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Thread: loose plug in engine bay -- any guesses as to what it is?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
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    Los Angeles, CA
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    My Cars
    1993 BMW 850 Ci

    loose plug in engine bay -- any guesses as to what it is?

    While just giving the engine bay on my '93 850Ci an overall inspection, I noticed this plug was just dangling loose, and I have no idea what it plugs into. Was hoping someone here might know.

    It's attached to a single blue wire which leads up to a bunch of other cabling in a sheath that runs under the drivers' side MAF and adjacent tubing.
    Attached Images Attached Images

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
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    Japan
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    My Cars
    11/88 E32 750iL+98 E36M3
    the wire for the 2nd alternator for the exciter line. http://www.nationalmedia.biz/images/...fyThisWire.jpg
    http://www.bimmerboard.com/members/s...20iL%20016.jpg
    http://www.bimmerboard.com/members/s...20iL%20018.jpg

    On some built years that cable was pre-installed as standard, even when the engine does not have a 2nd alternator, like most E32 M70
    Shogun tricks and tips for the E32 series are HERE!

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
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    Corpus Christi Texas USA
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    850ci, M5, Alpina B7
    It could be the wire that runs from the oil pan that measures quantity, the single wire that connects to the generator or the other oil pressure sending unit that has a two wire connector similar to a fuel injection connector.


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  4. #4
    Join Date
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    Oil pan/oil level sensor is 2 wires, this is definitely the exciter wire for 2nd alternator, see my pics above
    Shogun tricks and tips for the E32 series are HERE!

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
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    1993 BMW 850 Ci
    Quote Originally Posted by shogun View Post
    Oil pan/oil level sensor is 2 wires, this is definitely the exciter wire for 2nd alternator, see my pics above

    Many thanks for the info!

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
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    11/88 E32 750iL+98 E36M3
    and the 2 wires from engine oil level sender have different colours, here pics from my site when we replaced the alternator cable and also repaired the plug with the 2 wires from oil level sensor + 1 wire as exciter cable from main alternator, that connector's wires are blue, and pink and brown
    http://twrite.org/shogunnew/fixes/electricalpower.html
    Shogun tricks and tips for the E32 series are HERE!

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