I would like to thank everyone who has pitched in some $$$ into this crazy v12 idea. 8 months after I first found it for sale, I own this engine and it's now at my garage.
VIN wbagk232xwdh69849
This bundle has a 5HP30 transmission looks like 88 Pin TCM.
Remaining fuses:
F18 gauge cluster
F22 trans control unit
F23 gauge cluster
F24 ECU
F26 gauge cluster & immo
F27 OBD-II
F40 diag connector
F41 gear indicator light
All this is rolling on 1200lbs With Top Plate & Bearing Heavy Duty On Red Polyurethane Wheels
Re: 1998 BMW V12 engine M73
Posted: Sun Oct 06, 2019 10:10 pm
by stefanst
Holy S&%t!
Congratulations.
Re: 1998 BMW V12 engine M73
Posted: Sun Oct 06, 2019 10:38 pm
by AndreyB
pre-purchase inspection this morning engine was starting, gauge cluster was showing some red and orange lights around 1:28
current status: no lights on gauge cluster, no cranking - only cluster back light, so there is SOME electricity in the wires
Re: 1998 BMW V12 engine M73
Posted: Sun Oct 06, 2019 10:56 pm
by AndreyB
And it has started! it's about f&%king with the key just right...
Which is a f&%king scary thing since that's about security
Re: 1998 BMW V12 engine M73
Posted: Mon Oct 07, 2019 7:32 am
by puff
!congrats!
Re: 1998 BMW V12 engine M73
Posted: Mon Oct 07, 2019 5:45 pm
by mk e
Nice!
Engine like that are big and heavy though so I suggest you put in a miata straight away to roll it a round...On a dolly, I meant put it on a dolly straight away
Re: 1998 BMW V12 engine M73
Posted: Mon Oct 07, 2019 10:53 pm
by AndreyB
VIN decoder says this car was BMW 317, Orient Blue Metallic / ORIENTBLAU METALLIC (317) - so, it's not black like in the national hit movie, but it's the right model!
First funny ha-ha moment: there is some metal oil canister on the side, so for transportation we've used some metal wire to hook-up this canister to some random bolt on the engine.
Next thing I've connected battery and attempted to start engine.
What did we use to mount oil canister? We've used spare positive terminal to mount whatever canister with a piece of steel wire.
Re: 1998 BMW V12 engine M73
Posted: Tue Oct 08, 2019 9:55 am
by Simon@FutureProof
The transmission is the same Bosch 88pin plug as the ECU. (good source of cheap 88pin ecu side plugs as they are hard to get).
You might be able to get away with using the transmission ECU from a 530/540 or 740 v8, as far as I am aware it is nearly identical but check the ETK.
The unit comes up as unique but it may just be the tuning.
I can dig if you want?
Edit - Did a check, the control valve setup in the transmission is shared with the M62 V8 in the 540 and 740 so a transmission ECU from one of those should work. http://bmwfans.info/parts-catalog/24341423761/
Manual transmissions for these are tricky, best options are conversion plates to take ZF boxes from the 530 diesel.
My bundle included complete steering column, good thing I've realized that I probably have steering angle sensor there before I threw it all away!
One day I will find out what is that sensor wired to, but for now I am in the world of custom fan removal tools Need to put A/C compressor back on the car to get water pump running. Considering how many little things I have to fix I've created a separate tracking project for that.
First order of business is getting coolant circulating, maybe also start building a better rolling cart for the engine.
The steering angle sensor is for the DSC (Dynamic Stability Control) system -- ABS that figures out which direction you wanted to head. It hooks to the K-line diagnostic wire but does most of its reporting over CAN bus.
The data used only by the DSC control module.
IIRC, the 7 series DSC had an enhancement that provided steering input/feedback through the power steering rack to help a driver avoid over-steer. But that's probably unrelated to the upper steering column.
First order of business is getting coolant circulating, maybe also start building a better rolling cart for the engine.
If only you had something good and sturdy that could hold the engine, radiator, move it around the shop....oh and maybe allow some load testing......hmmmm.....how to design such a thing......
Re: 1998 BMW V12 engine M73
Posted: Fri Oct 11, 2019 2:13 am
by AndreyB
Rolling engine crate, $130.
Re: 1998 BMW V12 engine M73
Posted: Fri Oct 11, 2019 4:27 am
by AndreyB
Fuel filter was made in June of 1998. Car seems to have 170,000 miles - I think the fuel filter did good.
