M50 swap procedure - essential checklist

[m_dudey]

[x] Valve cover grounded at passenger rear corner, using e30 strap

is this the ground strap for the coil to the valve cover? or is there another ground strap that grounds the valve cover to the chasis or block?

[hi its me alec]

bump

[hi its me alec]

"got off work early and want to do more work" bump!

[hi its me alec]

yes you have to ground the brown wire. there should be 5 wires, connect 4 of them, and ground the brown one.will have a clear plug still connected to all of the wires. it should be in the shifter boot area.

So the other 4 loose wires coming out of the DME should all be connected together? I understand grounding the brown wire, but why connect the other 4?

[travis816]

One question I'm forced to ask is, when cutting auto tranny wires, DO I HAVE TO DEAL WITH ANYTHING?! I keep hearing about things like neutral safety switch and brown wires that should be grounded out, but nothing definitive. Anyone care to shed some light?

yes you have to ground the brown wire. there should be 5 wires, connect 4 of them, and ground the brown one.will have a clear plug still connected to all of the wires. it should be in the shifter boot area.

[hi its me alec]

One question I'm forced to ask is, when cutting auto tranny wires, DO I HAVE TO DEAL WITH ANYTHING?! I keep hearing about things like neutral safety switch and brown wires that should be grounded out, but nothing definitive. Anyone care to shed some light?

[hi its me alec]

I've never heard of this before. I assume it's used to ground out the ECU like people say needs to be done. Would you mind telling me more?

Correct, it gives the ECU a solid ground. It's basically a set of plates that pinch it in place.

Here's mine:

[Kerrath]

[x] 318 DME grounding plate

I've never heard of this before. I assume it's used to ground out the ECU like people say needs to be done. Would you mind telling me more?

[travis816]

ROFL.... BMW put that wire there just because.

Its needed on the e36 but not on the e30/m50 swap, you should already have a fuse box positive wire running out of the fuse box. It just needs properly hooked up.

[Jean]

Wire from battery to starter (sounds like you already have)... ground to the engine. Engine harness + and engine harness ground. Fuel pump / main relays ok?

[hi its me alec]

no that cut red wire shouldnt matter. you should have the black one from your chassi to the starter. that should be all you need for power

Black wire from chassis to starter? I'm running an M20 starter and it seems to be cranking just fine without it. I just have the 2 wires coming from the engine harness

[Jean]

ROFL.... BMW put that wire there just because.

[jrdeamicis]

no that cut red wire shouldnt matter. you should have the black one from your chassi to the starter. that should be all you need for power

Right...

The DME runs on sunshine and beanie babies.

[travis816]

no that cut red wire shouldnt matter. you should have the black one from your chassi to the starter. that should be all you need for power

[hi its me alec]

Spark or fuel yet?

No fuel for sure, will test for spark today after work.. got dark out last night.