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Thread: New wire pins ?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2015
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    BMW E36 330, 318is, 328

    New wire pins ?

    Hello! I am driving E36 since 2012 and for me this is the car. I am planing to drive it for many more years. Recently i bought an E36 318is in really good shape. I am planing to retrofit a lot of electrical equipment, but this time dont want to cut and solder wires. I want to make it with new plug pins and wires, but for the OEM ones BMW is charging leg and arm for one piece only. So i am looking for alternative way to do the job. I found those dupont pins, but i am not sure if they will fit the bmw plugs. Does somebody tried them or know some other model that will fit? Thank you !

    https://www.ebay.com/itm/200pcs-2-54...lolD:rk:2:pf:0
    Last edited by zzvvmm; 12-22-2018 at 02:46 PM.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
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    NY
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    1997 328i
    They make special keys to unlock the terminal from the connector. I was able to use a very small file to release the terminals from a bunch of the connector and re-shape them to grab the terminal better. Not all terminals can be easily released, if the back side of the connector has rubber weather protector in the back then the terminal cannot be slide out, or at least I don't know how.

    Your link is to cheap china junk, 200 pieces for $3, I can promise they will not last.
    Attn. NEWBIES: Use the search feature, 98% has already been discussed.
    Click the search button, select "search single content type", select the "e36 sub forum" specifically, try the "search titles" then try the "search entire posts".

  3. #3
    Join Date
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    '98 M3 Alpine White
    Many of the BMW terminal ends are listed and shown as just the terminal but a lot of them are expensive because BMW attaches a short length of wire lead to it, crimped nicely, but still should be touched with solder.
    Used to be able to buy a bag of 10 or 12 terminal ends of almost any type for a few bucks, but not any more. As far as the dupont connectors, from China. I've ordered a few kits to use mostly with some small electronic projects. The plastic housings are OK, the male and female terminal ends are not bad but you need a magnifying glass and a good matching crimp tool to make them reliable, then soldered. Can't vouch for their resistance to oxidation resulting in bad connections. The double row duponts are the same pitch as many of the two row x 4, 8,10,12,13 pin BMW connectors, the only one I can think of right now would be the mini connector on the back of an HK amp, which is a 2x13 (26pin total). They fit but you may need to modify the keyways. The nicer thing about the BMW pieces is that you usually have a choice in the size of wire the terminal can accept and you get that wire. The Chinese parts have no wire size choice and it's whatever you're capable of making fit.
    Last edited by tjm3; 12-22-2018 at 06:03 PM.
    See ya later,

    tony
    '98 M3, '92 Dinan3, '05 R1100S BCR, '07 R1200S, Aprilia T

  4. #4
    Join Date
    May 2004
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    germany
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    6/96 318is
    The E36 uses two kinds of high density (0.1 inch / 2.54 mm spacing) contacts: from AMP and Siemens. You could and probably still can get bare AMP contacts. Which do you need?

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jan 2015
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    Bulgaria
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    BMW E36 330, 318is, 328
    Most of the pins i am going to use for thinner signal wires like for the most switches ( heated seats, hi-fi switch, pdc, etc.. )Cruise control and rear vent windows are a bit thicker. The AMP pins is good idea. I made some further research and found these ones to look good. Does somebody tried any of them ? The last link is crimping tool i am planing to use.

    https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Wire...778655103.html

    https://www.aliexpress.com/item/100P...1-c57ca31af63b


    https://www.aliexpress.com/item/5-Se...1-c57ca31af63b


    https://www.aliexpress.com/item/ecu-...75301ddcT0ft7F


    https://www.aliexpress.com/item/0009...d-2855b1633956

    https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Vw-e...75301ddcT0ft7F


    https://www.aliexpress.com/item/AT15...2ac36c292GpHUt

  6. #6
    Join Date
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    You've found some very interesting parts. You should check the Connector and Crimp tool sections in the online Digikey catalog to find higher quality parts, always at a higher cost, but more reliable in the long run.
    See ya later,

    tony
    '98 M3, '92 Dinan3, '05 R1100S BCR, '07 R1200S, Aprilia T

  7. #7
    Join Date
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    Quote Originally Posted by zzvvmm View Post
    ... The AMP pins is good idea. I made some further research and found these ones to look good. Does somebody tried any of them ? The last link is crimping tool i am planing to use.
    BMW's AMP high density header contacts are from the MQS series.

    To get reliable crimps, the wire size, contact and crimping die must all agree, closely enough. Third party tools, or tools meant for a different contact, can be troublesome. AMP sells the most compatible and most expensive MQS tooling. Sometimes you have to spend the money to get reliable crimps.

    EDIT: I found AMP's source tooling, here. The first link is the hand crimper; entering "MQS" in the search box will retrieve part numbers for the die and a complete frame, die, locator set. The PEW 12 (or Knipex equivalent) is a really nice tool. I could hear an AMP mechanical engineer practically swoon, when I asked him about it.
    Last edited by johnf; 12-23-2018 at 11:42 AM.

  8. #8
    Join Date
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    Bulgaria
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    BMW E36 330, 318is, 328
    Thank you for your replies !
    Last edited by zzvvmm; 12-24-2018 at 02:48 AM.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jan 2015
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    Bulgaria
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    BMW E36 330, 318is, 328
    Hello again. Has anyone find alternative to the fan connector pins ? (the long ones that gether on same connector under the dash) OEM number - 61131387142

    s-l640.jpg

  10. #10
    Join Date
    May 2004
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    The inflation rate at BMW is getting ridiculous.

    I believe I have found the product specification for the comb terminals, TE 108-94391. I hope the 2.1 MB PDF helps with your search.
    Last edited by johnf; 01-18-2019 at 02:42 PM.

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