E34 BMW M5

[200 octane]

Some teaser pics. Definitely needs some help to restore but again... my friend just handed over the keys and said, do with it what you want.

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[Racer-X]

looks ok to me

 

[200 octane]

Had a brief look at the extent of the damages and with limited knowledge of these cars, it looks like 2 looms were damaged. In the picture you'll see the loom cut in the left passenger corner, right under the seat. Looks like the one loom runs across the bottom across the back footrest area and the other goes along the passenger side towards the front.

It also seems like it will be easier to assess what's needed if the seats and carpets are removed.

Please feel free to advise.

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[Adi]

Love the color, that looks like dolphin grey....hmm think will be easiest to pull through a new set of cables.......

 

[Peter@AEW]

Agreed easier and neater to run in a new loom

 

[200 octane]

That's definitely the plan gents. Is this a sing loom or is it 2.

Is it something that I'll be able to tackle alone. I have limited wiring knowledge but know how to cut and paste.

@Adi any chance you have this loom/s?

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[200 octane]

So I decided to start on the strip of the bmw yesterday and then could not get the doors unlocked :dunnoanymore:. Apparently no power, no unlocking... then today I figured out how to unlock when their's no power... lift door handle and then turn key for those who dont know.

It seems like a pretty hectic job to remove the mat to fit the new loom. I'm actually considering joining the cables(soldering with heat shrink over it). Just one join and extend from cut to the connection/switch.

If this proves the easiest for now, it will  be the interim repair until I psych myself up to remove the mat and then have it cleaned. I have around 3 weeks to get the electronics sorted and still managing a weekend building project at the same time while I'm preparing to move end of next month. So much work and so little time. 

In the meantime, front seats will be removed, rear seats will be removed and the mat will be lifted to gain as much access to the damaged area as shown in the pictures above.

Next on the list is to drain fuel tank, drain coolant system, replace thermostat and water pump,  do an oil change.

Hopefully with the above done, I can drive it to it's new parking lot.

Updates to follow.

 

[Adi]

ok, my two cents worth on the cables. You are assuming that the rest of the cables is in perfect condition, no splicing, and no cuts etc. The cables are turned around or swapped.
I tried to repair my sound system like that, and failed spent way to many hours trying to repair and fault find then actually just pulling in the new cables. With the new cable its plug and play. Now you are on a giant fault finding mission, just saying.
Unfortunately don't have a spare cable.......any of the 530 or 540 ones will fit......

 

[200 octane]

ok, my two cents worth on the cables. You are assuming that the rest of the cables is in perfect condition, no splicing, and no cuts etc. The cables are turned around or swapped.
I tried to repair my sound system like that, and failed spent way to many hours trying to repair and fault find then actually just pulling in the new cables. With the new cable its plug and play. Now you are on a giant fault finding mission, just saying.
Unfortunately don't have a spare cable.......any of the 530 or 540 ones will fit......

Thanks for the info Adi. My reason was simply due to reading that it's quite difficult to lift the carpet. Please anyone shed some light on this.... maybe I should just remove then and refit later, once I'm confident that everything works.

 

[Benji]

I agree with Adi, I dont see how it is too difficult to lift the carpet especially since you already have the seats out. I have not done this myself personally, but I believe its just the door plastic trims, speaker covers and centre console that needs to come out. Maybe other people can confirm this.

Also a good opportunity to check for any rust under the carpet and to give the carpets a good clean

 

[Rammlied]

Agree with Adi. You'd want to change the entire body harness. Check out Uber Soldat's thread regarding his wagon, as he did just that. You could chat to him for some advice I guess.

From what I have researched, taking the carpet out requires removing both centre consoles, plastic sill covers (they clip into the body through the carpet), B-pillar covers, footwell speaker covers and you'd have to take out the seatbelt height adjusters as well. The last tricky part would be pulling out the front carpet from under the heater core. Getting it out is easy, getting it back in is difficult. Most people cut the carpet either side of the heater core to get it out.

You have three separate harnesses. Body, engine bay and dashboard. They plug into each other under the glovebox. It seems though, to get the entire body harness out, the doors would have to come off. The harness also runs into the boot area and up into the trunk lid. The harness that goes to the sunroof unplugs as far as I know. Quite a task, but doable.

Again...it may be an idea to chat to Uber Soldat.

 

[200 octane]

Agree with Adi. You'd want to change the entire body harness. Check out Uber Soldat's thread regarding his wagon, as he did just that. You could chat to him for some advice I guess.

