New member needs help with wiring

[Radical Racing]

Hi All:

Just bought a new to me 1987 325is project car. The PO was chasing a short, got carried away and removed the entire dash board, kick panels, console etc. without labelling a single wire or connector.  

I have studied my Bentley manual, printed out the entire 173 page 1987 BMW 3 Series Electrical Trouble Shooting Manual and read what seems like a million posts on various forums. I am down to 7 connectors I cannot place as follows. I am hoping some forum member can help me identify these or point me in another direction to solve this mystery.

1) Orange 6 pin connector/five pins used BK/WT, BK/YL, VI, RD, BK/VI
Located up high just to the left of where the instrument panel would be.

2) Coming out of the left front kick panel speaker hole:
Double white connector GR/BR and BL/BR wires

3) Single white connector coming out of the left front kick panel speaker hole BL/BR wire

4) Single white connector BR/BL wire near where the headlight switch would be

5) Three pin black connector wires are BR, BL/BR and RD/WT
Underside of steering column

6) Single RD/BL wire coming off the big bundle of wires just before the Motronic ECU.

7) There is also a very large multiple pin connecotor near the steering column that seems like it is missing some wires.
A heavy duty WT/BR wire and a small gauge BK/BR wire go into the connector. I can see the pins in the connector but there are no corresponding female connectors to plug in.

I am very frustrated and about at wits end. Any help would be greatly appreciated.


Todd

[DesktopDave]

Your post was blocked, so I approved it.  I'm not sure how much help it'll be, but I'll take a crack at it.  Keep in mind that there are a lot of unused connectors on all BMWs, and to make it worse there are several different flavors of harnesses that they used on the e30.

I'll review these tomorrow, but the one that popped out at me immediately is the orange connector.  They've always been airbag component plugs.  Typically that computer is alongside the ABS computer under the left dash vent.

[keflaman]

I looked and compared the wiring harnesses on my 318is and '89 325i that I have. Dave is correct concerning the airbag connector and your 2) and 3) isn't connected in either of my cars. The wrapping on both harnesses are dry and falling apart, but it looks like they were not used.  I don't see 4), 5) and 6) on either car, but pictures from your end might help us figure it out.

Does your car have cruise, heated seats, 13 button OBC or any other options?

[Radical Racing]

Thanks for the comments guys.

Just returned from SF Giants Spring Training so back at the project this weekend.

1) The car does not have air bags.   Seems curious they would wire it for air bags and not install them, if your guess about the orange connector is correct.   When did air bags become required standard equipment on car sold in the US market?

No heated seats.  

It has a 13 button OBC

Don't think it has cruise control as I see no buttons on the steering wheel.

The connectors that really worry me are 5) and 6).  Looks like both have been used but damn if I can find where they go.  I have done back breaking body contortions trying to get look at the rats nest of wires from every angle.

I just took some photos and will try to post them here.  Not very good at such things.

 Todd

[DesktopDave]

I've seen airbag connectors on all the facelift (plastic bumper) cars.  The sensors aren't wired, but you can see them on the front strut mountings.

The airbags were only installed in late '90s e30s IIRC.  I haven't seen any M20 airbag cars, and no 'verts from the few I've seen either.

There are a lot of spare connectors 'round the dash area.  Don't sweat it, there's a reason the cars were so overpriced new...

The cruise control is a third stalk on e30s.  It's an easy upgrade.  You might have the harness pre-installed.  This isn't a Euro chassis, by any chance, is it?