Re: 1998 BMW V12 engine M73
Posted: Fri Oct 11, 2019 8:56 am
by kb1gtt
One step closer to showing up these folks?
Re: 1998 BMW V12 engine M73
Posted: Sat Oct 12, 2019 7:03 am
by AndreyB
Looks like radiator is leaking That's a bummer. Wow, cheapest one is $60 shipped that's a surprise. 17111702969
Engine is still starting, tachometer is working but engine does not rev. That's pretty scary, maybe ECU is in some limping mode
But first I really need to cut a lot of wires. Need to find diagrams of these relay and fuse blocks.
Oh, and at some point I would need to mount some mufflers for sure.
F5 horn
F6 general module
F7 heater & radio
F8 passenger door
F11 Heating and A/C control unit
F12 Passenger Seat motors
F13 Steering column adjustment
F14 Rear headrest control unit
F15 driver sear
F21 Closed-circuit current cut-off etc
F28 rear lid, antenna
F29 general module
F30 heated front screen
F31 locks
F32 heating blower
F33 ABS control unit
F47 ??? multi information display & coil spring
F107 secondary injection
F108 ABS control unit
K4
K72 Closed-circuit current cut-off - Seat/steering column memory
If you know the German/English translation of colors...the wire color abbreviations become easier to interpret
braun BR = brown
blau BL = blue
rot RT = red
gelb GE = yellow
grau GR = gray
schwarz SW = black
weiss (weiß ) WS = white
grun GN = green
orange OR = orange
rosa RS = pink
violett VI = violet
1. Turn ignition to position 2, wait 3-5 seconds
2. Push the throttle pedal all the way down and activate kick down switch, hold it for 3-5 seconds
3. Let off the pedal completely, wait 3-5 seconds
4. Push the throttle pedal all the way down and activate kick down switch, hold it for 3-5 seconds
5. Let off the pedal completely, wait 3-5 seconds
6. Turn off ignition, wait at least 10 seconds.
Re: 1998 BMW V12 engine M73
Posted: Sun Oct 13, 2019 1:56 am
by AndreyB
Still no throttle response kick-down sensor mounted. It only has one wire, I've grounded mount point just in case it wants GND. With one wire is it VR? Hall? Magic?
I follow pedal adaptation procedure (see video) and yet engine still does not rev. Starts great! Zero throttle response
BMW electronics aren't known as being user friendly....my car (2011 328xi) starts and drives just fine but nearly every single dash warning light is on....I gave up trying to figure it out and will replace the car once the police on my commute realize how expired the inspection is because I don't know how to fix it.
I'd say you know the engine runs so why keep messing with that mess of wires? The plan is to hook it to you're ecu so stick to the plan and get t work turning that mess int a harness you can use.
Re: 1998 BMW V12 engine M73
Posted: Sun Oct 13, 2019 12:17 pm
by puff
Indeed, what's the purpose? You want to sniff the signals?
I'd suggest finding Haynes repair manual (if there is one for that car) - from my experience, it's the most extensive source of information.
As for the video, I'd say it was more than 5 seconds for each operation.
Have you checked your wiring? Do you see the signal change on the connector?
"Push the throttle pedal all the way down and activate kick down switch, hold it for 3-5 seconds"
On the video I don't see how kick down switch is activated...
I'd say you know the engine runs so why keep messing with that mess of wires?
If it's easy to fix I believe it's worth fixing. I would like to see the gearbox shifting and that probably required not just idle to see it shifting into more gears?
Re: 1998 BMW V12 engine M73
Posted: Sun Oct 13, 2019 5:13 pm
by AndreyB
This was just a mechanical switch - this engine is revving now!
Next step is to get transmission to spin the output shaft
Also funny how Lighting Control Module is required for cranking
Re: 1998 BMW V12 engine M73
Posted: Sun Oct 13, 2019 7:28 pm
by AndreyB
There is an opinion that the mechanical cable from the transmission selector should be connected to the transmission
I have the cable, I have #1 and #2 mounting hardware but I do not have the cable mounting bracket Starting to look for cable mounting bracket part number.
$90 for a paper manual It looks like people have scanned it and there is a .PDF but so far I am unable to find where to download it from.
paper manual for what ???
Re: 1998 BMW V12 engine M73
Posted: Wed Oct 16, 2019 2:04 pm
by Simon@FutureProof
For the Bentley E38 manual.
I tried to find a 750 ETM that covered the M73 but the only one I could find was a E32 (M70) or 850 one which does have the M73 and should be very similar but use with caution.
