Retrofit cruise control

[oldcarman]

Wish my 97 was so simple @Dabiwallah. About a dozen pieces to search out and install! Bit of a pain in the A$$! But I need it due to a bad right knee so the accumulation continues! JIM

 

[Brian H]

Mission accomplished! Today I received the interface unit. I clicked both side in and went for a short test drive. And it works I should have known this 4 years ago that is was so easy. And the fact that is just works after plugging it in. It's not what you expect. I only have to place the foot well panels back in the weekend.

Thanks for all the input.

Glad you got it sorted, not many things in life are plug and play, but this is.

 

[staggerwing17]

It will work fine on your M52TU.. you need the control stalk and the little module.. take off the steering cowling and you will see a pre-cast aperture on the inside of the moulding which you need to carefully dremmel out (the control lever/stalk goes on the right hand side of the column directly underneath the wiper stalk) and there is a slot to slide the control stalk already there waiting. You then have to remove the under dash panel and locate the module plug on the loom which will be tucked away somewhere around the pedal box (some find it really easy to find and others spend ages locating it) and then the module plugs into the loom and the other end plugs into the control stalk and away you go. I was fortunate to have another owner fit mine whilst I watched as I'm not that clever although having watched the process I could probably fumble my way through it. Good luck and let us know how you get on.. it was the best bang for the buck mod on my car and I love it!!

Hello Alan! I recently purchased a 1999 BMW Z3 2.3 VIN 4USCH9337XLF82829 with, I assume, the M52TUB25 Double Vanos engine and also, I assume, the Getrag 5sp manual. I gathered all the parts to retrofit cruise control using the actuator motor/bracket/Bowden cable in the engine bay and the VDO box/clutch switch/control stalk. I looked in the engine bay and found a throttle cable but could not imagine how a Bowden cable and actuator would connect/fit. So another afternoon of reading about this fabulous car on various forums and I think this thread contains my answer to the question, "is the cruise control on my car activated by a separate cable and actuator motor or is there indeed a motor on the M52TU throttle body that can override the cable for ASC and cruise control and thus I need only the control stalk and the small control unit that installs under the steering column (OEM BMW Z3 99-02 Cruise Control FCR Interface Module Computer Unit 65718380054)?

After scouring the forums, I believe that I need only the control stalk and the Interface Module Computer Unit 65718380054. Is this correct? I am hoping it is because I found that interface module on eBay for $45 and ordered it.

Please let me know if I am headed in the right direction and to all of you contributors on this forum, thank you for all of the highly useful and educational threads!

 

[NZ00Z3]

You are correct, all you need is the stalk and the control module.

 

[staggerwing17]

You are correct, all you need is the stalk and the control module.

Woohoo! Murray thank you for the lightning quick reply and the confirmation of my assumptions!!

 

[tater82801]

I have tried to install cruise on my 99 z3 2.5L but can’t get it to work. Got the module and switch installed but no go. Someone on another forum said I need more parts for the M52 that I think I have but not sure what. Production date on car is 9-98, I’m unsure how to identify which model engine I have by looking at it and con decoders I have found haven’t given squat.
Should I contact bmw for a factory diagram on the system to determine what I may or may not have?

 

[NZ00Z3]

To have a 2.5L Z3, you must be in the USA? The engine will be the M52TUB25. To add cruise control all you typically need is the stalk and module. But I think you're in the USA and things are different over there.

Does your car have a manual transmission? If so, you need to add a clutch switch. There will already be one for the "Push the clutch to start the car" function that you have to have in the USA. You need to add the clutch switch that tells the DME that you have just started to push the clutch, as in change gear. This is needed to disengage the cruise control, so that the engine does not over rev.

Item 12 in here: https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showparts?id=CH93-USA-08-1999-Z3-BMW-Z3_25&diagId=66_0052

Get the wiring diagrams for your car, they are build date dependent. They are in the "Resources" section of this forum. See the blue ribbon at the top of your screen. Page 2.

In the back of the wiring diagrams there are parts location photos. You're looking for S32 Clutch switch. The wiring connector will be bound up in the wiring loom near by.

The need to add the S32 clutch switch is a USA Z3 issue only. There is confirmation that it's needed for the M52TU engines. Yet to have confirmation for the M54 engines.

The Euro Z3's come with the switch already fitted. My UK Z3 with M52TU engine already had the clutch switch fitted.

 

[tater82801]

I am in the US, very good observation on that, did not realize the differences in the car between countries. That’s good info, thanks for that. I am ordering that switch now, so will keep you updated when I get it and install it. Again, thank you for the quick answer and for the knowledge you’re passing along. I’m new to the roadster world- we bought this about a month ago ( bought a convertible -in Wyoming -in March ) and have been really having fun. Went through Yellowstone last weekend and put the top down even though there was snow all around. It was upper 40’s F so comfortable enough. Pictures attached of our trip.

 

[gookah]

I have tried to install cruise on my 99 z3 2.5L but can’t get it to work. Got the module and switch installed but no go. Someone on another forum said I need more parts for the M52 that I think I have but not sure what. Production date on car is 9-98, I’m unsure how to identify which model engine I have by looking at it and con decoders I have found haven’t given squat.
Should I contact bmw for a factory diagram on the system to determine what I may or may not have?

check you do not have LED bulbs in the brake lights (in the two light clusters)
LED bulbs stop cruise control from working.
Ask me how I know...