E28 Euro Headlamp Washer System

[vinceg101]

I'm looking for insight on the installation procedures for installing the system to the M535i. Both the Bently's and E28 Shop Manual are for the US cars only and don't address it.

I have all the parts diagrams and can figure most of it out, but it's really the wire loom installation I'm unsure of. More to the point, it's what the loom connects to towards the electrical/control end, not the tank and wiper motor side.

The only piece of BMW printed literature I have is for the E30 printed in German, but the configuration is too different to answer the questions.
[I've found two threads on the system, one in the Tech FAQ and one general thread, but I can't seem to link them here in this post??. But while they help, they don't quite answer the question].

Any help appreciated. Thanks.

[Karl Grau]

Vince,

I'm kind of in the same boat. I have the OEM loom and the euro stalk but it seems like there is something missing that goes between them. I have JBorts schematic but it's more for using non factory parts.

This diagram is for the e24 I believe.

[C.R. Krieger]

On the plus side, it looks like only three wires go through the firewall (at connectors 8 and 9).

[Karl Grau]

I looked everything over again when I got home from work and I think I actually have it figured out now.

[vinceg101]

I looked everything over again when I got home from work and I think I actually have it figured out now.

Do tell.
I was forwarded a BMW tech bulletin for the E28 install and can pass it along if that helps further.

[528elover]

I looked everything over again when I got home from work and I think I actually have it figured out now.

Yes, Charles do share! I've got a complete setup in a box waiting to be installed, so any insights would be most appreciated!

[OcCoupe]

Yes, please share! I am at a loss and have a complete setup.

[TurboChris]

As do I, more info would be most helpful!


[/quote]

Yes, Charles do share! I've got a complete setup in a box waiting to be installed, so any insights would be most appreciated![/quote]

[Karl Grau]

I'll have something up by the end of the weekend. I also just realized I have the factory instructions in pdf courtesy of Jay (El Gauppo) that I'll post a link to.

[vinceg101]

[OcCoupe]

I'll have something up by the end of the weekend. I also just realized I have the factory instructions in pdf courtesy of Jay (El Gauppo) that I'll post a link to.

Thank you Charles. I was at Darin's house when he was trying to figure out this setup. The harness he had was different to mine and not nearly as long, (this may have caused him to feel inferior).

I also noticed that the switch for the wiper setup has a total of 6 pins at the plug versus the 4 pins on the US switch. I am guessing that we will need to add two more wires to complete the function?

[vinceg101]

Okay gents, I had to start this upgrade this weekend in earnest to be ready for next month. I think I'm more at a loss now than when I first posted this thread; maybe Charles' Ultimate Dummy Guide will clear everything up, but I thought I'd share what I have now (caution, big pictures):

Dismantled everything this afternoon (headlamps, existing washer tank, grilles, etc.). Pulled out the Headlamp Washer System wire loom I purchased from a salvaged '86 M535i in Ireland. I think there is another wire that connects this loom to something coming from the column switch. I think this only because of the length; it seems to want to stop right near the battery with the ground wire connecting to G102 (main engine bay ground point). There seems to be no connector to fit the plug at the end of the HWS wire loom.

There is however a mystery plug coming out of the main electrical wire harness from the fuse box. It's hiding just behind the driver's side strut tower. As mentioned, it does not however have a plug that matches the plug on the HWS wire loom:




Over on the other side at the fluid tank, it's pretty straight-forward: (1) plug for the Washer Controller on the tank, (3) plugs for the Washer Pumps, and (1) plug for the Pump power coming off the existing wire harness running across the front of the car. However, my existing system has another wire coming from the pump power plug (purple/violet) which appears to run up to the Heated Nozzles:




The HWS wire loom I have here does not appear to support a wire for the Heated Nozzles; at least not my existing wire. Not sure the work-around for that yet.

There is another mystery plug on the main wire harness along the front of the car right behind the passenger's headlamp assembly. It appears to have been spliced into at some point (maybe during Federalization?). Also, a new set of wires and connectors to the low beams were spliced onto the original wire harness; not sure about that (maybe just a repair in the past?)

There is some black ground wire coming up from the valance below somewhere and wrapped around one of the main headlamp assembly screws and body. Not sure about what this is yet.

Anyway, that's where I stopped late this afternoon. I'm hoping you guys with complete systems can tell me if there is indeed another wire connecting the HWS wire loom to something(??)

[Blue Shadow]

Nice post of the components of the headlight wash system.

The key is the wiper control stalk and where it connects to the harness with the connection to mate with the front wiring harness.

[OcCoupe]

Your post SUX. You put too many pictures next to each other instead of on separate lines making the formatting WRONG, and requiring us to scroll to the left and right to read this piece of shit post.

I can edit this post if you can edit yours.

Have another cocktail and take some valium.

[cgraff]

http://www.m535i.org/officers/ra/articl ... electrical

Did you take a look at the wiring diagram and E30 installation instructions? From the two you can probably piece it together.

-Chris

[b29fe]

I am in a similar situation. I am replacing a modified US Headlights to "true" Euro lights with wipers in a E23. 1984 745I. The previous owner welded 7" Jeep buckets to the US frames. It works, only aimed way too low. I have all the parts, I think. Now just trying to figure out where everything connects. The pictures on your install are awesome. Thanks for the guide.

[vinceg101]

Your post SUX. You put too many pictures next to each other instead of on separate lines making the formatting WRONG, and requiring us to scroll to the left and right to read this piece of shit post.

I can edit this post if you can edit yours.

Geez Blue, is that better?
It was late last night when I posted that, so relax.

[vinceg101]

http://www.m535i.org/officers/ra/articl ... electrical

Did you take a look at the wiring diagram and E30 installation instructions? From the two you can probably piece it together.

