Resetting indicators without tool...

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

I'm doing an oil "service" tonight on a '96 328ic. The oil service light has come on and I need to reset it, but don't have the tool. On my old E30 I could reset the indicators by grounding pin #10 with any wire and then turning the ignition key half way. Will this work on an E36? Thanks.

Jared at Pelican Parts · 10-16-2002, 08:49 AM

You learn something new every day. I didnt know you could reset the light that way.

I don't know if this would work on the E36. I'm going to assume that it's probably not a good idea to try it. The service connector is also different on the E36, so the terminal pins wont be in the same location as your old E30.

I would get a hold of a Bentley manual and check the wiring diagrams, if you have a good understanding of elecrticity, I imagine it would be pretty simple to figure this one out.

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

I've been thinking a lot about this today. In shopping for the reset tool, the descriptions I've seen say that the same tool works for all 3 series from '82-'99. So it looks like they are the same in that area of wiring. I don't know why my trick wouldn't work. I learned it from a BMW shop years ago, which I think has moved. If I call other shops, I'm sure they're gonna say they've never done it without the tool and won't know how to bypass it.

Jared at Pelican Parts · 10-16-2002, 09:32 AM

Actually, where did you see that in the site? There are two different tools for this. We've been working hard on our new updated BMW site, fixing a lot of things. It should read 1988-99. We have the correct tool for your car. They list for $49.95

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

I saw it on eBay and there's NEVER inaccurate info on eBay.

Wayne 962 · Wayne 962's Garage

I have heard that too - Tom (at Pelican) knows this too. However, for the E36 (OBD I or II?) I would hestitate to ground the wires. The code reader is such an important tool that I don't think it's worth risking grounding the wrong wires. The tool should have come as standard equipment on the cars...

-Wayne

umnitza · 10-16-2002, 02:09 PM

it's pin #7 and yes, a simple copper cable works.

mike944 · 10-17-2002, 01:15 PM

Guys,

http://home.earthlink.net/~r_tech/cars/service_indicator_reset.htm

i've used this myself, and it seems to work just fine ('94 325i)

Mike

Jared at Pelican Parts · 10-17-2002, 01:22 PM

Wow,

learn something new every day. Thanks for the information.

stemeyda · 10-20-2002, 02:55 PM

I did some research on the 1996 328i convertable and found this link:

www.unofficialbmw.com/e36/electrical/e36_reset_service_lights.html

I did it with a lead off a mutli-meter (just a straight wire) and it worked great. Ground Pin #7 (they are numbered) for between 3 and 11 seconds depending on what you are wanting to do.

3 seconds is the oil
11 seconds is for a checkup.

Note the ignition must be in position 2 (just before it turns over) for it to work.

The first person sends me a message that I screwed up their car, I will say ahead of time... Please try this at your own risk...
I can just tell you it worked for me!!! :-) and many other people from the looks of it.

I realize there may be a lot of people out there that may get angry at this because they are trying to sell tools but that's life.

Information is power....

Wayne 962 · Wayne 962's Garage

Not a big deal - I don't recommend the reset tool anyways. The tool that you need is the code reader, which has the reset tool built in. This is good information, but if someone is sloppy, they may mess up their electronics...

-Wayne