99 e36 328IS.. bad wiring harness

[MadDogMontana]

mistake

[bmwdirtracer]

Have you considered the likelihood that your mechanic is wrong, and you don't need a wiring harness?

Really, "bad wiring harness" is a very far-fetched diagnosis to begin with, and if you tried another one, and it STILL didn't work, the chances are 1,000,000 to 1 that the diagnosis is bad, not the harness.

[shadowpuck]

i still find a bad harness diagnosis hard to believe here.
which harness are we talking about? can you post the part number of what you've been buying?

short block? huh?
a 328 and an M have different engines - yes, the M is an uprated/massaged version of the 328 in this market, but still....i think we can stop talking about short block, etc.

with the last 7 of your vin, if you truly need a harness, any competent parts supplier or dealer should be able to order the part with little issue.

[328 Power 04]

Wow.


You have an automatic 328. You would need an automatic 328 harness. It doesn't matter if from the 328i, 328is, or 328i Convertible. but it has to be automatic. If you put an M3 harness you will have an even harder time because 1. Most 96-99 M3s are manual, and 2. The auto M3 is a little different, so it's a bad choice.



Now of course this is all a moot point, because you probably don't need the harness at all. Even IF you need harness repairs, it's always easier to replace the one bad wire, than the whole harness. Unless your car caught on fire.





Why don't we begin by just explaining in great detail what happened?

Does the car crank or not?
Is your battery good?
Are the battery terminals good and clean?
Does your check engine light illuminate when you turn the key to full ignition? (VERY important detail).
Why is there a suspicion that you need a complete harness? Any proof?

[dworthy]

+100!

You have a better than average chance that the Crank position Sensor is bad.

And I would find another tech to look at your car, preferably one that works at a Euro only shop.

[dworthy]

Did you test the CPS before going thru all that work to get it out and put a new one in? Yes the CPS can get burnt wires on itself, and normally not on the harness.

When I say CPS, it is in the block under the starter, not in the head. I say this to ensure we are talking about the same sensor.

[328 Power 04]

car cranks, but wont start, so we checked the fuel pump, it works, we swapped the CPS, still doesn't start. Than we checked the fuel injectors and found no pulse. He looked at the wiring harness and found several burnt wires so that's what we were going with. After buying one from a 96 328 and one from a 99 328 they both didn't fit and have proper connectors. The stock harness has two plugs and a relay to connect to the ECU, the ones we bought wound up only having one ecu plug. I called BMW North America and they ran my vin and the engine code came up 286S1. So, I called a used parts yard in Cali and they informed me that my engine is a short block with code 286S1 and it uses the same harness as the e36 M3, which has the two ECU plugs and the proper relay. We think thats the next step.

It sounds like you bought harnesses from manual cars.

There aren't 2 ecu plugs. One large 88 pin plug for the Engine control unit (DME) and one similar looking plug for transmission control unit. The manual cars only have 1 88-pin connector.

All 328 had the same engine, and the engine code is M52B28. What you were told over the phone is misleading and not useful. In fact, with the decorative covers removed, the M3, 328, and 323 engines are exactly the same, save for some internals.

- - - Updated - - -

Do not put an M3 ecu in there, it will make your car run a little worse.

[328 Power 04]

The one on the top is for automatic cars. The one on the bottom is for a manual car.


*IF* you need a new ECU, you need one from a 328. Either auto or manual (they have the same programming inside). You do not need EWS delete if you have anyone with some diag equipment to sync EWS (or do it yourself very cheaply like this https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...0-vagcom-cable ) AND clear adaptations using diagnostic software.
There's no benefit to ews delete if you're keeping the car unmodified and not doing engine swaps into other chassis. That said, I can sell you an EWS deleted ECU if you want.

- - - Updated - - -

Yes, 328is/328i/328ic all have the same ecu, regardless of auto or manual. Afterall, its the same car mostly.

[dworthy]

I would like to point out that option code S286 is the sports steering wheel. While the person whom you called may have gotten something messed up, I ran your vin and nowhere does it state anything about a special block, only a special motor. What that means I really don't know.

This is what I got:

IN	WBABG2339XET38416
Type code	BG23
Type	328I (USA)
E series	E36 (2)
Series	3
Type	COUPE
Steering	LL
Doors	2
Engine	M52
Displacement	2.80
Power	142
Drive	HECK
Transmission	AUT
Colour	TITANSILBER METALLIC (354)
Upholstery	LEDER STANDARD/SCHWARZ (P7SW)
Prod.date	1999-01-29

Vehicle upgrades

Spare/replacement key fob Read more

	Vehicle options
S243	Airbag for front passenger
S260	Side airbag for driver/passenger
S277	BMW LA wheel/double spoke
S401	Lift-up-and-slide-back sunroof, electric
S458	Electr. front seat adjustment
S473	Armrest front
S481	Sports seat
S498	Headrests, rear, mechanically adjustable
S534	Automatic air conditioning
S540	Cruise control
S554	On-board computer V with remote control
S674	Hi-Fi System Harman Kardon
S686	Antenna-Diversity
S692	Preparation, BMW 6-CD changer I-bus
S704	M Sports suspension
	Vehicle options
S710	M sports steering wheel, multifunction
S715	M Aerodynamics package
S818	Battery master switch
S925	Dummy-SALAPA

	Vehicle options
S214	Automatic stability control (ASC+T)
S354	Green windscreen, green shade band
S410	Window lifts, electric, front
S441	Smoker package
S465	Through-loading system
S520	Fog lights
S542	Check Control
S687	Radio preparation
S853	Language version English
S961	SPECIAL MOTOR
S992	Control of number-plate attachment

- - - Updated - - -

Okay this answers my question:

961 SPECIAL ENGINE - this indicates that you did NOT get the Nikasil M52 engine which caused the same problems the M60 engine had with its Nikasil coated cylinder liners..none of the e34/e36/e39 BMWs imported to the USA had the Nikasil engines (only the M60)...but those cars in other markets did...the "special engine" designation indicates that your single VANOS M52 has nothing to worry about because it is NOT impregnated with Nikasil. The "special engine" designation can be seen on the early e38's that got the M62 engines...again as an indication that they had the ALUSIL engines and not the NIKASIL engines. "

[328 Power 04]

S961 = Non Nikasil lined cylinder motor. Meaning cast iron block. Just like all USA M52 and S52


Durr... you already typed that in a very hidden section at the end of your message...

