FAQ: How do the fuse boxes in US and Euro E28s differ?
There are two different fuse boxes for E28s:
For ALL US cars, and a few Euro (520i) cars:
Part Numbers:
61131369596 from 09/01/1980
Superseded by: 61131370763 (09/01/1982 — )
61131386387 (03/14/1997 — )
Supersedes:
61131364843 (12/01/1977 — )
Part 61131369596 was found on the following E28 vehicles:
5' E28, 520i, Sedan, M20, MANUAL, EUR, (4031) : Fuse box
5' E28, 520i, Sedan, M20, AUTO, EUR, (4041) : Fuse box
5' E28, 520i, Sedan, M20, MANUAL, EUR, (4051) : Fuse box
5' E28, 520i, Sedan, M20, MANUAL, EUR, (4052) : Fuse box
5' E28, 520i, Sedan, M20, AUTO, EUR, (4061) : Fuse box
5' E28, 520i, Sedan, M20, AUTO, EUR, (4062) : Fuse box
5' E28, 520i, Sedan, M20, MANUAL, EUR, (4071) : Fuse box
5' E28, 520i, Sedan, M20, MANUAL, EUR, (4072) : Fuse box
5' E28, 520i, Sedan, M20, AUTO, EUR, (4081) : Fuse box
5' E28, 520i, Sedan, M20, AUTO, EUR, (4082) : Fuse box
5' E28, 524td, Sedan, M21, MANUAL, USA, (4214) : Fuse box
5' E28, 524td, Sedan, M21, AUTO, USA, (4224) : Fuse box
5' E28, 528e, Sedan, M20, MANUAL, USA, (4073) : Fuse box
5' E28, 528e, Sedan, M20, AUTO, USA, (4083) : Fuse box
5' E28, 533i, Sedan, M30, MANUAL, USA, (4274) : Fuse box
5' E28, 533i, Sedan, M30, AUTO, USA, (4284) : Fuse box
5' E28, 535i, Sedan, M30, MANUAL, USA, (DC74) : Fuse box
5' E28, 535i, Sedan, M30, AUTO, USA, (DC84) : Fuse box
5' E28, M5, Sedan, S38, MANUAL, USA, (DC93) : Fuse box
Source: This thread on Fuse box part numbers: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=137107&p=1358165
US Cover:
US Frontside:
US Backside, unmolested, all wires:
US Backside:
Fuse 7 & 8 are fed by a WH/VI lead from the high-beam relay. This lead is built-into the fuse box and goes directly to the spade under fuse 7:
Fuse 7 & 8 input-side are bridged. This is the easiest way to tell whether you have a US or Euro fusebox.
For all Euro cars, except 520i - Part #: 61131370426 (04/01/1981 -)
Euro Cover in English (UK):
Euro Cover in German:
Euro Frontside:
Euro Backside with all wires:
Euro Backside:
Fuse 2 is low beam (right). Fuse 3 is low beam (left) + rear fog. Comes from output of low-beam relay (YL 2.5).
Fuse 7 & 8 have INDEPENDENT inputs. Fuse 7 comes from the output of the high-beam relay (WH/VI 2.5).
Note how Fuse 8 has the VI 2.5 lead going to it; it is a jumper from the input to Fuse 11.
The Euro diagrams show this:
Here's Fuse 7; on Euro cars Fuse 7 powers BOTH L & R High beams.
Inside the fuse box, the lead comes out of the harness from the chassis into the fusebox, directly to Fuse 11, where it then jumpers to Fuse 8.
Here's a pic that highlights the differences in the fuse boxes (US on left, Euro on right):
Summary of connection/mechanical differences between the US and Euro Fuse Boxes
The only structural difference between the two units is: On the US version the input to Fuse 7 & 8 is bridged. On Euro versions the inputs are separate. Thus a European box can be made to work with a US car by simply bridging the inputs to Fuse 7 & 8.
A US box could be made to work on a Euro car by somehow cutting the bridge between fuses 7 & 8.
US: Both Fuse 7 and Fuse 8 gets power from the WH/VI (pink) from the High Beam Relay.
Euro: Fuse 7 gets power from the WH/VI (pink) from the High Beam Relay. Fuse 8 is NOT part of the headlight circuit, and it gets its power from the same input as Fuse 11.
Where things get plugged in is obviously different around Fuse 7 and 8.
All of this is documented here in this Excel spreadsheet:
https://kindel-my.sharepoint.com/:x:/p/ ... Q?e=UwDK62
FAQ: How does Fog Light wiring differ between US and Euro E28s?
The wiring to the US car's fog light module at the dash has two wires (YL/WT and GY) (because there's only front fog lights and thus one button):
The GY wire goes directly to the input (pin 86) on the Fog Light Relay. YL/WT comes from the light switch (head lights or high-beams on).
The wiring for the US car's fog light module at the dash has four wires. GY/RD & GY for fronts and GY/VI and YL/BU for rears.
As with the US car the GY wire goes directly to the input (pin 86) on the Fog Light Relay. But on Euro cars the GY/RD comes from just the head lights (so fog lights do not turn on when brights are flashed.
The GY/VI somehow comes off fuse 3 and YL/BU goes to the rear fog lights.
See this thread for retrofitting a rear fog light into a US car: viewtopic.php?t=96009
FAQ: How does Power Window wiring differ between US and Euro E28s?
(Details to come, but he essence is on Euro cars when the driver's door is open, power is provided to the power windows. This is not the case on US cars.)
More to come...
