E34 Fusible Links, qty and locations

[moroza]

I guess I stand corrected. Neither the M30 car nor the M60 one have a 50-amp that I've heard of or been able to find.

The 535i's was an 80 amp that lives near the battery. A previous post by Weisebar says that's where the 50 amp one is. Could someone clarify?

[DUDMD]

To prove some you wrong, a 9/93 540i M60 has two fusible links. One that is attached to the body right next to the battery(80amp), and another in a smaller power cable (looks like 8gauge) that runs together to the front with the main power cable. Its the 50amp fusible link that is hidden under the heatshrink wrap.

[shogun]

Hello guys... been using your forum for months and it has been a great help. But I'm stuck on this one so I figure I'd become a member and become part of the group. Having the same issue with my 735i, checked both fusible links and they are good. When i try to open the windows, sunroof, or automatic doors I can hear the relay clicking under the seat and I checked all the fuses. Is there another step I can take before I give my overpriced mechanic my money? Sorry if I sound like i don't have a clue.... I don't... Thanks. And thanks for this forum!

these are the ones on the E32 735
http://www.bimmerboard.com/members/kazam/735i%20FL.JPG
http://www.bimmerboard.com/members/kazam/P1010075.JPG
http://www.bimmerboard.com/members/kazam/P1010076.JPG

and if you have problems with electronics on the E32, better ask at our E32 forum, we have with E32FAN a super expert in E32 electronics.

[DUDMD]

these are the ones on the E32 735
http://www.bimmerboard.com/members/kazam/735i%20FL.JPG
http://www.bimmerboard.com/members/kazam/P1010075.JPG
http://www.bimmerboard.com/members/kazam/P1010076.JPG

and if you have problems with electronics on the E32, better ask at our E32 forum, we have with E32FAN a super expert in E32 electronics.

Exactly the same as my parts car has. Both of them, even locations are identical.

[AquilaBMW]

To prove some you wrong, a 9/93 540i M60 has two fusible links. One that is attached to the body right next to the battery(80amp), and another in a smaller power cable (looks like 8gauge) that runs together to the front with the main power cable. Its the 50amp fusible link that is hidden under the heatshrink wrap.

Any idea if the 1995 models have this? Also, how far down the line is this located? Do you have to rip up the carpeting to get to this? Please advise.

[540Greg]

Mine was under the carpet. I extended the wires and installed one of these next to the battery. You can get them from stereo shops. They are for high amperage loads.

[DUDMD]

Any idea if the 1995 models have this? Also, how far down the line is this located? Do you have to rip up the carpeting to get to this? Please advise.

Look at the first pic for length wise from the positive terminal of the battery. I dont' think that the carpet needs to be pulled up a little in the rear or not. My brother and I were tearing apart the interior of the parts car today real quick, so I wasn't even paying attention. When we were about to pull the cable out i found the fusible link and remembered your thread, so i snapped the pics.

[540Greg]

Mine was a lot further from the battery terminal. It was in the middle of the floor of the back seat.

[millinghd]

Thanks Guys... I'll check it out

[AquilaBMW]

Mine was a lot further from the battery terminal. It was in the middle of the floor of the back seat.

Greg - When your's looked like this, what components were failing on the vehicle?

[540Greg]

Greg - When your's looked like this, what components were failing on the vehicle?

My cause was self inflicted. There's an exposed positive post in the compertment where the ECU is. I bumped this with a grounded screwdriver and blew the link.

[shogun]

we had one E31 850 owner here in Japan who almost gave up his car after 6 months of trouble when the engine suddenly did not start or stop, then after 1-2 hours or sometimes after days it was running as if nothing happened. We told him to check the fusible link. He replied that he did and it would be fine. Till finally he found the second one. The fusible link had a hair crack which sometimes still worked.
He already had wasted $ into a new ignition switch, 2 new ignition coils, 2 new CPS etc, it was just a problem of a small fusible link with haircracks.

Here they are on the E31 http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/sh...s-Look-at-Pics

E34 http://gallery.nccbmwcca.org/data/50...m/GEDC0014.JPG

[ross1]

I've not read the entire thread to see if you've elaborated on your symptoms but will share that I've seen a few E34s(both tourings coincidentally) with corroded wire bundles under the rear seat, driver's side. There is a large junction of perhaps thirty power wires there in a big bundle that just lays on the floor waiting for any moisture that may get in. Unwrap it and look for the telltale green corrosion.
Oh, re fusible link replacements. E39s and probably all later BMs have high (80 & 100) amp replaceable fuses in a junction box above the battery. They have lug terminals with the same spacing as the fusible link in our cars. A couple of small screws and nuts, one of these and you are back in business.

[south42]

Some e34 had a black box that the fusible was in that you could replace next to the battery, while others came with the fusible link that was not replaceable. You can the non replaceable one from another car that has the black box.


Andy

[shogun]

Now on my website, see Photos and locations of E32 fusible links under Reference data>>> Data - Electrical,

Excerpt:
FUSIBLE LINKS A & B IN E32
X6400 is the power post inside the E box. It feeds only DME loads.
Page 1361-01 for M30 and 1367-00 for M70. Fusible Link A is 50 Amps.
Page 0670-10 rear power distribution box Fusible B is 80 Amps. It feeds all the Rear Power Box loads
pic of Fusible Link A
pic: Fusible Link A is under the heatshrink
pic Fusible Link B with cover closed. Just squeeze the cover to open.
pic Fusible Link B with cover open.
pic Fusible Link B Fusible Link A


Edit: is there anyone here on the forum who can repair swords for others for a fee? I just got a PM from someone asking for that.