From what I have researched, taking the carpet out requires removing both centre consoles, plastic sill covers (they clip into the body through the carpet), B-pillar covers, footwell speaker covers and you'd have to take out the seatbelt height adjusters as well. The last tricky part would be pulling out the front carpet from under the heater core. Getting it out is easy, getting it back in is difficult. Most people cut the carpet either side of the heater core to get it out.

You have three separate harnesses. Body, engine bay and dashboard. They plug into each other under the glovebox. It seems though, to get the entire body harness out, the doors would have to come off. The harness also runs into the boot area and up into the trunk lid. The harness that goes to the sunroof unplugs as far as I know. Quite a task, but doable.

Again...it may be an idea to chat to Uber Soldat.

Thanks for all the info gents. Chatting from phone so a bit tricky to acknowledge all.

As stated earlier, it's not the removal of the carpet that's a concern but rather the refitting. But anyway. I can always refit later. All I need in the car is a drivers seat once the new loom goes in.

For now, I'm waiting on a few responses regarding availability of the interior loom since most of the second hand shops dont have stock.

 

[200 octane]

So I managed to source 2x 535i interior looms, 1x R2500 which includes the fuse boxes and the other for R1000 however, the guy is in durban at the moment so I'll have to wait until next weekend.

In the meantime, I started removing some covers etc. Biggest problem at the moment it moving the front seats which is not powered due to cut cables. 
 
We installed a battery and it seems everything upfront on the dash works while everything behind is faulty. No electric windows, no sunroof, no rear lights etc.

 

[Adi]

On the carpet, no need to fully take it out, you can remove and loosen everything then you have easy access. Stripped my carpet out completely, and it was easy. Even the front no challenges. It needs to be lined up correctly.

If the seat is not powered, depending on where it is standing you will not get to the bolts to undo the seats. This you can overcome, as the cable that connects the chair sits right underneath the seat. Unplug, put 12v to it, you should be able to move the seat.

What I did for my car was to get a 12v transformer, with that its easier to power up parts like windows and chairs...........

 

[200 octane]

On the carpet, no need to fully take it out, you can remove and loosen everything then you have easy access. Stripped my carpet out completely, and it was easy. Even the front no challenges. It needs to be lined up correctly.

If the seat is not powered, depending on where it is standing you will not get to the bolts to undo the seats. This you can overcome, as the cable that connects the chair sits right underneath the seat. Unplug, put 12v to it, you should be able to move the seat.

What I did for my car was to get a 12v transformer, with that its easier to power up parts like windows and chairs...........

Awesome Adi, I'll try that. I have a few 12v transformers flying around.

 

[200 octane]

To the guys in the know...
I'm buying the loom this coming weekend. Both fuseboxes attached. I just need to find out if it is like a plug and play situation or will some wires be cut essentially at the fusebox located under the passenger side dash?

 

[Adi]

To the guys in the know...
I'm buying the loom this coming weekend. Both fuseboxes attached. I just need to find out if it is like a plug and play situation or will some wires be cut essentially at the fusebox located under the passenger side dash?

No need for any cutting, its plug and play.

 

[200 octane]

To the guys in the know...
I'm buying the loom this coming weekend. Both fuseboxes attached. I just need to find out if it is like a plug and play situation or will some wires be cut essentially at the fusebox located under the passenger side dash?

No need for any cutting, its plug and play.

Awesome news right here.

I removed the rear mat and stil busy with the front all while supervising building. Hopefully I'll have both out today. Loom is only available next week. Also having some issues with removing one of the rear headrests

 

[Adi]

To the guys in the know...
I'm buying the loom this coming weekend. Both fuseboxes attached. I just need to find out if it is like a plug and play situation or will some wires be cut essentially at the fusebox located under the passenger side dash?

No need for any cutting, its plug and play.

Awesome news right here.

I removed the rear mat and stil busy with the front all while supervising building. Hopefully I'll have both out today. Loom is only available next week. Also having some issues with removing one of the rear headrests

Very careful with the rear headrest, they are motorized. Also the switches, are scares as anything. On the corner of the seat.......guard them with your life. Might want to do some Q20 on the headrest to get it loose. Also sometimes pushing it backwards slightly helps

 

[200 octane]

Hi guys,

Got my replacement loom today. Just need to remove the boot lid lining to release a cable, the rear parcel tray and the roof lining. Then I can start with fitment.

Where can I get that material used on the looms? Price per meter or roll?

The person that removed on the loom tugged on it a little and pulled most of the old tape into ruins. I used some insulation tape in the meantime every 100mm to keep all intact. It's a bigger job than I expected but with all things out, I guess I might as well start with refurbishing.

Rooflining and parcel tray being first on the to do list.

If anyone has a picture of the rear fusebox located under the seat, please send me a pic. I'd love to see how the loom fits in that area.

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