Easiest way through firewall (non M5) (with Pics)
#1
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Hello All -
So I was installing a Laser Jammer in my car day before yesterday, and I was confident I could find an easier way to get through the firewall than the trusty ECU pass through so many of you all use on here. I don't know about you guys, but running a "grabber" (aka sharpened wire hanger) through the grommet that has 8 year old wiring insulation - just doesn'T sit right with me, and a slip of the wrist or shoving it into the mass of wiring could be catastrophic for your wallet. So I did some digging and wa-la come to find out -- there is, making the firewall pass through about as easy and SAFE as a mid 90's Ford Ranger.
Please note for a lot of this stuff I didn't include pictures as I figure if you cannot figure out how to take out the in cabin air filter or the trey that holds it -- you should just pay someone to do it.
So once you've pulled off everything you need to on the drivers side of the car (pass side if you drive on the wrong side of the road) it should look like this:
![](http://i43.tinypic.com/29lixyu.jpg)
I'll point out on both sides of the firewall the grommet you can use to feed into the interior --
![](http://i41.tinypic.com/351ts05.jpg)
and on the interior drivers side --
![](http://i39.tinypic.com/ogjbe1.png)
So there, this is what I would do to get cabling from under the hood into the cabin of the car. Its easy, fast, and much safer than going frankenstein on the ECM boot with a razor blade and coat hanger.
Takes about 30 minutes start to finish.
So I was installing a Laser Jammer in my car day before yesterday, and I was confident I could find an easier way to get through the firewall than the trusty ECU pass through so many of you all use on here. I don't know about you guys, but running a "grabber" (aka sharpened wire hanger) through the grommet that has 8 year old wiring insulation - just doesn'T sit right with me, and a slip of the wrist or shoving it into the mass of wiring could be catastrophic for your wallet. So I did some digging and wa-la come to find out -- there is, making the firewall pass through about as easy and SAFE as a mid 90's Ford Ranger.
Please note for a lot of this stuff I didn't include pictures as I figure if you cannot figure out how to take out the in cabin air filter or the trey that holds it -- you should just pay someone to do it.
So once you've pulled off everything you need to on the drivers side of the car (pass side if you drive on the wrong side of the road) it should look like this:
![](http://i43.tinypic.com/29lixyu.jpg)
I'll point out on both sides of the firewall the grommet you can use to feed into the interior --
![](http://i41.tinypic.com/351ts05.jpg)
and on the interior drivers side --
![](http://i39.tinypic.com/ogjbe1.png)
So there, this is what I would do to get cabling from under the hood into the cabin of the car. Its easy, fast, and much safer than going frankenstein on the ECM boot with a razor blade and coat hanger.
Takes about 30 minutes start to finish.
Last edited by Gatriel; 08-02-2013 at 02:56 AM.
#3
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My Ride: 2008 535i LCI with sports/premium package, Sports trans with paddle shifters, CF emblems, JB4 Software, Dinan Exhaust, Navigation, M5Tech body kit, Carbon wrap interrior trim and CIC Controller.
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So, you removed the grommet and ran wire through, then reinstalled grommet? I struggled several weekends trying to go through the E box area and I was just too freaked out like you said to blindly drive a sharp device down amongst those wires so I kept putting off my radar det. install. A friend bought a modmynav unit and the instructions mentioned to go this way, but to actually create a hole in one of the boots/grommets. This is what I eventually did. I'm liking your idea better now though.
BTW, what kind of jammer did you get? I installed an old passport but turned off the jammer side. I was just a little nervous about this and here in SC it's illegal to interfere with the man! They will give you a ticket for this. I know a few highway patrols and was asking them about it and they both said "we know" if YOU have such a device! I guess the jammer causes them to receive an error which gives you time to slow down and reset and then when they hit you again with the laser everything is back up. They were telling be the only times they get errors is in this case. So I just turned in off... I would have left it on if it was a newer system though.
BTW, what kind of jammer did you get? I installed an old passport but turned off the jammer side. I was just a little nervous about this and here in SC it's illegal to interfere with the man! They will give you a ticket for this. I know a few highway patrols and was asking them about it and they both said "we know" if YOU have such a device! I guess the jammer causes them to receive an error which gives you time to slow down and reset and then when they hit you again with the laser everything is back up. They were telling be the only times they get errors is in this case. So I just turned in off... I would have left it on if it was a newer system though.
#5
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So I bought a Blinder HP-905 QUAD system.
Radar Detector & Laser Jammer Forum
I encourage you to go ahead and look into what is available. The Blinder HP-905 and Laser Interceptor are definitely worth it. The Escort ZR4 laser jammers are fairly worthless.
Radar Detector & Laser Jammer Forum
I encourage you to go ahead and look into what is available. The Blinder HP-905 and Laser Interceptor are definitely worth it. The Escort ZR4 laser jammers are fairly worthless.
#6
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My Ride: 2008 535i LCI with sports/premium package, Sports trans with paddle shifters, CF emblems, JB4 Software, Dinan Exhaust, Navigation, M5Tech body kit, Carbon wrap interrior trim and CIC Controller.
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Yes mine too. Are you planning to post up some pics of your install?
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