Halp identifying some M50 vanos wires plz

[shiboujin]

I got an OBD1 M50 wiring harness with no labels. So I get to wander around figuring stuff out. The various ETKs have different wiring colors from what I've found (http://wedophones.com/BMWManualsLead.htm)

Here's what I got:
brown - brown/red = coolant temp to ECU (not cluster)
blue/green - red white = vanos plug
yellow/white - green/white - red/white = ICV
red/yellow - brown/black - brown = ICV

There's 3 plugs where I have no idea what they go to:
green/brown (single wire). Evap maybe? but each ETK has that as 2 wires
green/white - Yellow/blue. This one IIRC is also off the same long wire for the MAF or O2 plug
brown - brown/yellow. No idea with this one.

[e30rapidic]

I'll put down what I have on my S50 but beware the wire colors could be different over the years and what works for me may not be what works for you. Best to read the manual and trace backwards from the pinouts or C101 connector.

Here's what I got:
brown - brown/red = coolant temp to ECU (not cluster) ok
blue/green - red white = vanos plug ok
yellow/white - green/white - red/white = ICV ok
red/yellow - brown/black - brown = ICV this is TPS on mine

There's 3 plugs where I have no idea what they go to:
green/brown (single wire). oil pressure sender
brown - brown/yellow. are you sure its not brown/violet - brown/yellow?? that's the coolant gauge sensor
green/white - Yellow/blue. dunno on this one

[shiboujin]

My b. I meant TPS for the second one. Thanks for the clarification. Could be brown violet. Lots of oil on the wires.

Thanks for the input!

[SwiftE30]

Hope this helps. Someone gave this to me and it really helped.
oil pressure sensor BRN/GRN or BRN/GRY
front coolant temperature sensor (ECU) BRN/RED BRN
rear coolant temperature sensor (Gauge Sensor) BRN/YEL BRN/VIO
crank position sensor YEL
cam position sensor YEL RED/WHT BRN/ORG
VANOS solenoid RED/WHT GRN/BLU
knock sensor, 1-3 BLK NCA DME PIN 70
knock sensor, 4-6 BLK NCA DME PIN 69
throttle position sensor (TPS) BRN BRN/BLK RED/YEL
intake air temperature (IAT) sensor BRN GRY
idle control valve (ICV) WHT/YEL RED/WHT WHT/GRN
Evaporative emissions valve BRN RED/WHT

[shiboujin]

I'll put down what I have on my S50 but beware the wire colors could be different over the years and what works for me may not be what works for you. Best to read the manual and trace backwards from the pinouts or C101 connector.

You were spot on sir. I still don't know what that last plug is. It's the 2 prong connector right off the MAF plug.

[Roysneon]

Iirc the evap plug comes off of the MAF.

[shiboujin]

sounds like an odd place for that. but makes sense.

[Roysneon]

I kept looking for the TPS sensor to be there, seemed more logical. I'll double check later when I'm working on the car.

[scottinAZ]

TPS is three pin connector, Cannister purge valve is 2 pin on the same harness as the maf.

[shiboujin]

well that's amusing. I guess I could hook that back up for inspection lol.

[SwiftE30]

yeah the one that is closest to MAF connection is for the evap valve. if you have it just plug it in and let the other tubes from it just sit there. i dont have my charcoal cannister hooked up and no problems.

please correct me if i am mistaken on this.

[shiboujin]

sounds about right. I'll just let it dangle.