Maplight mirror install help

[e30Matt]

yeah, i don't have either of those things
my 'check control panel' consists of a seatbelt light and a disconnected SRS light

Ditto. Has anyone ever wired up the check conrol panel from a six-banger to work in a 318iS? Long shot, but I've got one sitting around and I get bored easily.

[Bryson]

you have to pull your dash and complete wiring harness. not worth it. You could use wires to wire up certain functions of it if you get a motor that has the sensors. I think I'm going to wire in a coolant level sensor and an oil level sensor, just for safe measure
edit: can't do coolant level as I'm using an m42 radiator. damn.

[Beej '86 325es]

I just assumed from the beginning that all E30s had them. I don't know what I'd do without the engine oil level or coolant level sensors on my tired old engine.

And man, what the hell would I do without that stupid brake light warning popping up every time I start the car!?

Has anyone here done an M50 conversion and kept the check panel working? Looking at the pin chart on AKG Motorsport's website, I don't think the "Active" check panel would be very active anymore.

[Bryson]

it remains active, but you have to wire in the oil level sender (easy). Unfortunately, I cannot monitor anything going on with my m50 :(

edit: AKG's wiring is not complete or the right way to do it, there is a more correct way that involves more wires and retains all factory necessary things
if you need the wiring chart there are many people who you can get it from (myself included) upon an inquiry. It's just not nice to give it out on a public forum. The wiring diagram I used has been done on 4 24v e30s here in San Diego (3 done by me :) ) and the only problem that some of them had was no tach, but mine works, so we're baffled

[Sean]

At one point there was a write up somewhere that I read - it talked about how to install the map-light mirror - but, at the same time, wiring it up to turn on when you opened your doors. It also gave a walk-thru on how to create a little relay that made the lights stay on for a certain amount of time after the doors were closed (like in E36s) - then the lights would dim for a second and finally turn off.

Does anyone know where that walk-thru is?

Glad you got that mirror in - I'll be putting on in my car soon too. ;)

[Bryson]

I wouldn't put extra duty on those lights, each bulb is like $20 :shock:

edit: and that's for the dim e30 ones, the higher wattage (read: 7 series) bulbs are even more I think. I have one in the pass side (don't use driver's side often enough to upgrade) and it's noticeably brighter

[Beej '86 325es]

At one point there was a write up somewhere that I read - it talked about how to install the map-light mirror - but, at the same time, wiring it up to turn on when you opened your doors. It also gave a walk-thru on how to create a little relay that made the lights stay on for a certain amount of time after the doors were closed (like in E36s) - then the lights would dim for a second and finally turn off.

Does anyone know where that walk-thru is?

Glad you got that mirror in - I'll be putting on in my car soon too. ;)

I was thinking I would like the lights to come on when I open the doors. The dimming/timed feature is not necessary because they come on when I disarm my alarm anyway. But I imagine it would be a pain to somehow wire the maplights into the interior lights.

[Bryson]

it would be very easy to wire it to the actual interior light so that when that light is on, the two are able to be on. Unless you want to open up the headlight to run wires, then it is an easy task to make everything work correctly. Maybe I'll do it to my car :)

[chesster6969]

I wouldn't put extra duty on those lights, each bulb is like $20 :shock:

edit: and that's for the dim e30 ones, the higher wattage (read: 7 series) bulbs are even more I think. I have one in the pass side (don't use driver's side often enough to upgrade) and it's noticeably brighter

Do you know the year and model 7 series that I can get the higher wattage bulb from?

Or do you know the bulb code for it?

[Bryson]

I think it's an e32, not sure though, my dad has one in his e23. I'm not at the shop so I don't know the part number, sorry

[chesster6969]

I think it's an e32, not sure though, my dad has one in his e23. I'm not at the shop so I don't know the part number, sorry

Whenever you can it would be great. I like bright interior lights.