Adding Cruise Control

Cathymac

Regular Member
British Zeds
Joined
Aug 14, 2022
Points
19
Location
Leicestershire
Model of Z
2.0 Roadster automatic
Hi everyone.

I have a 2.0 automatic from April 2000 and I’m considering adding cruise control. From what I have found it seems an easy job to fit to a M52TUB20 engine. A Google search shows that…

To complete the retrofit, you only need a few original BMW parts:Cruise Control Stalk: (BMW Part Number: 61318360926) This is the physical lever that mounts to your steering column.Interface Module: (BMW Part Number: 65718380054) A small electronic box that translates the stalk movements for the car's computer. You can occasionally source a Genuine OEM Interface Module via eBay.

I don’t need the clutch switch as the car is an automatic.

Is the above correct, and is it as easy as it’s made out to be?

Final question, does anyone know where to source these other than ebay?

Many thanks for any assistance.
 
Hi everyone.

I have a 2.0 automatic from April 2000 and I’m considering adding cruise control. From what I have found it seems an easy job to fit to a M52TUB20 engine. A Google search shows that…

To complete the retrofit, you only need a few original BMW parts:Cruise Control Stalk: (BMW Part Number: 61318360926) This is the physical lever that mounts to your steering column.Interface Module: (BMW Part Number: 65718380054) A small electronic box that translates the stalk movements for the car's computer. You can occasionally source a Genuine OEM Interface Module via eBay.

I don’t need the clutch switch as the car is an automatic.

Is the above correct, and is it as easy as it’s made out to be?

Final question, does anyone know where to source these other than ebay?

Many thanks for any assistance.
Hi Cathymac
I hafitted cruise control to my m52b28tu manual. It probably took 40 minutes start to finish and was totally plug and play. Obviously I had the clutch switch to fit as well.
Have a look at my thread “Mikes retrofit cruise …..” under the Progress threads.

It is a fairly basic Cruise Control - you can click it on from 20mph and above, but there is no icon to show what you have set it at.
 
Hi Cathymac
I hafitted cruise control to my m52b28tu manual. It probably took 40 minutes start to finish and was totally plug and play. Obviously I had the clutch switch to fit as well.
Have a look at my thread “Mikes retrofit cruise …..” under the Progress threads.

It is a fairly basic Cruise Control - you can click it on from 20mph and above, but there is no icon to show what you have set it at.
Hi MickyG

Thanks for your reply. It was helpful to have you confirm it really is easy to install due to it being plug and play. Remarkably, I can get the new parts from a BMW main dealer for cheaper than eBay.
 
You are correct in saying you dont need to fit the clutch pedal switch but you will have to fit the clutch switch bypass to complete the circuit i haseen them on ebay from time to time and they are a fortune for essentially a loop if wire i would nake a diy one personally.
Stephen.
 
Many thanks Steve. I saw yesterday that I may need that as some cars don’t have it included.
 
The biggest uncertainty for me was finding the right blank plugs in the Z3s generic loom that seem to have several blank plugs all over the place for every extra option available on a Z3.

If you don’t have the physical clutch switch to help you identify the correct plug you are looking for, have a good look at a photo of a clutch switch first. The clutch plug will be tucked up into a loom within 15-20cm of your brake pedal.
If you want to keep you car standard, you could fit a standard clutch switch (<£10 on EBay) and tape it closed, making it a cheap reliable loop, and hide it out of sight.
 
My kit cost : £230

EBay UK - New
Clutch switch £12.50
Control module £128

Ebay USA
Cruise control stalk - used £90 delivered
(they are not handed)
They are very common in USA so be selective - look for one that has been well looked after - icons are clear.
 
hi
Do you mind letting me know what BMW charge for the parts, as I’m interested in fitting this to.
many thanks
Dan
Hi Dan
I see you have a 2.8 it will depend on whether you have the earlier single vanos engine or the later twin vanos version and if manual or auto what parts you will need i have a list of all part numbers required in the house will post up when i get home.
Stephen.
 
I fitted cruise to my manual 2.2i with an M54 engine. I don't recall fitting a clutch switch. Is it different for the M54? The job was easy in all bar one respect and that was finding the connector that's buried in the bandage around the large multi-cable loom 'artery' under the dash. It's there because the looms are largely universal, but it is hidden better than an Epstein email to Mandelson!
 
You are correct in saying you dont need to fit the clutch pedal switch but you will have to fit the clutch switch bypass to complete the circuit i haseen them on ebay from time to time and they are a fortune for essentially a loop if wire i would nake a diy one personally.
Stephen.

Hi Stevo7682.
i meant to ask where I find the sockets for the clutch switch bypass. One diagram I saw vaguely located it near the coolant reservoir. Do you happen to know please?

Many thanks, Cathy
 
Last edited:
Hi Stevo7682.
i meant to ask where I find the sockets for the clutch switch bypass. One diagram I saw vaguely located it near the coolant reservoir. Do you happen to know please?

Many thanks, Cathy
It will be somewhere around where the clutch pedal would have been.
Stephen
 
Thank you for the information several of you gave me about installing the cruise control. The only problem I am having is finding the connector that plugs from the car wiring loom to the interface module. This is what I see when I have removed the plastic trims ...
IMG_6012.webp


The plug I am looking for is for plugging into this connector on the interface module.
IMG_6013.webp

Any advice about where the connector may be hiding please? Also there doesn't appear to be any spare plugs available for the clutch bypass switch.

Maybe my varifocals aren't helping or I'm just being stupid.
 
They will be there get a torch in there hunt back along the looms it will be taped back out of the way somewhere.
Stephen.
 
Steve is right - it will be there: but they are wrapped inside one of the big loom runs and not immediately obvious. You may/will have to unwrap the bigger loom near the pedals to find the plug hidden out of the way.
 
Ah ok MickyG. I’ll have a rummage in that big loom right at the back. Thank you.
 
I added cruise to my 3 litre about 4 years ago. The connector is a bugger to find but it will be in there.
 
I agree with all those who said it's hard to find. Clear your diary for a week afterwards so you can recover from the backache without creeping around in front of your peers looking like a ninety year old! Oh, and get some Elastoplast in stock! Your knuckles will suffer if you have skin like mine - tissue paper is more durable.
 
I guess it is possible/probable you might find the clutch switch plug first! …… but as has been noted you will have to complete the circuit through this with a loop of some kind anyway.

To avoid lying headfirst in the footwell with your legs stuck up on the air (as I did!) you could remove the drivers seat (you can leave the seat belt connected but will need to disconnect the airbag sensor cable and electric seat plugs if fitted ), but be warned it is heavy and may cause just as much back pain 😳 😂 - and lead to possible issues with your airbag sensor dash light if you try to reconnect it before you reconnect the battery (ask me how I know!😤🙁).
 
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