IX wire harness?

[GT BMW E30]

I need to swap out my IX wire harness that goes to the ECU/DME. I have been tracing an engine code related to O2 sensor (I changed the O2 sensor, relay and ECU already). I bought a wire harness from a member and its different from what I removed. My auto harness has a long wire that connects underneath my car by the exhaust (see picture below). Member says his was removed from an automatic IX and I do not need the long wire in picture below. Now other R3V members have said an auto and manual harness is the same. So something is wrong.

Will his harness without the long wire (not needed to) run my automatic IX without issues? Or can someone post pics of an automatic and manual IX harness referencing the 2nd picture so we can determine automatic vs manual IX harness. Also, what is that connector for?

My harness has this wire (his does not) which runs from the alternator area across the front of engine block in between AC bracket/engine block to where the exhaust pipe is.



Longer one connects to this...









I had to cut my wires because I was not going to remove the AC.

[flyboyx]

well, the item on the bottom of the oil pan is the oil level sensor. apparently, you are saying the plug on your harness in the first pic attaches there?

do you need it? no. you can (and should) just check your oil every time you fill up your car. i would assume that the other harness has it in there somewhere but from a different year, it may come from a different area in the harness? the only e30's that i know of that didn't have oil level sensors are s14's and m42's

[nando]

your ABS won't work with a non-ix harness unless you modify it.

[The Dark Side of Will]

That's the oil level and oil pressure sensor.

I have a 1988 iX with the same pigtail. It goes across the timing cover inside the little plastic channel with the crank sensor wire and then in between the engine block and A/C comp bracket.

I cut mine and spliced in additional wire to route over the top of the engine.

[GT BMW E30]

Ok so its needed in my book. A friend on mine verified that his manual has the same wire too. I just purchased another. thanks.