip is ROM Its programmed once, and then you cannot reprogram it. Chip number is TBP18SA030EN. I did not find datasheet for it, but found for TBP18SA030N which i hope will work. As i read its 256bits memory, 32 words X 8bits. It has 16 pins. Now its up to someone reads m42 code plug and write it to another chip.
Title: 13 button obc
Post by: superj on January 18, 2010, 07:50:04 PM
i have everything to swap but the coding plug also.  i have it from an 87 325is.  i already swapped the stalk when i put in the cruise control stalk so that is already taken care of
Title: 13 button obc
Post by: longtallsally on January 23, 2010, 11:38:10 AM
I just walked into a dealer and ordered one and will have it on Tuesday.

















Oh yeah, I'm in Germany.  :D
Title: 13 button obc
Post by: IvanB on February 09, 2010, 07:10:41 PM
How much did it cost you?
Title: 13 button obc
Post by: longtallsally on February 10, 2010, 03:40:37 AM
Quote from: IvanB;87039
How much did it cost you?


Oh wait, are you in Bulgaria?  Ignore my PM then and just respond again and let me know where you are and I can see what's the what...
Title: 13 button obc
Post by: longtallsally on May 17, 2010, 05:55:01 AM
So an update/question.  I was fiddling with my HVAC a little while back and while in there put in the "correct" coding plug.

Well, it actually is farther off than the original plug for mileage.  By the ODO, I got just about 27mpg for my last tank and the OBC says 23.  In my other 3 E30s, (all M20 325is) the OBC was pretty darn accurate.

I'm running stock size tires and Diff.

I never actually fully cut power to the OBC when I swapped the plug.  Is this it?

Any ideas?

EDIT:  Fixed it by killing power and "rebooting" the OBC.  It's very accurate now.