wanted to get some feedback from the group on wire harnesses for Mod cars.

Last Mod car we built we used a Painless Wiring 12 circuit harness and a custom switch panel. Now we are building one again and we are wondering if anyone has just stripped down the factory harness. We are keeping ABS, headlights, and wipers. What has everyone been doing? Looks like there are 3 main modules on the passenger side that control most things, can I just remove them and trim back from there?

Thanks in advance!

Rob

I'm very interested in this as well!

We took a stock chassis harness and eliminated everything except the 4 abs sensor lines and the ABS computer plug. Everything else is from scratch.

Stickley did my harness when he built the car for GMG. Its a bit messy, but its a very simple setup. Since i have no ABS, and its an OBDI 94 325 motor, it basically has 6 spark wires, 6 inj wires, a couple sensors on the motor, and thats about it. Starter fans, and wipers are independent. Everything runs off a power distribution panel, with circuit breakers for everything. Uses 3 relays from the stock harness, and in total has 6 switches (power, ign, fuel, wipers, fans, start button).

How did you like the Painless harness?

Ok ... it looks like I need YOU guys to help me, since the general maineneace folks don't have a clue (in this case anyway!). See this post: http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=346138

Basically, I have the 3 relays (main, fuel, O2 heater) and the 2 ABS relays. Every thing else is gone. Car will not start. Any ides!?!?!?!?

Dave Holeman at RacePad.com has built a mod-level wiring harness for Mike Akard I believe and it worked very well. His email is dholeman@racepad.com

-Mike

Dave Holeman at RacePad.com has built a mod-level wiring harness for Mike Akard I believe and it worked very well. His email is dholeman@racepad.com

-Mike

I second what Mike's said...seems like Holeman did a good job...saw some pics of his Cmod car on Racepad.com and the work looks really clean and nicely done.

Dave Holeman at RacePad.com has built a mod-level wiring harness for Mike Akard I believe and it worked very well. His email is dholeman@racepad.com

-Mike

Do you happen to know how much he charges to make a harness and if he actually needs the car to do it Mike?

I know he doesn't need the car to do it and the only way to find out is to ask him! :) I just know he is good at whatever he does, and he has done it before at least once or twice...

-Mike

Dave Holeman at RacePad.com has built a mod-level wiring harness for Mike Akard I believe and it worked very well. His email is dholeman@racepad.com

-Mike

Dave is an awesome guy to deal with. I am sure he would help you out anyway possible.

We have made many harnesses both OBD1 and II. They all work very well...

We just finished a OBDII engine harness that we used with our AEM engine mangament...works perfect! :redspot

I have to say that PMI (Charles Bilodeau) would be a great choice as well. They run several mod level cars and are skilled at doing "only what's necessary" for both OBD I and OBD II. Don't know why I didn't mention it the first time...

-Mike

I have to say that PMI (Charles Bilodeau) would be a great choice as well. They run several mod level cars and are skilled at doing "only what's necessary" for both OBD I and OBD II. Don't know why I didn't mention it the first time...

-Mike

I recently spoke with Chuck about some race related plans...PMI is a great outfit and they are very commited to racers and the people they work with...look forward to doing business with them in the future...

Hi,

Mike G. was kind enough to bring this thread to my attention. Yes, I can do race harnesses. Right now, I focus on chasis wiring harnesses that are plug and play with the BMW OEM engine harnes. I try to leave the engine harness alone. Unless you are going with Motec or some other aftermaket system its best to leave that part of the harness as is (it is very tempramental). However, when it comes to rewiring ABS, Lights, fuses, relays, wipers I can help turn about 70lbs of factory harness into about 15 lbs. These harness are hand built and usually built from doner harnesses as some BMW connectors are impossible to order. Cost can vary depending on what functions you want supported. My life is crazy busy right now with a company move that is in progress but I would be happy to talk this through with anyone. BTW, I built a custom wiring harness for Mike Akard that got his old E36 M3 working again.

Well thanks for all the sources, but we are capable of making our own harness from the factory one. I was mainly looking for feedback on what people are doing to see if it justified the time to strip the stock one vs. just buying a $200 Painless one.

I am assuming at the price Racepad and PMI are asking for theirs, it would be cheaper for us to just do it ourselves.