N52 Swap Discussion

[LukeJ]

Ok this IVM thing is a bit new to me, I was re reading your posts related to wiring on pg 23. When I bought this swap I was under the impression the integrated relays were desirable haha! Ok so the IVM will replace that terrible mess of plugs and relays and clean the wiring up? This is a unit that can be found in the 2007+ cars?

The x3 wiring is definitely much longer on the chassis side from pictures I’ve seen. My only concern was that crossover wiring.

thanks for the help. wiring is like sorcery to me lol!

oh also I was surprised to read I think it was you who wired the ekp in the bay, was this just an easier location so long traces of wire weren’t necessary?

Yet another N52 -> E30 swap thread - R3VLimited Forums. Check out post number 20.
The specific IVM pictured here is BMW #12637560626.

[hoveringuy]

If you’re also looking for a wiring adapter kit, you can take a look at our option. We have a listing for the E30/E36 chassis, but we can make them for any popular chassis.
www.redline-motorsport.com

I'm happy to see you offering this! What's the Can bus emulator?

[sweet3]

Looking at planning and sourcing parts soon, any suggestions for engine + transmission sources other than ebay? I'll start searching locally too.

If you’re also looking for a wiring adapter kit, you can take a look at our option. We have a listing for the E30/E36 chassis, but we can make them for any popular chassis.

https://www.redline-motorsport.com

[Cdmef]

That does look clean! I haven’t come across an IVM that looks like that one, I’ll be researching more. Silly question but does it have the needed relays integrated?

is it ok if I pm you wiring specific questions, I’m concerned with cluttering the thread with redundant questions

[hoveringuy]

My wiring looks like this, e36 will be different, of course. You may even have a place in the cowl for all that stuff.

[Cdmef]

Yes I’ve looked through hubcaps wiring. My pinouts will be different, as I’m doing an e36 but basically the same idea I think. I think I will be locating the ekp out back as well.

btw what model IVM did you use? The “flatter” rectangular one? I’m seeing a couple different layouts

[hoveringuy]

The IVM is huge, it's incredibly nice to condense all that crap into one little box. Do you have the wiring guide that hubcapboy put together?

I put the EKP in the right rear door panel near the pump. The only wired that run to it are a wake up signal (ignition) and twisted pair for CAN. This keeps the actual power routing shortest and it's one less box up front

[Cdmef]

Ok this IVM thing is a bit new to me, I was re reading your posts related to wiring on pg 23. When I bought this swap I was under the impression the integrated relays were desirable haha! Ok so the IVM will replace that terrible mess of plugs and relays and clean the wiring up? This is a unit that can be found in the 2007+ cars?

The x3 wiring is definitely much longer on the chassis side from pictures I’ve seen. My only concern was that crossover wiring.

thanks for the help. wiring is like sorcery to me lol!

oh also I was surprised to read I think it was you who wired the ekp in the bay, was this just an easier location so long traces of wire weren’t necessary?

[hoveringuy]

I’m sorry if I missed it but has anyone been able to confirm if an x3 fuel/ignition harness will work on a 2006 engine and remaining harness? One issue I wondered about is the wiring connection the fuel and ignition portions runs over the vc on x3 and behind it on my 2006. Might this cause a mounting issue? I want to be sure, seeing as prices are pretty dear now. Otherwise it looks like it plugs in fine, likely will have to transfer the relay in my 2006 circuit over

I may have bought an X3 harness at one point but honestly forget how long it was, it's probably somewhere in my posts. The X3 and 330 versions of the harnesses use kinda rats-nest of plugs and relays. On those cars, they live in the big plastic ECU box and there's a place for them. On the e30 not so much, unless you want a big rats-nest of stuff. I highly recommend that you get the IVM module. It integrates all of the body to engine wiring, contains the relays and such in one svelte little box that sits in the glove box.

I may have even used the X3 ign wiring and just cut it to fit. It's pretty easy to re-pin the wires to go in the modular plugs. There are ZERO relays in any of my wiring between the IVM or ECU and the engine.

[Cdmef]

I’m sorry if I missed it but has anyone been able to confirm if an x3 fuel/ignition harness will work on a 2006 engine and remaining harness? One issue I wondered about is the wiring connection the fuel and ignition portions runs over the vc on x3 and behind it on my 2006. Might this cause a mounting issue? I want to be sure, seeing as prices are pretty dear now. Otherwise it looks like it plugs in fine, likely will have to transfer the relay in my 2006 circuit over

[Cdmef]

Ok thanks. I figured it would be better to just take the pigtail in case.

[hoveringuy]

I’m stripping a donor 330, just a quick question on wiring I’m pulling. There is a group of wires from chassis to the little grey plug within the ecu wiring. I managed to separate it from the main clip so the rest can be pulled with the engine. Should I cut those wires from the chassis and keep the plug or is it not needed? There is one twisted shielded wire in that plug

I'm not sure what those wires or the gray plug is, I would cut the wires and keep the plug just in case. 95% of the stock ECU to chassis wires won't be used. The few exceptions are IGN, starter and the fuel pump control module. (btw, don't bother pulling that because it won't work, you'll need one from a Z)

[Cdmef]

I’m stripping a donor 330, just a quick question on wiring I’m pulling. There is a group of wires from chassis to the little grey plug within the ecu wiring. I managed to separate it from the main clip so the rest can be pulled with the engine. Should I cut those wires from the chassis and keep the plug or is it not needed? There is one twisted shielded wire in that plug

[DEV0 E30]

Guess who got a ride in an extremely well sorted N52 swapped E30?

This guy. All of my assumptions were correct. It's the swap for me.

[projectJTv4]

I got my motor through a dismantler I found through auto parts.com. I've been seeing 100k mile motors with transmissions on local forums for ~$500.

https://youtu.be/xfEFvXm4p8o

Dang that is cheap. A local dismantler wants 900 for the engine and 650 for the trans. I'll have to keep looking locally. Thanks for the point of reference.