E36 LS1 Swap wiring questions

[bmec23]

bought a gutted out 99 323is that I’m LS swapping 2 days ago. i gutted the interior already and am moving on to the engine bay which have wiring harness and some random hoses are left.
I’m good with wrenches, not wire strippers. What do I need to do in order to retain my AC, Windows, headlights/taillights/turn signals, cabin lights, ABS, and radio. I’m going to be using a holley terminator x in conjunction with the stock LS wiring harness. I can’t find anything anywhere on how to keep some of the creature comforts and lights while switching over to an LS1. This is mostly a street build but will see some track use from time to time. any resources or experience is greatly appreciated.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[motorV8ed]

You are in luck in that an electronic, hyperlinked version of the electrical manual for your car is available here: http://wedophones.com/Manuals/BMW/. I would download it immediately if I were you!

There is a lot of information available on the subjects you asked about here on bimmerforums, mostly in the early LS-swap build threads. A list of them can be found here: https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...ng-Start-Here!
I found the build threads by Braap, Tongboy, Pzary, Bimmerok, and Tipsy McStagger to be among the most useful. (That list is not exhaustive!)


There is a thread dedicated to E36-LSx wiring. The whole thread is useful, but I will give you a pointer to perhaps the motherlode: https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...6#post24774946

There is much good info on this page about wiring harnesses: https://www.lt1swap.com.
I think it may be worth your while to pony up for a book on the subject: https://www.amazon.com/LS-Swaps-Anyt...dp/1613250932/ .

There is a good summary list of various odds and ends that you ask about in Tongboy's thread: https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...3#post21547433

To my knowledge, the short answer on many of your wishlist is that you do not need to do ANYTHING special for: windows, headlights/taillights/turn signals, or cabin lights. The reverse light needs some attention, but the details will depend on what transmission you use. (See Tongboy's thread mentioned a minute ago.)

For ABS, you will probably need to relocate your physical ABS unit under the hood, but I am not sure about the wiring. (Mine is deleted.)

A/C involves changes, of course, to the bracket, the freon plumbing, and the wiring. Here are a few places to get started on these:
https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...6#post11773856
https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...h-LS1-E36-swap
https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...onditioning+LS
For E39, but still useful: https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...LSx-a-c-thread
https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...0#post30077610
https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...2#post30469092
https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...3#post30130443
https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...5#post30096295

I wound up using the ICI Billet bracket and a BMW compressor, but I have not finished my lines yet.

Good luck!