mystery red power wire - where does it go?

[hugh jass]

Does the wire circled in the above picture have to loop back to the power distribution block? It comes out of the loom roughly where the big starter power wire is on the driver's side. I searched the archives and didn't really come up with a definitive answer. Thanks.

[PeaveyBassist]

Alternator. M50?

Will

[PiercedE30]

yup, looks like alternator..........i just got done taking the harness off of my m50 nv....

[FredK]

No. That cable is spliced directly off the main power cable.

The main power cable on an E36 splits into two cables inside the harness box. The thicker of the two cables goes to the alternator, and the thinner of the two wires goes to the E36 fuse box.

The E30 does not require the split power cable. You can just reuse your E30 starter cable, because it has the proper lead fitting to tighten onto the power cable coming from the rear of the car. Remove the E36 power cable.

If you look carefully, the alternator cable is already placed on the wire bracket.

The M/S50 uses a separate cable for the alternator that is not attached to the main wiring harness in any way, shape, or form. Instead it is a 2.5 foot long cable that attaches to the big lug on the starter.

[PeaveyBassist]

Interesting Fred. I guess I was wrong then.

Will

[matt]

I run both the big power output cables to the starter.

[euroshark]

I have two big power wires on my M30 starter as well.

[tonytony]

yank the power cables out of the m50 harness and keep the stock e30 power cables, your life will be so much easier