New DIY with pictures for working MPG on 6cyl swap

[Dredder]

I took upon myself to make a new DIY. As you all know, when you install a 6cyl cluster on a 318ti the MPG does not work unless you wire it in.

[Dredder]

big black round connector next to the fuse box. as you can see this is where the pin 24 is missing. You can either wire a pin to the cluster or here is my alternate method

[1996 328ti]

I had saved this from when we had an article section.
Maybe you can use it?

Making MPG guage work in 6 cylinder transplants

After buying a M3 gauge cluster for my 330ti, I found that the MPG gauge did not work. (Flame if you want about how useless this gauge is, I'm happy cuz I was able to make it work) It turns out that 318ti, as equipped from the factory, are not wired for MPG guages. For all those who have 6 cylinder conversions and gauge transplants with erratic, non-functioning MPG gauges, read on (318ti's, 318i's etc.)

Parts needed:
circular connector 61-13-0-007-570 (fits in X20)
bushing contact 61-13-0-005-201 (fits in X16)
approx 3.5 feet of 18 guage wire, solder, shrink tubing, wire ties,...

Using Bentley, I figured that the white/black wire coming out of the DME is the signal for fuel consuption. It runs accross the back engine bay to the X20 connector which is a big black round connector next to the fuse box. You twist to unlock and open it. You will find that the female side (top part connected to DME) has a connection for pin #24, but the male side has the hole for pin #24 empty. (You can make sure that this is indeed the white/black wire by pulling back the protective rubber boot on the female connector). You need to put the male circular connector in this slot. However, it is not as simple as just sliding it in. If you look carefully, there is a thin locking ring between the inner and outer rows if pins. This needs to be turned one click counter clockwise. Use flat jewlers screwdrivers to pry the locking tabs away while turning. It turns freely once the tabs are cleared. Now you can push the circular connector all the way in. Be sure to return the locking ring to it's original locked position.

From the newly placed male pin connector, run a length of 18 gauge wire (about 3.5 feet) onto the fuse box (open it by undoing the 4 torx screws) and through the common fire wall wire opening into the driver footwell. Thread it along with the wire bundles that go the X16 connector on the tach side of the instrument cluster.

Remove the instrument cluster and remove the x16 connector from the back of the cluster. there is a pivoting lever that swings up to release the connector. Open the X16 connector by prying off the sliding cover. A double row of female pin connectors slides out. Pin #21 is empty and needs the bushing contact to be inserted. Connect the two wire ends together to complete the connection. Tidy up the wiring, put the cluter back and there you have it.

Author clex2


Author writeb
Date Thu Mar 18, 2004 1:06 am
Type General Information
Category Maintenance
Viewer Comments 0 - Post your comments
Views 179
Inspection I and II Checklist

Here are a couple of different links to the Scheduled Maintenance Checklist for Service I & II.

http://www.circlebmw.com/service/main/97e36.htm

http://www.540i6.com/inspectionchecklist.html

http://www.circlebmw.com/service/main/99e36.htm

http://www.logun.org/inspc.htm

[Dredder]

on top ( female ) side. I soldered a 16 gauge wire into pin 24. This the white/black wire by pulling back the protective rubber boot on the female connector.

[Dredder]

wire running to instrument cluster

[Dredder]

white ( connecter disassemble)

[Dredder]

I didnt have the connector(x16) so i just inserted the 16 gauge wire. Make sure that the wire is not touching the other pins

[Dredder]

Use digital meter to check for connectivity. I use ohm meter setting. 0.0 means its connected properly. reinstall everything. you now have a working mpg

[JedzE36/5]

nice writeup!

[Phamster]

My 328 cluster doesn't have a orange plug like yours nor do I even have that orange plug behind my dashboard. I wonder if it's because I have a automatic Ti.

[(SRG)tuning]

Sweet Info , i could use that for the s50 swap right after i get it to start !

[95gizmo]

My 95ti has pin 24 in the engine compartment connector but not pin 21 behind the cluster. I discovered that the fuel consumption line (white with black stripe) runs to the connector behind the mini trip computer. It was very easy to splice in a line from there and run it to the plug behind the cluster.

[Xenocide]

Trying to do this right now, I already have the pin in the X20 connector. Going through wiring diagrams to see whats up.

[Xenocide]

I can confirm 95gizmo's method. Third wire in from the left, the black and white one should be run to the instrument cluster, pin 21 on the white connector. This is the connector going to the OBC.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v362/xenner/DSCF3096.jpg

[mgbman69]

Nice work xeno... And great write up from the OP

[KSKarl]

Thanks, I used Dredder's tip about inserting a wire right into the connector for both the MPG gage and fog light indicator when I added fog lights. Works fine :)

[Alex Lipowich]

If you've got a modified transplant in your car, cams, headers, injectors, euro hfm, or, if you've transplanted an S54 or Euro S50B30 or B32.. then the mpg signal from the factory dme is no longer going to supply the cluster with an accurate signal, nor would it give the OBC an accurate signal.

Solution?

Steve at Seattle Circuit has a $100 pcb you can insert, tune, and then regain the accuracy of your obc/cluster for mpg.

Very, very cool stuff.....

(will be incorporating it as an option on the S54 P&P kits)

Have fun!

Alex.

[Marv17]

awesome. I too just completed this little DIY ... its pretty neat to have it working like a normal 6 cyl E36.
Thanks guys for the tutorial.

[1996 318ti NY]

just got the mindset to do this today while changing my steering wheel was a breeze, and i kinda like that its active now getting 25+ at 55-60 ish on the highway with 3.73's bone stock though so it should be accurate. Time to relocate the battery now oh joy!

[eurohb]

Anyone know if this will work for the 4 cylinder?

[PlusOne]

I had to run the wire up from engine bay plug through the fuse box and fire wall to my cluster as per the OP. I did not have the enhanced OBC display that I could tap into. My MPG works great now. Thanks all