I have an '06 530i that did not come with the premium package. The only options I really missed were the HomeLink garage door opener and the auto dim on the mirror. After much searching and researching on this forum, many others and calls to dealerships, etc., I bought the mirror (part no. 51167028444) and was hoping it would be a plug and play install. I intalled the mirror in about 5 minutes and the plugs matched and I was extremely pleased at how simple it was. After powering the car up, I learned that the only thing that worked was the alarm light (clown nose). After more research, I learned that I apparently needed a retrofit wiring harness (part no. 61120140175) which I have ordered but haven't received. It appears to be quite a long wire (with one plug) that I'm guessing goes all the way to the fuse box (routed through the headliner down a roof pillar to behind the glove box. According to the dealers, it comes with no instructions. The other retrofit wiring kits I have found for other models all seem to be short and just replace the plug and go as far as the map light area just behind the rearview mirror (at least on the 3 series).

Has anyone done the install I am attempting that can shed some light on an easy way to get this done? I'm pretty handy and don't mind tackling the job, but I want to do it as easily and quickly as possible and certainly don't want to do anything that would void my warranty or screw something else up. The dealers have told me that no computer re-programing is necessary and some have even told me that the retrofit wire isn't necessary. Could that mean that the mirror I got is bad? I bought it on Ebay from a dealer as a new car take-off for someone that wanted the compass. Please help if you can. I'm a newbie to the forum, but have owned BMW's in the past, and now have the 530i and a 325i. Thanks!!

 

try this thread

http://forums.e60.net/index.php?showtopic=4011&st=45

it's the last page of it...it is also referred to as "dipping mirror"

seems member dirk was able to get it going...

GL

 

Its been done and is a easy retrofit.

 

It looks like Dirk's vehicle may not have been an E60 and I suspect not wired the same way.

 

tru, read thru the whole thread, seems member hobi was able to help out...GL

 

Bruce - can you give me any pointers or direct me to a thread that can? Thanks.

 

I read the whole thread. Hobi obviously knew what he was doing but it looks like he must be
an electrical engineer or the like. Surely there's some member that has done this that can provide
some instructions in laymans terms!! I'll tackle just about anything if I understand the instructions,
but that PDF blew a gasket in my noodle. Unfortuantely my degree is in business, so my motivation
is to save a buck, but unfortunately I'm not able to read wiring diagrams... HRMPHHH!!!

Someone please help!!! I'll be picking up the retrofit wiring harness from my dealer tomorrow and will be
wanting to install it soon. Thanks again!

 

Bump - No one has ever done this??

 

i did this mod as well. It was plug and play for me since i already had the home link and wanted to add the compass option as well. SO no retro wire needed in this case. However with the very basic mirror I can see how a cable would need to be ran to have it work affectivily. GL