How long did your swap take?

[Cyrix2k]

exactly 53 weeks, but it sat for a year with the motor in the car, then I pulled it, fixed some stuff, and dropped it back in. Even with a lot of planning, you should build in an extra week or two for parts that need to be mailed out.

[Dr.Claw]

took Dave and me a day

rolled in at 7am, eta was out by 8:20, 2am we cranked it up and i drove home

m50tu in a 86 es

we actually spent a fair amount of time, putting the m50 together before we put it in.

it needed, valve cover,VC gasket, all accessories and intake manifold to be put on.

[matt]

For the record the THR adapter is a very good option. Everyone I have talked to that has one is very happy with it. My car fired up on the first try with it, and the install is very easy/clean. They have been VERY good about support.

Not to say that DIY isn't an option, but there are a lot of posts on this forum "which wiring diagram do I use for XX application?" I think if the THR adaptor was a little less expensive, everyone would buy it.

I agree.

If I had a little money, I would have bought the THR adaptor.

[grib]

Cool. I didn't know you could buy the harness connectors. I guess that's where that place (treehouse maybe) got them and made their $400 adapter.

For the record the THR adapter is a very good option. Everyone I have talked to that has one is very happy with it. My car fired up on the first try with it, and the install is very easy/clean. They have been VERY good about support.

Not to say that DIY isn't an option, but there are a lot of posts on this forum "which wiring diagram do I use for XX application?" I think if the THR adaptor was a little less expensive, everyone would buy it.

[mazur]

But you only need one connector for the engine side of the harness.

I made an adapter. Took the chasis side connector from my wrecked E36, put pins in the ends of the wires and stuck them into a c101 connector.

Therefore I'm not cutting any of the original wiring.

[Mike B.]

But you only need one connector for the engine side of the harness.

[mazur]

Um, two connectors and pins will cost under $90 from the dealer. I soldered the wires to the pins. The pins snap into place when put in the connector.

No special tools required.

[bmwpower]

Jesus. $925?? Too expensive for me, unfortunately. I'll have to keep an eye out for used kits.

Thanks for the info!

The tool part numbers are the only ones that are hard to find. They are listed in the TIS. The kit is old tool # 61 1 150, new BMW part number: (give this to your dealership parts guy) 83 30 0 492 720

That's for the kit that includes all the pin and connector tools you need for the round connectors. It's pricey. ($925) I'm not saying it can't be done without the special tools, but they make it a breeze.

Sorry, I don't want to post the part numbers for the connectors and pins. They are not hard to find on www.realoem.com

Mike: The special tool instructions are listed in the TIS, I can email you a copy when I get home tonight. There is a spanner sort of tool that locks and unlocks the connectors to release the pins. I think you can insert the pins without unlocking the connector.

[matt]

Could you list up the part numbers for the BMW tools, connector and pins and such?

The tool part numbers are the only ones that are hard to find. They are listed in the TIS. The kit is old tool # 61 1 150, new BMW part number: (give this to your dealership parts guy) 83 30 0 492 720

That's for the kit that includes all the pin and connector tools you need for the round connectors. It's pricey. ($925) I'm not saying it can't be done without the special tools, but they make it a breeze.

Sorry, I don't want to post the part numbers for the connectors and pins. They are not hard to find on www.realoem.com

Mike: The special tool instructions are listed in the TIS, I can email you a copy when I get home tonight. There is a spanner sort of tool that locks and unlocks the connectors to release the pins. I think you can insert the pins without unlocking the connector.

[Mike B.]

Only the cutter/stripper, actually. You need the BMW wiring harness kit, and a good ratcheting crimper.

I bought a new connector and pins from BMW. I used the BMW special pin removal tool to get the pins out of the X20 connector, cut, stripped, recrimped the new pins on the wires, then I used the BMW unlocking tool to open up the new connector, inserted the new pins, then locked the connector again, then put it all together and everything worked, first try.

I've been thinking about putting a DIY kit to do the same thing up for sale on the site, but I think THR probably does a better job of this than most people would for themselves, and the last thing I want to do is tech support for every damn person on the forum because they gave me $50 for a connector and some pins.

Unlocking tool?? I just inserted the pins into the new C101 connector until the locked into place with a click.

[bmwpower]

Only the cutter/stripper, actually. You need the BMW wiring harness kit, and a good ratcheting crimper.

I bought a new connector and pins from BMW. I used the BMW special pin removal tool to get the pins out of the X20 connector, cut, stripped, recrimped the new pins on the wires, then I used the BMW unlocking tool to open up the new connector, inserted the new pins, then locked the connector again, then put it all together and everything worked, first try.

I've been thinking about putting a DIY kit to do the same thing up for sale on the site, but I think THR probably does a better job of this than most people would for themselves, and the last thing I want to do is tech support for every damn person on the forum because they gave me $50 for a connector and some pins.

Could you list up the part numbers for the BMW tools, connector and pins and such?

[matt]

wire cutter/stripper
soldering iron
solder
shrink tubing

Only the cutter/stripper, actually. You need the BMW wiring harness kit, and a good ratcheting crimper.

I bought a new connector and pins from BMW. I used the BMW special pin removal tool to get the pins out of the X20 connector, cut, stripped, recrimped the new pins on the wires, then I used the BMW unlocking tool to open up the new connector, inserted the new pins, then locked the connector again, then put it all together and everything worked, first try.

I've been thinking about putting a DIY kit to do the same thing up for sale on the site, but I think THR probably does a better job of this than most people would for themselves, and the last thing I want to do is tech support for every damn person on the forum because they gave me $50 for a connector and some pins.

[Mike B.]

Mine was even quicker... I just put an e30 connector on the M50 harness.

Easy as pie, when you have the tools.

Yep, this is what I do. A new connector and about 15 pins is all you need (plus the tools mentioned above). It should cost under $30 and take under an hour to complete. Spend $$ on a good crimping tool.

I push out the pins from the x20 connector with a small punch and then re-use the rubber weather plugs on the new connector.

Make sure you document the wire pin locations/colors on the x20 before you push out the pins.

[BeirBrennerE30]

Even better. What tools do you need?

wire cutter/stripper
soldering iron
solder
shrink tubing

[bmwpower]

Mine was even quicker... I just put an e30 connector on the M50 harness.

Easy as pie, when you have the tools.

Even better. What tools do you need?