E21? Style Distributor Cap Goes on 2002?

[andyleonard]

We are getting ready to run the 1600 and found a box with some nice blue plug wires we want to use. They however have the tiny press-on connectors on the cap end and not the normal 2002 ones. So I'm guessing they're from a late E21 or maybe something later.

 

What cap do I order to fit an 008 distributor and use these wires?

 

Can I get an E21 cap and make the notch for the 2002 locator tab? Or should I cut the wires and crimp on some ends?

 

Thanks,

 

A

 

 

 

 

[JohnS]

If my memory is correct, those stock blue wires for an E21 have resistors built into them and shouldn't be used on a 2002.

[andyleonard]

Aha. I'll check. Thanks.

[Blitzen]

If those Blue wires are NGK they will work very well on a m10 with the e21 cap.Again if they are NGK.

[andyleonard]

Well, the problem is the 320i cap is not compatible with the 2002 distributor, due to the locator tab. And the wires are not compatible with the 2002 cap.

 

Also the resistance between the subject 320i wires and some brand X black 2002 wires with stock ceramic connectors is substantial. Not sure what that means in real life.

[TobyB]

The 2002 distributors have 2 different style tabs- early cars have a sheet metal one that sticks up,

later ones have a notch cut in the body of the distributor, as does the E21.  I recall the clocking 

of the notch is the same on the 2002 and E21, but it's been a while.

 

t

[andyleonard]

I've got the metal tab sticking up on my 008 mechanical Tii distributor. Closer inspection reveals the caps, I guess comparing early 2002 to 81 320i, are actually slightly different depths too. Maybe the 320i rotor is a little taller? 

 

Sounds like I'm going to cut the cap plugs off the 320i wires and crimp some 2002-style connectors on there and get going.