318ti.org forum - View Single Post - 6 cyl engine swap

**AnotherPotatoChip** · 02-03-2022, 06:27 PM

Hey, wanted to drop this here for future swappers...

I just completed swapping an M54B30 into my 96 ti. My ti has only 82k miles on it and is quite clean, so I wanted to retain the original instrument cluster (and the chassis miles on the odometer).

Common wisdom is that you have to change out the 4 cyl cluster for a 6 cyl cluster in order for the tach to read accurately. But there is another way...

There are several "tach signal adjusters/converters" on the market for engine swappers. These products take the engine speed signal and convert it to match your tach. For example 6 cyl engine in a car with a 4 cyl tach. I used one called "Tach-Adjust" (https://ashlocktech.com/) and recommend it based on my use (no affiliation).

This is a simple product, which needs power and ground, and is inserted in-line between the engine and the tachometer. You configure the product using dip-switches to match the swap configuration you are doing. This should work for LS swaps, JZ, BMW engine swaps (8 cyl/6 cyl), etc.

There are 3 places on the ti where you can insert this, any one of them is fine:
1) at the DME or engine where the tach signal is output (for my M54B30 this is the DME X60004 connector, pin 17)
2) at the E36 X20 connector in the engine bay (pin 20)
3) at the rear of the instrument cluster (I didn't take this route, not sure which pin)

Whichever location you pick, connect the Tach-Adjust to 12v + and -, the wire from the engine side to the input of the Tach-Adjust, and the wire to the tachometer to the output of the Tach-Adjust. Done.

This was really one of the easiest parts of the swap. Very happy to keep my original cluster and the tach reads accurately.

Caveats: I have a base model ti - no OBC, no ASC, no cruise control. So the only thing affected in my instrument cluster from the swap was the tach.

cheers
drew

02-03-2022, 06:27 PM	#1
AnotherPotatoChip Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2021 Location: Seattle, WA, USA Posts: 13 iTrader: (0) Photo Gallery	6 cyl engine swap - Tachometer fix Hey, wanted to drop this here for future swappers... I just completed swapping an M54B30 into my 96 ti. My ti has only 82k miles on it and is quite clean, so I wanted to retain the original instrument cluster (and the chassis miles on the odometer). Common wisdom is that you have to change out the 4 cyl cluster for a 6 cyl cluster in order for the tach to read accurately. But there is another way... There are several "tach signal adjusters/converters" on the market for engine swappers. These products take the engine speed signal and convert it to match your tach. For example 6 cyl engine in a car with a 4 cyl tach. I used one called "Tach-Adjust" (https://ashlocktech.com/) and recommend it based on my use (no affiliation). This is a simple product, which needs power and ground, and is inserted in-line between the engine and the tachometer. You configure the product using dip-switches to match the swap configuration you are doing. This should work for LS swaps, JZ, BMW engine swaps (8 cyl/6 cyl), etc. There are 3 places on the ti where you can insert this, any one of them is fine: 1) at the DME or engine where the tach signal is output (for my M54B30 this is the DME X60004 connector, pin 17) 2) at the E36 X20 connector in the engine bay (pin 20) 3) at the rear of the instrument cluster (I didn't take this route, not sure which pin) Whichever location you pick, connect the Tach-Adjust to 12v + and -, the wire from the engine side to the input of the Tach-Adjust, and the wire to the tachometer to the output of the Tach-Adjust. Done. This was really one of the easiest parts of the swap. Very happy to keep my original cluster and the tach reads accurately. Caveats: I have a base model ti - no OBC, no ASC, no cruise control. So the only thing affected in my instrument cluster from the swap was the tach. cheers drew __________________ Bimmers: 90 325i, 96 318ti (330ti), 02 530i Beemers: 93 K75s, 96 K1100RS SE Jeeps: 01 Wrangler TJ 4.0L, 19 Wrangler MOAB 3.6L Last edited by AnotherPotatoChip; 02-11-2022 at 02:08 AM. Reason: show signature :-)