-Chris

Yes and no, I think. The diagrams are still that: diagrammatic. The diagram Charles posted is likely closer to the M535 condition, but it looks like it's from earlier versions (if that makes a difference).
Maybe I'm being dense, but I'm hoping that someone who has a working system can post a picture or two of the HWS wiring installed with all the plugs. And maybe someone else here with all the system components can post what parts they have to see if my hunch is correct and I'm missing a wire and plugs.

[Blue Shadow]

Your post SUX. You put too many pictures next to each other instead of on separate lines making the formatting WRONG, and requiring us to scroll to the left and right to read this piece of shit post.

I can edit this post if you can edit yours.

Have another cocktail and take some valium.

So you like scrolling to see the pics and read any post below the first one that extends the formatting?

If shit can be easy, make it easy.

[vinceg101]

Your post SUX. You put too many pictures next to each other instead of on separate lines making the formatting WRONG, and requiring us to scroll to the left and right to read this piece of shit post.

I can edit this post if you can edit yours.

Have another cocktail and take some valium.

So you like scrolling to see the pics and read any post below the first one that extends the formatting?

If shit can be easy, make it easy.

As mentioned, it was late when I posted this and as such didn't have a chance to see what it looked like when it posted. That's a problem with the preview function on this site with photos: it doesn't show you what it will really look like. I would have fixed it this morning when I checked in (which I did, remember, I'm on Pacific time). I apologize this post offended you so much.

How about we get back to the point of this post and start sharing some relevant information?

[Karl Grau]

Vince,

What you have labeled as the right wiper motor plug is actually the power plug. What you have labeled left motor plug is actually the righthand side plug and your mystery plug is the lefthand motor plug.
Power plug = 2 wires gray/white & gray/brown
Right motor = 4 wires blk/ylw/, brn, blu, violet/ylw
left motor = 3 wires brn, violet/ylw, blk/ylw.
The ground wire goes to the lug on the fender next to the battery with all the other ground wires.

The Charger game is about to start so I gotta go.

[wkohler]

The spliced wiring you're talking about is for Federalizing the car. They spliced wiring for sidemarkers and to make the headlamps function in the US manner. I'd remove all of it if I were you.

[Karl Grau]

It's halftime

You'll also need to check the Wiper Motor Relay located in the fusebox.



The correct part number is 61311369829. The wiper version has two extra lugs that the 'standard' version lacks. This relay goes for $160.00 at BavAuto and $200+ at the dealer but AutohausAZ has them for $53.95.

[Blue Shadow]

I apologize this post offended you so much.

How about we get back to the point of this post and start sharing some relevant information?

didn't bother me. I wrote a nice request for an edit and subsequently totally removed any indication that there was a problem with the post. Seems when I get with the program of passing out upgrades like that comment, in the same vein as the grammar and spelling corrections folks get all bent. Fine, I can handle that. If the others had not quoted my post the issue would be just my one post, but no, gotta get in there and represent.

Hell, who sent you the documents you are starting to spread around? I'm on your team to get the project done as I have them on my e23. There back on topic. Maybe we can keep it that way.

[vinceg101]

Vince,

What you have labeled as the right wiper motor plug is actually the power plug. What you have labeled left motor plug is actually the righthand side plug and your mystery plug is the lefthand motor plug.
Power plug = 2 wires gray/white & gray/brown
Right motor = 4 wires blk/ylw/, brn, blu, violet/ylw
left motor = 3 wires brn, violet/ylw, blk/ylw.
The ground wire goes to the lug on the fender next to the battery with all the other ground wires.

The Charger game is about to start so I gotta go.

AHH HAHH! Now I get it.
In cleaning up everything this afternoon and re-examining the wire looms, this information put the puzzle straight.

To revise my previous diagrams, this is the correct designation of the plugs. I indeed have what I need and am not missing any other wire:


I couldn't figure out why the R/L wiper motor plugs would be different; this explains both that and the mystery plug #2 on the existing front wire harness. The wiper motors have plugs that look like these:

and the Main HWS Power Plug looks like this:

While the existing HWS Power Connector looks like this (previously labeled "Mystery Plug 2") located just behind the right (passenger) side headlamp:


It also looks like I can simply splice the violet/black wire for the heated nozzles into the back of the Pump Power Connector on the HWS loom.

Cool, this is going to get finished next weekend (maybe).

[vinceg101]

I'm on your team to get the project done as I have them on my e23. There back on topic. Maybe we can keep it that way.

Of course. Agreed. My hope is that this the results of this exercise posted here can be transferred into some sort of FAQ on the whole subject for everyone. Maybe Charles is ahead of us already.

It's halftime
You'll also need to check the Wiper Motor Relay located in the fusebox.

Way ahead of you on this one; got one from Kohler this past St. Paddy's and another one with the wire loom from Ireland.
(Go Chargers!)

The spliced wiring you're talking about is for Federalizing the car. They spliced wiring for sidemarkers and to make the headlamps function in the US manner. I'd remove all of it if I were you.

This is a whole other project, but I have it all apart now so I might as well tackle this as well. I'm already replacing the headlamps and one of the assembly brackets, so why not address the wiring. I want to re-initiate the City Lights in the low beams, so I'll being doing some more research on the correct wiring. As you recall this car doesn't have the side markers (it might have in the past, but it doesn't any more).

Next weekend is the installation of everything. So we'll see if it all pays off.

[japandrew73]

when i plug the pump power cable into the old standard pump power cable on the body harness, the intensive wash pump continuously runs when the key is turned to on in the ignition. while it's continuously running with the lights on I'll pull the wiper stalk towards me and fluid is sprayed onto the windscreen and the wipers are activated, but no spraying or wiping is going on with the headlights.

Everything I have is plugged in and wired up just like yours, however the pump power plug seems a little iffy. any help?