[bmwdirtracer]

If the original harness burned up, that's a good reason to replace it. Any same year, same transmission, non - M3 harness will be fine. There's nothing special about that motor. But you've been told all that.

HOWEVER:
You do not just throw another harness in a car that just melted one. You find out why the last harness melted.
The most common melt down I've seen in E36's is caused by someone sticking a normal 5 pin relay in the Secondary Air Pump relay slot. If you do this, not only will the harness burn, but the DME usually dies, too. Perhaps, just perhaps, this is what happened?
No matter what, you need to consider that if the harness burned, there's a great likelihood it took the DME with it, perhaps some sensors, even.

EDIT:
For interest, for those who might care: The SAP uses a relay that switches back and forth between 87 and 87a, for off/on. Most 5 pin relays connect 87 and 87a when switched on. In the SAP relay slot, 87 is a full unfused hot; 87a is a ground, maybe even coming from the DME, I forget. But if you put the wrong relay in the SAP slot, all the smoke escapes from the wires.

[Driiven]

Hello buddy, I'm near to you and can have this car started in very short order. No harness swaps or any other nonsense. PM me if you need help

[Mayorchuck]

Just reading thru to learn here but something stands out to me. Doesn't this model have a fuse carrier protecting the DME? Anytime we see a harness like this in the E38, at least one or two of the 30A fuses are blown shutting off power to the injectors.

[328 Power 04]

Nope, just a large fusible link in the trunk.

[pbonsalb]

I would take Driiven up on his offer.

If you need a harness, you can use any 96-99 manual trans E36 328i or M3 harness and any 96-99 328i auto harness on a manual 328i. There is an update subharness for the crank sensor as part of a recall many years ago, but it is easy to figure out if you read the TIS. Very late harnesses do not need the subharness. If adapting an auto harness, you just put the auto ECU connector in the ECU box and coil up the trans end and zip tie it under the intake manifold.

[328 Power 04]

I would take Driiven up on his offer.

If you need a harness, you can use any 96-99 manual trans E36 328i or M3 harness and any 96-99 328i auto harness on a manual 328i. There is an update subharness for the crank sensor as part of a recall many years ago, but it is easy to figure out if you read the TIS. Very late harnesses do not need the subharness. If adapting an auto harness, you just put the auto ECU connector in the ECU box and coil up the trans end and zip tie it under the intake manifold.

The car is automatic, so he has to use an auto harness only.

[pbonsalb]

The 2nd harness in the pictures looks odd to me. There is no wiring tray under the cowl.

Was there a 99 E46 328i? Could that be the confusion?

[328 Power 04]

The DME connector is correct for 88pin dme. M52tu had MS42 with 5 banks on the plug.

[bmwdirtracer]

Those harnesses are not for an E46. As Abel has noted, E46s use five plugs on the DME, not one. However, I agree fully that there's something damned weird about the second harness. For one thing, I see two quick-connect fuel lines, next to each other. I do not recall this in any E36. Second, there's that black plastic cover part.....doesn't belong on either an E36 or an E46.....

Abel....is this a Z3 harness???? (Can't be an E39, with that black plastic cover...???)

MadDog: Can you please show us some good pics of your original harness, especially the burned parts? Even if you get a good harness, you sure don't want to hook it up, if you have the wrong relay in the SAP slot!

[328 Power 04]

If there is a problem with the transmission computer, the transmission will only run in 2nd and 4th gear.


But your car would inform you with codes. Would love to see engine and transmission codes.

[MauiM3Mania]

I really don't understand. We're 28 posts into a thread, and suddenly it says "Towed" ??? WTF is going on here? Who's doing this nonsense?

A new thread on the same topic as an established thread by the same author was started. The two were merged causing one of the two to be listed as 'towed'.The moderators are pretty efficient at Bimmerforums and are quite adept at keeping things in order, but thanks for your input.

[bmwdirtracer]

Okay, I see what has happened now. Thank you for explaining this to computer-stupid me, Mr. best damned moderator ever.....(and wonderful friend).

But to prevent "Towed" notices, couldn't the "Towed" thread just be deleted after it's been merged into the "untowed" thread? Or maybe "Merged" would be a better label than "Towed", which usually seems to signify a thread that was incorrectly placed in the wrong forum?

Many thanks for the explanation.

[MadDogMontana]

the usage of "towed" in a car repair forum will lead to confusion

[MauiM3Mania]

The version of vBulletin on which Bimmerforums runs is no longer supported, otherwise I'd get on the bat-phone and pass along your suggestions to the developers.

[bmwdirtracer]

Didn't the BatPhone have a rotary dial?

Golly gee willakers, something tells me I'm being made fun of......not to worry, vbulletin...I'm not supported anymore either.

....it's sad to be an old fart, AND a computer dummy.

Oh well, I can still drive purty good.