Swap Geniuses, I need your help!

[cooljess76]

no not really, I've only dealt with manuals.

[PrimeTimeSlime]

Ok guys, I am making some progress.

I found a wiring diagram that shows that the clutch switch and safety switch from the auto both run to the ews. Apparently, I can wire pins 1 and 3 together to get around the clutch switch. Going to try it this afternoon.

[cooljess76]

fingers crossed

[PrimeTimeSlime]

It cranks!.... But it doesn't start.

We bridged pins 1 and 3 on the ews and got the starter to work, but it still isn't getting spark.

I tried both rings, both receiver modules, and every combination of the two since I can't remember which ones went with which car, but still no luck. We will check the crank sensor tomorrow though I doubt that is the problem.

[campaiar]

Couple things:

One, the pins you bridged are the old neutral safety switch that needs to be changed to your clutch switch going forward.

Two, the antenna ring around the ignition key doesn't need to match the EWS system. Its just an antenna.

The parts that must match are the EWS, ECU and transponder chip in the key, so it looks like we're good there.

Three, the model years is your issue. There are differences in the EWS wiring for the 99 model year. I have done a 98 -to- 99 swap, and I had to study the wiring diagrams for hours to determine what to do.

Bottom line, the wiring in the car needs to support the schematic from the donor car or it will never work. the first step is to get the EWS wiring diagrams for both cars and start studying.

You can get everything to work correctly including the clutch switch if you have enough patience with the diagrams.

[campaiar]

Just to be completely clear, you are going to need to get the exact 99 EWS wiring harnes diagram for the donor car and modify your 96 ti to match it.

[PrimeTimeSlime]

Originally Posted by campaiar

Couple things:

One, the pins you bridged are the old neutral safety switch that needs to be changed to your clutch switch going forward.

Two, the antenna ring around the ignition key doesn't need to match the EWS system. Its just an antenna.

The parts that must match are the EWS, ECU and transponder chip in the key, so it looks like we're good there.

Three, the model years is your issue. There are differences in the EWS wiring for the 99 model year. I have done a 98 -to- 99 swap, and I had to study the wiring diagrams for hours to determine what to do.

Bottom line, the wiring in the car needs to support the schematic from the donor car or it will never work. the first step is to get the EWS wiring diagrams for both cars and start studying.

You can get everything to work correctly including the clutch switch if you have enough patience with the diagrams.

Really? The wiring diagram I have says that pin 9 if from the clutch/neutral switch. My understanding is that bridging pins 1 and 3 simply bypasses the relay inside the ews. I could be wrong though, it's been known to happen

Do you have any idea where I might find a more detailed wiring schematic than the one I posted?

[cooljess76]

I'm pretty sure that the antenna ring has to match the transmitter. Niether of them NEED to be swapped, but if you happen to swap one, then you'll need to swap the other. My reason for saying this is because of what happened to Marv. He swapped his EWS transmitter by mistake and his car wouldn't start. He noticed that when he had the donor car's steering column laying on the floorboard of his ti, the car would start just fine. The EWS transmitter is not to be confused with the EWS control module. The EWS control module is located behind the glove compartment and the EWS transmitter is located near the steering column. Now I could be wrong, but that's just what I've gathered.

[campaiar]

You're close Cooljess.

In this particular case, its all about 1999. The little module you're referencing for the antenna that is near the steering column DOES NOT EXIST past 1998. In 1999 it was built into the EWS module itself, which BTW in 1999 was also relocated to the driver's footwell instead of the passenger.

The antenna ring around the ignition key still doesn't matter at all, period.

This is one specific change the OP will need to take into account if he wants to get the 99 to work in the 96 chassis. Again, the chassis will need to be rewired to mimic the wiring of a 1999.

I can guarentee that the PIN assignment of the EWS plug will need to be dismantled and re-pinned to match the 1999 EWS module.

The wiring colors may be different as well, hence the intense studying of both wiring diagrams.

[campaiar]

Originally Posted by PrimeTimeSlime

Really? The wiring diagram I have says that pin 9 if from the clutch/neutral switch. My understanding is that bridging pins 1 and 3 simply bypasses the relay inside the ews. I could be wrong though, it's been known to happen

Do you have any idea where I might find a more detailed wiring schematic than the one I posted?

I can't remember where I got the wiring diagrams, they can probably be googled. When you get both in front of you, do a pin by pin comparison and I bet you'll find differences.

[campaiar]

Took two minutes

1996 ti
http://wedophones.com/Manuals/BMW/19...g%20Manual.pdf

1999 328is
http://wedophones.com/Manuals/BMW/19...g%20Manual.pdf

[PrimeTimeSlime]

Originally Posted by campaiar

You're close Cooljess.

In this particular case, its all about 1999. The little module you're referencing for the antenna that is near the steering column DOES NOT EXIST past 1998. In 1999 it was built into the EWS module itself, which BTW in 1999 was also relocated to the driver's footwell instead of the passenger.

The antenna ring around the ignition key still doesn't matter at all, period.

This is one specific change the OP will need to take into account if he wants to get the 99 to work in the 96 chassis. Again, the chassis will need to be rewired to mimic the wiring of a 1999.

I can guarentee that the PIN assignment of the EWS plug will need to be dismantled and re-pinned to match the 1999 EWS module.

The wiring colors may be different as well, hence the intense studying of both wiring diagrams.

The EWS was behind the glove box in the 99, and it also had the antenna module under the steering column. It looks like the pin assignments for the 99 328is and the 96318ti are where they should be.

I am going to send the dme to TRM and have them reflash it to delete the ews altogether. I am hoping doing that will get the dme to fire the injectors and spark plugs, and bypassing the ews starter relay will have everything working.

[BMW_Hatchback]

I believe I had all of the same issues you have. I gave up trying to hack the system and got it all realigned at Tischer. Turns out the donor EWS was faulty, though it worked when it was shipped to me.

[PrimeTimeSlime]

Ladies and gentlemen, IT LIVES!!!

I finally got it running by bridging pins 1 and 3 on the ews and reflashing the dme so that it doesn't look for the ews at all. It finally started today. Now just need to button it all up and drive this SOB.

[aznlonewolf135]

bump