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What's this plug for?

Posted: Fri Apr 30, 2021 12:15 am
by sh4ne
Bought a used e85, fairly rough shape, has aftermarket headlights installed. There is one of these 4-pin plugs hanging behind the front bumper, nothing I can see that it connects to. The other side has bare wire hanging (I assume another of this plug was there and ripped off).

Is it related to original headlights? Fog lights are also disconnected but these plugs don't match the 2-pin plug that those bulbs are...

What's this plug for?

Posted: Fri Apr 30, 2021 7:09 am
by davidmudley12
It looks like it could be the wiring to the horn, there are two horns on the Z4 on each side on the front bumper. It’s quite easy for them the wires to get damaged due to the amount of plastic in the area that gets destroyed with unsympathetic bumper removal and replacement.

I was in a similar position to you when I bought mine, the plastic splash guards were ripped to pieces and I reckon they were the reason why some wires were severed.

The other thing it might be is the temperature sensor, both plugs look similar, this is only found on the front right (as looking at the bumper from the front).

What's this plug for?

Posted: Sat May 01, 2021 1:49 am
by sh4ne
Thanks for the response!

I can confirm it's not for either horn, as I had to replace both (not functioning when I got the car due to corrosion/age) :|

Can also confirm that it's not the outside air temp sensor. Mine is there, and functioning, but dangling loose, as my shroud with hole is broken/missing unlike the photo you attached. :(

The mystery continues!

What's this plug for?

Posted: Sat May 01, 2021 11:13 am
by patriot66
sh4ne wrote: Fri Apr 30, 2021 12:15 am Bought a used e85, fairly rough shape, has aftermarket headlights installed. There is one of these 4-pin plugs hanging behind the front bumper, nothing I can see that it connects to. The other side has bare wire hanging (I assume another of this plug was there and ripped off).

Is it related to original headlights? Fog lights are also disconnected but these plugs don't match the 2-pin plug that those bulbs are...
You say your car has aftermarket headlights fitted, in which case I assume it has the Sonar 2Xcite kind. Now these are available either with or without electric motors for levelling the main beam. Look on the back of the headlight units to see if they have connector 2 in this photo. (Nearside light shown)
20210501_105707.jpg
20210501_105707.jpg (28 KiB) Viewed 436 times
This connector and the wires from it going into the light unit control the levelling motors. I suspect your headlights may not have these levelling motors and hence these connectors have been left redundant. Connector 1 is the main multi-pin connector for all the bulbs in the light unit itself :thumbsup:

What's this plug for?

Posted: Tue May 04, 2021 9:18 pm
by sh4ne
That must be it, patriot66! The leveling motors (the lack thereof) Thanks.

What's this plug for?

Posted: Tue May 04, 2021 11:16 pm
by patriot66
:thumbsup: