First task was repinning the coil signal connector. Took a bit to figure out which repin key to use but otherwise pretty simple.

I next inserted the thin brown ground wire at pin 6. I had left several feet on it which I threaded through the corrugated loom.Easiest way was to first run heavier gauge wire (green in picture) sprayed with some silicon, then use that to fish the ground wire through

I then clipped the resistor from the older harness into the slot at the end of the channel (bmw, thanks for not designing that out!). Ran the lug end through the groove for the number 1 coil. Then I soldered the bare end of the resistor to the thin ground wire I had just run.

Next step was to test before closing it up. Aside from the two splices for the power connector, it looks pretty stock!

 

Now it was time to get it all into the car. Removed the old valve cover.

Attached the new cover using the valve cover gasket from the donor car which was in perfect condition. Amazing that it just worked. Bolted it down.

Plugged in the harness at the ECU and bolted to the valve cover. Pushed in the new coils (so much more satisfying than the bolt-in type!), and attached the now-three ground lugs. Attached the harness to the coils.

The next part was irritating. I wanted the vacuum hose to be plug and play, but of course it didn’t fit the hose connector on the new valve cover. I considered all the options I have seen online and decided to do the simplest.

I severed the connector at the top of the CCV vacuum hose that attached to the old cover and descended to the CCV. I attached a 2” stub of 3/4 vacuum line to the severed neck and used a hose clamp.

the other end of the hose clamp attached to the vacuum barb on the valve cover. About $1.50 in parts. See picture below:

I know some folks will facepalm the double ccv approach, but as I said the CCV is new, and this was clean.

Car runs great. No leaks. No smoke. Very low fuel trims. Mission accomplished!

 

Question - I read in some of the diys that folks were installing a different air distributor that had only one inlet. Any idea how to get that?

part number?

 

Maybe it’s the M56 one?

M56: RealOEM.com - Online BMW Parts Catalog
M54: RealOEM.com - Online BMW Parts Catalog

 

No I haven't but that old y intake fitting that attaches to the m54 manifold,fits the M56 valve cover side, so if you actually reverse the connection with the y towards you and cap that extra tip then attach the old CCV end to your near intake port (proximal)on the manifold your done, all you have to do is cap the far end intake port(distal) and cap the dip stick tube end cause if ever you have an xi,the mounting tabs are different than the M56 dip stick.

 

That's good to know!

 

When I did this, I just left the CCV hanging out like the garbage it is.

One thing I did see, is people running dual systems. The best method to me is to either cap off the back port, or do the Beech method and connect both. I figured that capping wouldn't change the amount of vacuum needed to actuate the rubber diaphragm inside the M56 cap, since you just need total vacuum.

 

I'm jealous, no pick and pull in Canada will have M56s, so we're kinda forced to pay for them on fleabay or from forums

 

@t.er-Me too, not all parts of USA have pick and pull, we don't have that in NJ we don't even pump our own gas,LOL and the junk yards here price their BMW parts like they are gold , am better off buying OEM.