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Thread: What's this relay for???

  1. #1
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    What's this relay for???

    I thought this was the delay relay for the dome light, but it's not. There's no brown/purple wire going into it. When I take the relay out and replace it with another relay, the door ajar gong goes on until I turn the ignition on. The second I turn the ignition off, whether the door is open or closed, the gong comes back on. Everything seems to work fine with the relay out altogether. It's the only relay in the drivers kick panel. Does anyone know what it's for?




    -Chris
    My e30 build thread/color change here

  2. #2
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    There's a brown/yellow constant power wire coming off the dome light switch in the door jam. Is that the delay relay after all? Is that what it looks like?
    -Chris
    My e30 build thread/color change here

  3. #3
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    Strange. The part number 90261372719 doesn't show up in the database. Did I read that wrong?

  4. #4
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    Quote Originally Posted by wludavid
    Strange. The part number 90261372719 doesn't show up in the database. Did I read that wrong?
    It looks to me like the part number is 1372719. I never checked that, so I don't know.
    1977 Ford Bronco -- 1983 DMC DeLorean -- 1990 BMW 325i
    1970 International Scout 300A -- 1980 Chevy Citation -- 1992 Ford F150 -- 2001 Dodge Ram 2500 -- 2008 Honda Shadow


  5. #5
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    BMW part numbers have 11 digits, afaik.

  6. #6
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    Yeah, that's the right part number. That is strange. Do you have any idea what the relay is for? Justin, do you have this relay under your dash?
    -Chris
    My e30 build thread/color change here

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by heifetz17
    Yeah, that's the right part number. That is strange. Do you have any idea what the relay is for? Justin, do you have this relay under your dash?
    Probably. I don't want to tear it apart just to look though.
    1977 Ford Bronco -- 1983 DMC DeLorean -- 1990 BMW 325i
    1970 International Scout 300A -- 1980 Chevy Citation -- 1992 Ford F150 -- 2001 Dodge Ram 2500 -- 2008 Honda Shadow


  8. #8
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    Maybe its a bomb....don't cut the green wire!

  9. #9
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    Don't remove it, or else your parents / the government won't be able to track you anymore.

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  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by Nihilator
    Don't remove it, or else your parents / the government won't be able to track you anymore.

    --Chris
    Did they make e30's in '92? Pretty nice ride.

    Justin, just pop out 3 bolts and drop the kick panel and look up for the relay. It's a 5 min. procedure at most...
    -Chris
    My e30 build thread/color change here

  11. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by heifetz17
    Did they make e30's in '92? Pretty nice ride.

    Justin, just pop out 3 bolts and drop the kick panel and look up for the relay. It's a 5 min. procedure at most...

    Yes, the E30 was made in 92. Remember that 318i in the parking lot of the dorms? That is a 318i with a 5-speed manual and a 4 banger powering it. Yes, it is a 4-banger!
    1977 Ford Bronco -- 1983 DMC DeLorean -- 1990 BMW 325i
    1970 International Scout 300A -- 1980 Chevy Citation -- 1992 Ford F150 -- 2001 Dodge Ram 2500 -- 2008 Honda Shadow


  12. #12
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    It's only 1.8 liters. That's a four banger, right?
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    My e30 build thread/color change here

  13. #13
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    Just a guess, but I've ssen a similar one behind my knee bolster. If it's mounted along the steering column it looks like the turn signal indicator. Can't guess what the connection to the gong would be.

  14. #14
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    That's what I thought it might be, but the turn signals still work when I take the relay out.
    -Chris
    My e30 build thread/color change here

  15. #15
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    I could go look it up in the bentley but eh. I hypothesize its purpose is to be left the hell alone.

  16. #16
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    It's the appendix of the E30! It's there but useless.

  17. #17
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    Quote Originally Posted by heifetz17
    It's only 1.8 liters. That's a four banger, right?
    yes
    1977 Ford Bronco -- 1983 DMC DeLorean -- 1990 BMW 325i
    1970 International Scout 300A -- 1980 Chevy Citation -- 1992 Ford F150 -- 2001 Dodge Ram 2500 -- 2008 Honda Shadow


  18. #18
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    Quote Originally Posted by heifetz17
    Did they make e30's in '92?
    Only convertibles.
    James

  19. #19
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    Not bringing back a dead thread for no reason... and I might be a little late on this one, but thats the relay for the seatbelt gong. It says "Gurt Zeitgerat" which lit. translated means "seatbelt timer". So therefore its for the timing of that gong you hear ( or don't ) when your seatbelt is off.

    It's nice to know german when you own a german car
    ...flieg wenn du fliegen kannst,
    lieb wenn du lieben kannst,
    weil du nie kriegst was du kriegen kannst...

    > Past bimmers ||| 86 325ix ||| 90 325ix ||| 91 318is *RIP* ||| 92 320is ||| 94 320is ||| 93 520iT ||| 89 M3 ||| 96 M3 *RIP* <
    "I would rather die on my feet, than live on my knees." "What good is freedom if we are afraid to follow our conscience?"

  20. #20
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    Quote Originally Posted by Verruckt
    Not bringing back a dead thread for no reason... and I might be a little late on this one, but thats the relay for the seatbelt gong. It says "Gurt Zeitgerat" which lit. translated means "seatbelt timer". So therefore its for the timing of that gong you hear ( or don't ) when your seatbelt is off.

    It's nice to know german when you own a german car
    Will all e30s have this relay? I've never heard a seatbelt gong go off before. Or maybe my relay is just fried already

  21. #21
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    No idea if all E30s have this relay, I can't even look up the P/N. I have seen E30s with a seat belt gong though before, odds are it could easily be dead.

    IIRC it was actually a requirement for US Spec BMWs to have a seatbelt gong or some type of alarm if you seat belt wans't on. Right now I'm actually going through the hassle of trying to put one in my car as I need it so I can get my car back to the states.
    ...flieg wenn du fliegen kannst,
    lieb wenn du lieben kannst,
    weil du nie kriegst was du kriegen kannst...

    > Past bimmers ||| 86 325ix ||| 90 325ix ||| 91 318is *RIP* ||| 92 320is ||| 94 320is ||| 93 520iT ||| 89 M3 ||| 96 M3 *RIP* <
    "I would rather die on my feet, than live on my knees." "What good is freedom if we are afraid to follow our conscience?"

  22. #22
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    Gurt Zeitgerat

    Apologies for bring this thread back from the dead, I pulled the panel to replace a accelerator cable at the gas pedal and found this relay hanging down. Thanks to this thread I know what the relay is for, question is does the relay just hang there or is it supposed to fasten somewhere? It looks like the metal connectors on the side of the relay have broke off so it's zip tie time. Any one mess with this thing before?

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