Rear seat I-Drive controller , it is possible
01-18-2009, 05:53 AM
#1
Senior Members
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Denmark
Posts: 375
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: BMW e60 525IA 12/2003
Hi All 
Just another "crazy" mods
I have often been thinking , way can't we have a I-Drive controller in our arm-rest at the backseat like the can have in the 7 series , BMW say's NO , not possible ! , only for 7 serie !.
So I was wondering
, can I make this myself 
, and YES it is possible , tak a I-Drive controller from a E90 etc. make some "heavy" altering to the controller and the armrest , and see , it can be done , toke my about 12 hour's , but then I also made extra light at the cupholder's at the same time , so now I'm still the "boss" when i'm sitting in the rearseat , and the wife is driving 
.
Take a look , here some pic. from the proces.
Just another "crazy" mods
I have often been thinking , way can't we have a I-Drive controller in our arm-rest at the backseat like the can have in the 7 series , BMW say's NO , not possible ! , only for 7 serie !.
So I was wondering
, can I make this myself , and YES it is possible , tak a I-Drive controller from a E90 etc. make some "heavy" altering to the controller and the armrest , and see , it can be done , toke my about 12 hour's , but then I also made extra light at the cupholder's at the same time , so now I'm still the "boss" when i'm sitting in the rearseat , and the wife is driving .Take a look , here some pic. from the proces.
01-18-2009, 05:58 AM
#2
Contributors
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: London, UK
Posts: 4,719
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes
on
3 Posts
My Ride: BMW E60 520d SE Saloon M47 2.0dTitanium Grey II, Grey−Dakota Leather, Visibility Package, Media Package, Through Load System, Lumbar support − fr seats, Automatic Air Conditioning−Advanced, High beam assistant, Hi−Fi Loudspeak
Model Year: 2006
Excellent stuff. I've always thought about this myself - not doing it in my car though but why BMW didn't offer this in places where these cars are consider luxurious and often have drivers for them with the owners sitting in the back.
So did you connect the new iDrive controller in parallel with the front one or do you have a switch that decides which controller is in action? What happens when both controllers are used together - who wins?
So did you connect the new iDrive controller in parallel with the front one or do you have a switch that decides which controller is in action? What happens when both controllers are used together - who wins?
01-18-2009, 06:05 AM
#4
Senior Members
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Denmark
Posts: 375
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: BMW e60 525IA 12/2003
Originally Posted by bruce_miranda' post='770722' date='Jan 18 2009, 03:58 PM
Excellent stuff. I've always thought about this myself - not doing it in my car though but why BMW didn't offer this in places where these cars are consider luxurious and often have drivers for them with the owners sitting in the back.
So did you connect the new iDrive controller in parallel with the front one or do you have a switch that decides which controller is in action? What happens when both controllers are used together - who wins?
So did you connect the new iDrive controller in parallel with the front one or do you have a switch that decides which controller is in action? What happens when both controllers are used together - who wins?
You just have to connect the one in the rear parallel to the one in the front ( 4 wire's , K_Can-bus H+L , constant power , and ground ) , so no switch , the one that have been activated at last win's , just the same as with your wife , who to get the last word win's
Hi
BenAnd
01-18-2009, 07:40 AM
#7
Senior Members
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Denmark
Posts: 375
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: BMW e60 525IA 12/2003
Originally Posted by AlexFW' post='770759' date='Jan 18 2009, 05:23 PM
Now the question is: why do you let your wife drive?
Easy to answer , she is a very skilled driver ( been on track-race more than one time
) , and here in Denmark we have very hard laws , when you have a drink or two ( and it's good so ) then you don't drive !!! , so I never drink more than my wife can drive me home 
Hi
I'd definitely want to do something like this.
01-18-2009, 08:29 AM
#9
Contributors
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: London, UK
Posts: 4,719
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes
on
3 Posts
My Ride: BMW E60 520d SE Saloon M47 2.0dTitanium Grey II, Grey−Dakota Leather, Visibility Package, Media Package, Through Load System, Lumbar support − fr seats, Automatic Air Conditioning−Advanced, High beam assistant, Hi−Fi Loudspeak
Model Year: 2006
Ok next question. If your wife is driving what's wrong with the passenger's seat?
01-18-2009, 08:34 AM
#10
Super Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: So. Cal (SFV)
Posts: 17,508
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes
on
3 Posts
My Ride: 2011.5 Alpine White E90 M3 | Black Novillo Leather | Carbon Fiber Leather Trim | ZCP | ZP2 | M-DCT | Navigation | Moonroof | 6FL Mods: TMS 12.5mm spacers all around l Hawk HPS Brake Pads l OEM M3 Edition Grills l Paint Matched Side Gills l Key Hole D
Great Mod and excellent write up 
it's hard enough to have a back seat driver, but controlling everything else from the back seat
J/K 
it's hard enough to have a back seat driver, but controlling everything else from the back seat
J/K