Relays in fuse box

T.Hanson · Post by **T.Hanson** » Thu Aug 02, 2012 4:41 pm

Are all the relays in the fuse box (top of driver side front fender) the same ?

I've accumulated a pile from parts cars. Now that I'm learning wiring, I notice blue, gray, orange, anodized gold, black plastic may have different numbers, but the pins and little numbers by the pins are all the same.

I.e., fuses are white, red, blue for different amps. The relays appear to be the same. Yes, no.

Thank you,

Jeff Dennis · Post by **Jeff Dennis** » Thu Aug 02, 2012 8:27 pm

I'm no expert but I think bmw uses common numbers for the input / output function 30, 87, 86, 85 there was a post in the last week with a link that describes this and my E30 is the same. The post was about the combo relay / dual relay. Here is that link from woody6's post.

http://www.ratwell.com/technical/DoubleRelay.html

themilkguy · Post by **themilkguy** » Thu Aug 02, 2012 9:53 pm

The relays on my 520 are all the same. 4-pin, 30/85/86/87.

Power across 85/86 closes the relay and sends 12V across 30&87.

I can't seem to upload the scan I have from my Bentley, but if you pm me your email address I'll send you the schematic of the fusebox section.

I've been going through my electrics too (but there's a lot less to my car), I have 4 relays - High Beam, Low Beam, Horn, and Relief. 5 if you count the empty slot for Fog Lamps.

Cheers,
Craig

T.Hanson · Post by **T.Hanson** » Thu Aug 02, 2012 10:19 pm

Imagine my not being able to read. That's where I am with learning wiring.

The hard part about being that ignorant is, very few others are. Finding friends patient enough, with the time to teach, is close to impossible. Reading things to learn is difficult. People who write have no idea how confusing their attempts are to a total beginner.

Oh well. It's my problem.