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Thread: My LC-1 Installation Guide

  1. #1
    Join Date
    May 2002
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    E30

    My LC-1 Installation Guide

    OK, I finally condensed years of messing around with one of these wide band sensor setups into a few images. There is really ONE right way to install & configure this thing, and a large number of wrong ways (many of which I discovered over the years lol).

    OK, so first you need to physically install the thing. The cable that comes with the Bosch LSU4.2 sensor is a bit short, and the best place I have found for the controller is under the battery tray with zip ties. I stuck them through the various screw holes & holes where the old O2 sensor connector clipped (it will either be cut-off or moved).

    OK, so here is the stock wiring that is related to the O2 sensor in the 318iS.


    To wire in the LC-1, you will have to do a fair amount of cutting & splicing. All of the needed connections are shown in the second diagram. I opted to run the LC-1 cable into the glove box, as well as the remnants of the stock O2 sensor harness. All connections were made with fully insulated spade connectors, and while you CAN use butt crimps, I would advise the use of something that you can easily service/disconnect.


    The installation of the LED and push-button is optional. I did it because I want to be able to re-calibrate the sensor easily and be able to see the device's status. I did this by getting a momentary push button, LED and resistor at Radio Shack, mounting them in some holes that I drilled in the plastic ECU cover in the glove box, and soldering them together.

    Please note that the heater ground from the LC-1 is NOT, and SHOULD NOT be grounded by the ECU. I tried this originally and it caused a 100mV DC offset at the ground which really screwed things up. Buy a 1/4" ring terminal and run the heater ground to the hood latch bracket, or some other chassis ground if you prefer. Just don't use the lug where the ECU is grounded. The analog ground MUST be connected to both the stock O2 sensor ground AND the ECU's O2 signal ground lines. This is critical.

    As far as jumping the O2 sensor relay goes, that is not optional either. The ECU cuts power to the O2 sensor under full throttle, which isn't good for the sensor, and a problem if you plan to actually USE it! The easy way to do it is to just jump the wires by cutting them and joining them with a butt splice or insulated spade connectors. There is a better way though. Bust open the relay and modify it! It's clean, and you won't get any check engine lights. I sealed the cover back on with some plain old super glue. If you are bad with a soldering iron, then just cut & splice the wires externally.


    Anyway, with it all wired in you will need to calibrate it. I recommend doing this with the sensor not installed in the exhaust yet. If it is, you can unplug the fuel injectors, press the gas pedal all the way down and run the starter for 5-10 seconds to get fresh air into the system.

    With it wired the way that it is, the LC-1 is not powered when the key is in the accessory position (and for good reason). Use a piece of wire to jump Fuse 10 to the slot for terminal 87 of the O2 sensor relay, put the car in accessory mode and run the calibration. When done, remove the wire & put the relay back. You do not want to do this with the car running because a) the sensor will be in exhaust gas, and b) the LC-1 stops its output when being programmed, which makes the ECU angry.

    The last order of business is setting up the output. If you are using this with a stock ECU, you will need to make adjustments. The thing comes programmed as follows:


    This won't work well with the Motronic. The Motronic expects a ~100mV - ~900mV input from the sensor, and will toss a CEL if it sees too high of a voltage. Set up the LC-1 so that it matches the shot below.


    That's it. It is a lot of work to install one properly, I won't lie. There are tougher projects out there, but this one involves a very critical part of the engine controls and MUST be done properly. If it isn't, you will get bad mileage, reduced power and CELs.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Philadelphia
    Posts
    272
    My Cars
    1990 325is, 1993 Vert

    noob question

    noob question:
    What is an LC-1, and why would I want to install one? Looks really complicated, so the benefits must be something spectacular!

  3. #3
    Join Date
    May 2002
    Location
    Holiday Inn Express
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    3,648
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    E30
    It is a popular wide-band O2 sensor controller. Wide-band O2 sensors allow you to get very fast, very accurate readings of your air/fuel mixture, whereas the stock narrow band one does not.

    For most people there isn't much point in running one, but a lot of people do and I figured I would post up stuff I have learned in using one for the last 7 years.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Philadelphia
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    272
    My Cars
    1990 325is, 1993 Vert
    It's a very thorough write-up! Thanks for posting it

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Location
    Carei, Romania
    Posts
    40
    My Cars
    318is M44
    Quote Originally Posted by bmwman91 View Post
    It is a popular wide-band O2 sensor controller. Wide-band O2 sensors allow you to get very fast, very accurate readings of your air/fuel mixture, whereas the stock narrow band one does not.

    For most people there isn't much point in running one, but a lot of people do and I figured I would post up stuff I have learned in using one for the last 7 years.

    You useatlast 7 years, i want to ask you the car fuel consum it goes down?

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