DIY - E36 window switch retrofit

[golde30]

Yup, 4 wires for the E36 switch, 5 wires coming out of the E30 wiring

care to pull out yer shift boot and take a picy picy of the wiring?? PLEASE! TIA :D

[Jand3rson]

Yup, 4 wires for the E36 switch, 5 wires coming out of the E30 wiring

care to pull out yer shift boot and take a picy picy of the wiring?? PLEASE! TIA :D

I'll take one in a few days when my new shift and ebrake boots arrive.

There are a few pics of the wiring on the first page, though.

[golde30]

Yup, 4 wires for the E36 switch, 5 wires coming out of the E30 wiring

care to pull out yer shift boot and take a picy picy of the wiring?? PLEASE! TIA :D

I'll take one in a few days when my new shift and ebrake boots arrive.

There are a few pics of the wiring on the first page, though.

josh, your pics are actually really good. but the reason im askin matt to take a pic is that he has the same switches as me (4wires instead of 5), plus the wires are the same color as mine also, so it will make my install much more simple.

[Jand3rson]

Ha ha ha, whoops. I thought you were talking to me. :D

[MR 325]

Lucky for you I don't have my console in right now anyway...


Driver side


Passenger side

[golde30]

sweet. 8)

[Jand3rson]

Here's the full write-up on strictlyeta.net, with all the full-size pics (click on them to enlarge). Enjoy, fellas. :up:

http://www.strictlyeta.net/technical/e36switches.html

[ultima]

Well it does look a lot better than the E30 switches. But I'd rather wait for a write up on the one touch. Seems more worth it. At least a one touch for the sunroof. Now that would be pimp.

[Bryson]

Well it does look a lot better than the E30 switches. But I'd rather wait for a write up on the one touch. Seems more worth it. At least a one touch for the sunroof. Now that would be pimp.

there's not going to be one.
even if there were, it would require running all of the wires for the switches to somewhere like the glove compartment to fit the bix box that controls all of them, not to mention there are like 400 wires coming from that box
that being said, I may try it someday. But I'll likely buy individual kits to make them one touch

[erik325i]

I will be getting some of the e36 switches for the swap, but they don't come with the wiring harness that plugs into the back of the switch. Where can I find the harness with the wires in it? Is this a dealer item?

[AndrewBird]

I will be getting some of the e36 switches for the swap, but they don't come with the wiring harness that plugs into the back of the switch. Where can I find the harness with the wires in it? Is this a dealer item?

They are part of the entire wiring harness. You best bet is to find a parts car and cut the plugs from it.

[golde30]

I will be getting some of the e36 switches for the swap, but they don't come with the wiring harness that plugs into the back of the switch. Where can I find the harness with the wires in it? Is this a dealer item?

They are part of the entire wiring harness. You best bet is to find a parts car and cut the plugs from it.

word up. make sure u get as much wire as possible to work with..

[erik325i]

I will be getting some of the e36 switches for the swap, but they don't come with the wiring harness that plugs into the back of the switch. Where can I find the harness with the wires in it? Is this a dealer item?

They are part of the entire wiring harness. You best bet is to find a parts car and cut the plugs from it.

When searching for a car to pull the wiring from, it will have to be from a car that has the correct switches, because the plugs are different from the different switches, right? So basicly I shouldn't even bother buying the switches I just found because they don't come with the wiring, right? Because if I have to find a car to pull the wiring from, it will have the right switches anyways. That sucks. Now I need to search for more switches with the plug. None of the junk yards around me ever have any e36s. Were those switches used in any other model car?

[AndrewBird]

You'r probably right about finding new switches as I believe the plugs were different depending on the switch. As far as other cars they came in, I don't know. Some one should know though.

Check e-bay for switches. You can find anything there. Either that or find someone with a parts car that still has the switches and have them cut the wiring harness out for you.

[erik325i]

Check e-bay for switches. You can find anything there. Either that or find someone with a parts car that still has the switches and have them cut the wiring harness out for you.

That's what I did. I found a seller on ebay with a pair of switches that will work, but does not have the plug/wiring harness thing. Every switch on ebay has just the switch, with no plug.

There are no e36s at the local yards fo me to take from, and I can't seem to find anyone on the forums that has a set for sale. Ohh well. I guess I gotta just keep searching.