Over the last few years, I have driven some newer BMW and VW models on occasion and one small, simple little thing that I noticed that I never was aware of before was the three-blink blinker that these cars would do when the turn signal lever was tapped. Tap the turn signal stock, three blinks and auto turns off- awesomeness right? If you are familiar with this option in newer cars, then perhaps you can sympathies with me on how nice it is to have, especially after driving said modern car for some extent of time and getting back into your old E30 and not having this creature comofort.
This thread is a short and straight to the point write-up to veeeery lightly modify your old E30 to enjoy one small modern piece of technology. For the purists, the solution is simple: before you get angry from the thought of someone vilifying their pure E30 without your permission, do me a favor and click the back button before cardiac arrest kicks in and you have no choice but to die from rage. This is a how-to thread on performing this modification. This is not a thread to open debate about your opinion on laziness and E30 purity- I don't care. Go cry into your pillow.
Last summer I set out to find a solution, and I was surprised that there actually was one. So I must say, that I take no credit at all for this modifications origin, only that I performed it this afternoon with 100% success. The first thread that I stumbled upon was from myE28, where a guy had successfully installed a relay from a VW/Audi into his car for the three blinker modification. I was unable at the time (while in Switzerland) to find this relay on eBay or from some other discounter in America, so I was forced to order from Pelican and pay retail at $55.00. I would wager that you can get this from a pick and pull for next to nothing, or simply hold out and find it on eBay or some other discounter if you're not in a rush. However, aside from the relay its self, included was a female connection for the relay with 1ft long wire pigtails that I originally was not aware of in the purchase from Pelican and what also proved to be of great help in the installation. Oh yeah...did I mention that you do not have to destroy your OEM wiring harness in the dash? This is a "plug and play" modifcation. Just about every piece of info is in the first post of this tread, but I will cliff note it all for those of you who want to get to the jest of this install/modification. The original thread can be found here:
http://www.mye28.com/viewtopic.php?t=97267&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0Parts needed:
*VW/Audi Relay: 000 953 227A.
*5x tap splice connectors 18g. Google it if you are not familiar with these connectors. Can be purchased anywhere there is modern civilization.
*.pdf print out of the hazard flasher wiring diagram to VW/Audi relay:
http://www.davebarton.com/pdf/blinkerdiagram-E28.pdf*simple hand tools.
*About twenty minutes of your precious time.
Steps for three-blinker comfort blinker:
1) Remove the glove box and associated pieces. I removed the glove box because it's easy, and allows for more working room.
2) Remove the trim pieces to the left of the glove box to expose the guts of the climate control, air ducting and electrical components.
3) Push out the hazard button from its secure spot above the radio. You should very easily be able to get your hand in there to perform this.
4) Unplug the hazard button from its harness.
5) Push the hazard button harness back through the mounting hole in the dash, and then pull it out over behind the radio and to where the glove box was.
6) Inspect the harness and familiarize yourself with the very tiny numbers for each pin so that you don't make any mistakes while crimping. One row is evens the other row is odds. If you have hands like a bear, or really poor vision, then this may be awkward.
7) Use a print out of the .pdf so that you can follow what you're doing, but this is 2013, so you probably have your sweet iPad for this. Note: Even though the colors in the diagram provided are different due to VW/Audi relay being installed originally on an E28, the pin out is exactly the same for your E30 hazard switch harness. Simply crimp the proper VW/Audi relay pin # to the associated pin # on the emergency flasher harness in the diagram.
***Remember: Study the diagram closely before crimping! Read four times; crimp once.
8 Use your trusty piggy back Tap Splice Connectors to tap into your OEM hazard harness wires.
9) For the ground, use the brown wire for the rear defrost as your ground for your VW/Audi relay. This may take extra wire (I was able to do it with the provided pigtails that came from Pelican).
10) Before you put everything back together in the dash, install the hazard button back into its wiring harness.
11) Turn your car to "on", touch the blinker lever to signal and revel in the bad assed modernization of your old school ride as it blinks not once, not twice, but three times and cancels on its own. Holy F, did that really just happen? Yes, my friend- it sure did!
10) Once you've gotten over your mechanical prowess, install everything in reverse order like you were never in there.
Topic: Comfort Blinker - Three Blink Blinker Install (Read 7475 times)