BMW E46 MS42 to MS43 Cluster Indicator Plug and Play Adapter

One of the most popular methods, largely known from O’LearysGenuineBMW’s YouTube video, of converting an E46 from the MS42 DME to the MS43 DME is to modify and reuse the original MS42 Engine Wire Harness rather than swapping to an MS43 Engine Wire Harness; which will also either need to be modified or use an adapter to plug in since the X6011 connector, that goes between the engine wire harness and chassis harness, is different on the MS42 (2-pin) and MS43 (8-pin).

During the process of converting to MS43 and reusing the original MS42 engine wire harness, there are four wires that need to be connected from the DME X60003 connector on the engine harness to the DME X60004 connector on the chassis harness for the battery charge indicator, oil level indicator, oil pressure indicator, and starter feedback signal. The MS42 DME connects these pins internally, while the MS43 DME doesn’t and routes these wires through the larger 8-pin X6011 connector.

This adapter allows you to connect these four wires together without having to cut or splice any of the original wires while still allowing you to unplug and completely remove the engine harness, as well as being able to revert back to the original form if needed; whereas if you splice these wires together you will be cutting the wires and joining the engine harness to the chassis harness.

Installation Instructions:

• With both X60003 and X60004 unplugged from the DME, slide the inner black and gray pieces out of the cover with the lever lock.
• Depin the following wires from the DME X60003 Connector on the engine harness and insert them into one of the loose 4-pin Black Plugs:
  • Pin 13, Blue, to Pin 1
  • Pin 12, Black/Green, to Pin 2
  • Pin 26, Brown/Green, to Pin 3
  • Pin 39, Gray/Brown, to Pin 4
• Depin the following wires from the DME X60004 Connector on the chassis harness and insert them into the other loose 4-pin Black Plugs:
  • Pin 1, Blue, to Pin 1
  • Pin 2, Black/Green, to Pin 2
  • Pin 11, Brown/Green, to Pin 3
  • Pin 21, White/Green, to Pin 4
• Confirm that when you line up these new connectors to the small jumper harness you have the following colors:
  • Blue – Blue – Blue
  • Black/Green – Black – Black/Green
  • Brown/Green – Brown – Brown/Green
  • Gray/Brown – White – White/Green
• Press the locking tab on the two plugs down and plug them into the jumper harness.
• Reassemble X60003 and X60004 and plug them back into the DME (these will only go back together one way).