[shogun]

And here fusible links from a 11/93 E32 750iL, the one in shrink plastic, then there is another 80A one in a plastic box behind the battery, can also be seen, just removed that from a crashed parts E32 750iL we disassembled.
fusible1193.jpgfusible1193.jpg

[shogun]

to finalize this for the E34, just use the ETM, let's say a 1995 produced from 5/1994 - 12/1995, covering E34 525i, 525it, 530i, 530it, 540i , no need to run thru all the 527 pages, check the index under F, there you see

fusible link F0 ......page 0670.2-00
fusible link F97.....page 0670.2-00

That comes directly after the fuse chart.
F97 is the inline (riveted on) fuse from the battery to the e-box/front power distribution box, B+ jumpstart junction point
F0 is shown as 80A fusible link, 10RT, between X18068 and X18067, goes to rear power distribution box

http://shark.armchair.mb.ca/~dave/BMW/e34/e34_95.pdf

[shogun]

In case anyone has new pics, pls post them here with year/month of production of the E34, engine type and if battery is located in engine bay or under seat. Also pics of defective fusible links are welcome.

[shogun]

vehicles produced 9/1992 - 8/1993, 525i, 525it, 535, M5 E34
The red cable powering the e-box components from B+ distributor X6449. See page 0670.2-02. That car has per the drawing only one fusible link 80A to rear power distribution box, see page 0670.2-07
http://shark.armchair.mb.ca/~dave/BMW/e34/e34_93.pdf

[Entas]

im trying to locate the f97 fusible link off the battery and the B+ distributor (X7163) on a 95 525ti, im not too familiar with this model and the wiring diagrams are not much help with the locations of things. any help would be appreciated e34wire.jpg

[moroza]

Sections 7000 and 7100 show component locations, while 8000 shows splice locations. In this case... the diagrams neglect F97 and are wrong about X7163 being M60-only. The fusible links are just downstream of the positive battery terminal, while X7163 is a splice inside component X6449... which is also neglected. Yeah, there are some screwups in the ETM. The B+ distributor is located just in front of the heater valve, inboard of the fusebox, has a large hexagonal terminal and should have a black plastic cover with a red + on it. The correct name in the diagrams is G6430.

EDIT: as I look at it further, the diagrams are just flat-out wrong about power distribution on a 525i. On my 1/94 525iT, the positive battery terminal has three wires, two big and one colossal. One of the smaller ones goes to the rear power box, the other goes below the carpet by the starboard rocker into the E-box (opposite the fusebox, containing the DME and ABS/ASC module). The huge one also goes under the carpet, then behind the HVAC manifold, through the firewall near the heater pipes, to the B+ post. At that post, there's a less-huge wire to the starter power terminal, and from there to the alternator. It's more like the described M60 setup, actually.

[shogun]

I merged this question with the E34 fusible links thread to have all info in one thread

[shogun]

and here the old page recovered with wayback machine, E34 fusible links, locations etc https://web.archive.org/web/20130524...sible_link.htm
text copied
Location of the fusible link in a 525i (Thanks to John T) it is a 80Amp not 90Amp.
Bmw E34s have a big fuse right after the battery that protects the car electrical harnesses.
Failure syndromes:
• Intermittent simultaneous failure of wipers, sunroof, windows, central locking, radio...
• No power, like if the battery was dead.

525i Procedure
10mm wrench or socket.
New fuses.

1. Disconnect the battery.
2. Open the fusible link box.
3. Remove the 4 x 10mm screws and change the fusible links.
4. Installation is reverse of removal.
535i Procedure
535i fusible link from Gordon.
If the fusible link is ok, check the second fuse box under the rear seat and check the fuse that might be corroded (no. 37, 30 amp) which handles all of the central locking and the electric windows and sunroof. Thanks to Raj K.
Note From Ron W. on his 535i: there are TWO fusible links. an 80amp which is in a nice plastic enclosure held by bolts as shown on your site. the one i am talking about is near this one , but it is hidden very well under the heat shrink. this one is rated for 50amps and is part of the cable itself. there is no replaceable link like the 80amp one. i had to drill out the rivets to remove the old one. thisleft me with two opposing ring terminals that i put my fuse in between. this was very difficult to do because of how short the cable was comming through the back seat. The two links are shown on the Bentley wiring diagrams, the problem is that it does'nt mention the location of the 50amp link. i called a friend from bmw and he said it was near the battery on his diagrams. i found it by chance. now i admit i did not try to call about a replacement 50amp link, but my friend from bmw said that it was very unlikely since the original was hard wired part of the original cable. The second link in a red wire that parallels the large black wire off the battery. it was hidden underneath two layers of heat shrink. i had to cut it out and replace it with my own retro fit. now i have 12.9 volts to my dme instead of 2. this problem may be of intrest to others. took me two weeks to reslove this issue and i dont think that bmw has a retro fit for this fuse. you would have to buy a whole new battery cable.
Fusible link symptoms with good link from Greg R.
The electric windows, door locks, and sunroof went out completely. The windshield wipers would only function in high speed and wouldn't park. The problem I had turned out to be the black box under the rear seat forward of the relay module. I found references in a forum saying to check the relay module if it wasn't the fusible link. Well the relay module was good too. The problem was the contacts on the box. I figured it out when I pulled this box out and reinstalled it. I held the window down button and wiggled the box. The window worked intermittently as I wiggled. After cleaning the contacts, all works fine. Thanks to Gordon, John T & Phil S, Ron W. ©2000 BMWE34.net

edit, here is the original working link to the website, not wayback https://www.bmwe34.net/E34main/Maint...sible_link.htm