Zero80M5

Guys, need your help. I have a 2008 M5.

I'm installing an Escort 9500i radar detector. I know there's a great thread in this forum about tapping into the power line inside the sunroof control console. But I'm in a slightly different situation.

I have my detector mounted high on the window near the passenger's sun visor. I want to use a concealed display (Escort's Direct-Wire SmartCord). Currently, I have the line connected to the detector and it runs along the top edge of the ceiling (near the front windshield) to the driver side a-pillar. It then runs inside the a-pillar cover to the dash at which point it goes into the side of the dash and comes out under the steering wheel. All of this is pretty clean and there's no visible wiring.

I have the concealed display mounted under the start ignition button and this is where I want it to be. Now from the concealed display, I have a second line coming out which is the power line (it splits into a ground and a 12V line). I would prefer not to run this line back up through the dash/a-pillar/ceiling to the sunroof control console mainly because the wire is currently too short and I'd prefer not to gut it and extend the wire.

There must be an easy to access +12V switched line somewhere near the center console (near the shifter). I'm assuming there's one under the steering wheel somewhere, or behind the radio, or under the shifter, or in the side arm rest compartment, or under the driver's seat. The fuse box is somewhere near here as well, no? I tried to remove the panel under the steering wheel but I couldn't get it to pop off even after removing the 3 visible screws I saw so I stopped fussing with it.

Can someone point me to the easiest access +12V switched line near this location and let me know the color of the wire so I tap into the right spot? And I'm assuming any bare metal part of the frame is game for the ground wire, right?

I appreciate any and all help. Thanks!

bruce_miranda

There are hundreds of power lines there. Just on the other side behind the glove box is one of the main fuse boxes. You're sure to find something there.

Zero80M5

Yeah, I figured as much but unfortunately, I don't have a multi-meter nor any shop guides so I was hoping someone could point me to a particular colored wire in a particular location. I guess I'll just pick up a multi-meter on my way home tonight.

AlwynMike

If you are confident about taking out the centre console, then the cigar lighter/power socket has a switched supply. This has power and ground wires. There are a few posts on how to remove the centre console if you haven't done it before - its reasonably simple to do.

Mike

Zero80M5

Cool, thanks Mike!

Zero80M5

Hmm.. I've looked around. It looks like most of the instructions are for an older center console. I have a 2008 M5 and the brushed aluminum trim and surrounding area don't seem to work like the instructional PDFs I've found on this board. I was however able to get the sides of the center console off which now gives me the opportunity to pull my wire through to the passenger area. Then I guess I could pull the wire behind the glove compartment and buy one of those fuse extenders to tap into the fuse box.

I was also able to remove the bottom panel underneath my steering wheel. Right beneath the steering column, there are what looks like two plugs, one is larger than the other. Both have a bundle of wires coming out of them. Now if I could find a schematic of the wiring in that area and tap into one of those, I would have a pretty clean install.

Zero80M5

Here's a picture of what I'm seeing under the steering column. Can anyone help identify which of these is a 12v switched line? If this doesn't work, I guess I'll just run the line to the fuse box.

AlwynMike

Hmmmm.

I'd agree that all the posts about this are for the pre-LCi model.
I would exercise great care in choosing a wire without knowing where it goes to. You kit may take little current, but a most of the electrical systems in our cars are semiconductor controlled and don't like change. That's why I tend to go for a big user like a cigar lighter that I know I'm not going to utilise to it's full extent. Do you have a socket in the side of the glove box for the (usually non-existent) rechargeable torch??

Sorry, my diagrams don't feature the LCi models - I'll update my diagrams when (if) I get an LCi!!

Mike

Zero80M5

Hmm.. sounds like I should do the safe thing and go to the fuse box then. Yes, there's a rechargeable flashlight in the glove box. But if I'm going to go there, I might as well go to the fuse box, right?

Zero80M5

Alright, I've got the wiring put in clean from above the rear view mirror (detector) into the ceiling trim, down inside the a-pillar, through the left side of the dash, under the steering wheel and out to the ignition switch (where the concealed display is mounted) then back into the dash (through the trim on the left side of the center console) out to the passenger side (through the trim on the right side of the center console) and up behind the glove box into the fuse box. So far so good.

I wish I had a cleaner path to the passenger area but I'm not willing to take apart the entire dash. Maybe if I get ambitious later, I'll give that a try.

Now I just gotta take a trip down to the store to buy a tap for the fuse and I guess I'm all good. Question is which fuse to tap into. I guess it's trial and error from there.