German model (anti theft) engine imobiliser

[rodyrodriguez]

I have an E30 1985 BMW 325i four-door, German version. Although I love the car, there are a few electrical differences between this model and the North American Model: different computer chip, factory anti theft engine immobilizer system and different emission control. Those differences can really become a headache when comes the time to fix an electrical problem.

The factory installed anti-theft immobilizer system (that is activated by a second key lock under the driver's door main lock) has a relay module (a square black box located on the driver's side under the headlight switch) that cuts the power going to the computer and the ignition.

Well this relay module has a faulty connection that cuts the power to the ignition once in a while, which shuts down the engine. This part is not available in North America and only in Germany for the sweet price of 550$!!!


Does any knowledgeable soul know if it is possible to by-pass this factory alarm to send power to ignition and the computer?

Since I never have used this immobilizer safety feature (I never had the key to operate it), I find it hard to justify paying 550$ for a black box that is not needed.

Rody H, Vancouver, Canada
[headbang]

 

[Wadula]

hi rody,

welcome aboard.

you say you have a factory installed immobilizer system that needs to be operated by key? just to get that right, you have to turn the key to get the system active? when you park the car and do not activate that system it does not engage?

if that is the case, someone owned you. the systems in germany work in a different way. you have immobilizer system that activates itself after you shut the car off. you need a key or magnetic plate to deactivate it. in the mid 90´s german insureres introduced this feature to prevent cars from theaft. a system that does not work automatically but manually does not fit that requirement and therewith would be useless. no ione in germany would have installed that, especially not factory wise.

from that point of view, i believe someone installed that himself. well, just go and get rid of it. i think that this lock is nothing but a switch that connects the power line. get rid of the switch and establish the permanent connection.

is the box inside or outside of the dashboard?

 

[echothreezero]

Not sure - should be easily bypasible as it is likely to be a simple cut-out switch in the circuit and not linked to the computer.

Wadula is not entirely correct in that some e30's did come with a factory immobiliser, but it was activated through the trip computer, and required a 4-digit password to deactivate.

My advice is to follow the wiring and see if you can physically bypass the whole thing. I presume that since you have found the part in Germany, it was a factory option, but if it was, I have never heard of it.

 

[Wadula]

really? then those were the last production runs right? I remember this code thing from other cars, but not stock wise...but okay, i stand corrected. thanks

 

[echothreezero]

I've seen one in a friends '87 Motorsport (You might know it as the 325is - in NZ it is known as a M325i - different of course to an M3 )

I have not got a trip computer in my car, so can't check mine, but my understanding is that it came as standard on the motorpsport/is cars. I will ask around.

Edit: OK, it wasn't an is/motorsport, it was a standard 325 (he has a m325 now which is why I was confused), and as far as he knows (the owner) all cars with the OBC had the immobiliser function as part of it.