[steviec_lj]

Hi, yes me again...

Just wondered if anyone could kindly tell me where the 18 Button OBC will fit on a 1995 E36 316i se, as I am currently in the process of adding quite a few creature comforts to the interior, and dont want to mount things in the way.

Pictures will be appearing in the projects area as soon as my camera is full.

Cheers,
Steve

 

[RYM]

Hi, yes me again...

Just wondered if anyone could kindly tell me where the 18 Button OBC will fit on a 1995 E36 316i se, as I am currently in the process of adding quite a few creature comforts to the interior, and dont want to mount things in the way.

Pictures will be appearing in the projects area as soon as my camera is full.

Cheers,
Steve

It will mount in place of the one you have in your car at the moment which is just below the heater dials.

However, I relocated mine for a brief amount of time into the centre console. Really easy to do, just a case of lengthening all of the wires. It looked pretty trick too:hihi

The reason I moved it is because I put a TV screen in it's place... well until I got an in dash TV/DVD player:rofl

 

[Zircon]

Did you have the 7 button unit in yous?

I have the ancient looking analogue clock and I have checked but have no loom for the OBC.

Is it straight forward to wire in the 7 button OBC for just the time / date and ext. temp?

Sorry for the hi-jack!

 

[RYM]

Did you have the 7 button unit in yous?

I have the ancient looking analogue clock and I have checked but have no loom for the OBC.

Is it straight forward to wire in the 7 button OBC for just the time / date and ext. temp?

Sorry for the hi-jack!

That's not a Hi-jack mate, that's a very valid point regarding the analogue clock.:thumbsup

Can you post up a picture of the dash in your model please:thumbsup

 

[Ronnie]

The wiring won't be there for exterior temp, nor will the sensor.

Digital clock wouldn't be that difficult to wire up if you knew the wires for the digital clock

 

[steviec_lj]

I have the same ancient analog clock in my dash at the moment, but picked up an 18 button OBC cheap off of fleaBay. I've also found a couple of walk-thru's for installing the 18 button OBC.

It involves tapping a few extra wires into existing connectors, and also a couple of other extra purchases, which seem to be BMW only parts, or scrap yard if you can find a vehicle with the right connectors.

I'll see if I can get a picture of the current connector behind my dash tonight, while its still in pieces.

 

[Ronnie]

There are four different versions of the OBC although only one is a proper OBC and that is the 18 button one which provides instant and long range mpg, average speed, timer and more. (The other ones are Multi Information Displays, "MIDs")
Then you have the eight buttons check control which monitors all the exterior lights and fluid levels.
Next one is the seven button with outside temperature display with a digital clock and lastly, a combined check control and outside temperature display which has 11 buttons.

So to wire in a 18 button OBC to a car that doesn't have one fitted......
Washer bottle level sensor........
Coolant level sensor........
Brake pedal switch(OBC HAS A 4 PIN ONE)......
Bulb failure wiring......
MPG wiring.......
Outside temp sensor......
Speed wiring......
And other stuff :hihi

http://delauer328.iespana.es/OBC/OBC_2.pdf

Good luck

 

[Zircon]

Struggling to find a pic and its dark outside so no pics of my exact dash....

....but mine is the basic heater system - no aircon, just the most basic analogue clock with + and - on the left and a small tray to the right, and a large tray underneath.

At the scrap yard the other day I pulled apart an e36 with the analogue clock and it had a spare loom with connector for the 7 button 'MID' as Ronnie says. I guess it must have been an SE as I understand they had the wiring loom already in place for the optional extra 7 button MID? Sadly mine doesnt have the MID loom

I can wire in the external temp sensor no problem - just need some help in wiring it to the 7 button MID and getting the digi clock and date buttons working (ie which wires go to which terminal). Not fussed about the rest - although there arent many more - is the memo worth having?

 

[EmZ]

I have wanted one for some time now, but I thought it's probably not possible!

Can't wait to find out more info lol!

Thanks guys!

 

[Zircon]

Right - for the record I now have a partially functioning 18 button OBC in place of my Analogue clock. My car is a UK spec 1994 build 318is Coupe in case anyone else has as much trouble finding info as I did.

3 wires from the clock loom (disconnect battery before cutting).....

Red/Yellow stripe = constant power
Brown = earth
Grey/Red stripe = button illumination

You need to connect the Red/Yellow stripe wire to the Red/Yellow stripe wire on the white 18 button OBC harness
Then the Brown wire to the Brown wire on the white OBC harness

Now run a new wire from your stereo's 12v switched (ignition) wire to the Brown/Red striped wire on the white OBC harness. This stops the unit being on the whole time.

Finally, connect the Red/Grey wire to the Red/Grey wire on the Black OBC harness.

Protect all unused wires from touching behind the dash and shorting - and ensure all new connections are tight and insulated.

Connect your battery back up.....

You will now have an 18 button OBC that switches on with ignition and displays all functions, but these functions apart from the timer and date / time will not work until you connect the other wires up.

When you put your side lights on - the buttons all light up!

Looks soooo much better than the analogue clock!!!