M50 tach signal: 89' 325is

[Brew]

I just need a definitive answer as to which wire on the e30 connects to the tach output on the m50 harness. I would guess that 89-91 e30's have the same wiring in this situation. I have a VDO gauge cluster if it makes any difference.

Thanks in advance.

[ian332isport]

Re: M50 tach signal: 89' 325is

I just need a definitive answer as to which wire on the e30 connects to the tach output on the m50 harness. I would guess that 89-91 e30's have the same wiring in this situation. I have a VDO gauge cluster if it makes any difference.

Thanks in advance.

It should be pin 9 on the C101 connector (Black wire).

Cheers,

Ian.

[Brew]

Re: M50 tach signal: 89' 325is

I just need a definitive answer as to which wire on the e30 connects to the tach output on the m50 harness. I would guess that 89-91 e30's have the same wiring in this situation. I have a VDO gauge cluster if it makes any difference.

Thanks in advance.

It should be pin 9 on the C101 connector (Black wire).

Cheers,

Ian.

Well, I tried that- no go. Anyone else?

[ian332isport]

Re: M50 tach signal: 89' 325is

I just need a definitive answer as to which wire on the e30 connects to the tach output on the m50 harness. I would guess that 89-91 e30's have the same wiring in this situation. I have a VDO gauge cluster if it makes any difference.

Thanks in advance.

It should be pin 9 on the C101 connector (Black wire).

Cheers,

Ian.

Well, I tried that- no go. Anyone else?

Strange. What year/model is your E30 ? I assumed it was an 89-91, and the info is correct for that model. It is however different on the earlier cars. What wire from the M50 are you using for the tacho signal ?

Ian.

[Brew]

Re: M50 tach signal: 89' 325is

I just need a definitive answer as to which wire on the e30 connects to the tach output on the m50 harness. I would guess that 89-91 e30's have the same wiring in this situation. I have a VDO gauge cluster if it makes any difference.

Thanks in advance.

It should be pin 9 on the C101 connector (Black wire).

Cheers,

Ian.

Well, I tried that- no go. Anyone else?

Strange. What year/model is your E30 ? I assumed it was an 89-91, and the info is correct for that model. It is however different on the earlier cars. What wire from the M50 are you using for the tacho signal ?

Ian.

Its an 89' 325is and a 92' M50.
I"m using the black tach signal wire on the m50 harness according to the AKG pin chart.

Thanks for all your help.

[kylebes1]

did you try looking in the glove compartment? It would be behind one of the panels in there.

There should be a three-wire plug in there, you can wire the black one to the e36 pin #20.

[Jason89i]

the wiring diagram from akg is a really good starting point...however i did not find it 100% comprehensive. skip the black wire in the gove box! I used (e36 pin 20 blk wire) attached to (e30 pin 9 blk wire) and it works perfectly.

i also noted that noone talks about the speed reference sensor. your m50 ecu needs to know how fast you are traveling before it works properly at wot. (e36 pin 14 blk/white)

and dont forget the k5/k7 relay body electronic control. (e36 pin 15 blk/grn) to (e30 pin 15 blk/grn). controls relays like power windows.

please note that you will not be able to get a calibrated mpg meter to work correctly. e36 has different resistance.

if you run into any other problems, feel free to email

[Brew]

There must be an issue with my cluster because I have pin 9 connected to pin 20. I'll try swapping it out this weekend.
Does the e30 main plug have a wire for the speed ref. sensor? Same color?
Luckily, I got the relays hooked up right the first time.

Thanks for all you help!

[ian332isport]

Does the e30 main plug have a wire for the speed ref. sensor? Same color?

Yes, this is also pin 14 on the E30 connector. The wire should be Blue with a yellow stripe.

Cheers,

Ian.

[Brew]

Thanks! I'll hook up the speed sensor wiring and try out the different cluster tonight and let you know how it turns out.

[NickP]

If you're car's been down for awhile it could just be your SI batteries having drained.

[Brew]

If you're car's been down for awhile it could just be your SI batteries having drained.

Shit, that a good point. I'll have to look into that.

Well, I swapped in a different cluster tonight and the tach kicked in right away. Thanks for all the help folks.

[kylebes1]

Hey about the speed reference wire, I need to know where it goes into the cluster at. My car does not have cruise control and being an 84 it has a different c-101 than the late cars that most everyone is using.

I think the speed reference goes to a pin on the green conector that is on the back of the cluster, but I do not know which pin to hook up too. I have been wondering abuot my car's preformance andf this may change things.

[ian332isport]

Hey about the speed reference wire, I need to know where it goes into the cluster at. My car does not have cruise control and being an 84 it has a different c-101 than the late cars that most everyone is using.

I think the speed reference goes to a pin on the green conector that is on the back of the cluster, but I do not know which pin to hook up too. I have been wondering abuot my car's preformance andf this may change things.

Kyle,

On the early cars, the speed reference was not required by the engine computer. It was only on the facelift (post 88 ) cars that had that signal.

It should still be available on the back of the instruments though. Assuming you have the big green connector fitted to the rear of the cluster, then you should be okay.

If you look at the connector, you will see a group of two single pin connectors on one side, and a group of three single pin connectors on the opposite side. Its the pin in the group of three that is nearest to the rear cover of the instuments that you need to use.

Cheers,

Ian.

[kylebes1]

Thanks Ian I have a picture here, but it does not show depth well enough to be definitive. So thanks for clearing that up for me. I will post the pictures in a minute.