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2Addicts | BMW 2-Series forum Technical Topics DIY and Coding Discussions M235i V1 Radar Hardwire Install - 30 minutes - EASY

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      06-18-2015, 10:54 AM   #1
alexc93
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M235i V1 Radar Hardwire Install - 30 minutes - EASY

So Tuesday night after picking up my m235i I decided to tackle the hardwire radar install as quick as possible. This method is much easier than the fuse tapping method.

DISCLAIMER: Pictures are taken from other threads I used to help me along the way!

Step 1:

Disconnect battery in trunk. Leave trunk open or you will be locked out from accessing your battery.

Step 2:

Remove black the trim on the sunroof panel cluster

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Step 3:

With a small pocket screwdriver, press the retaining tab while slightly pulling on sunroof module and work out of place. There are (2) retaining tabs on opposite sides. You will have to wiggle in

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Step 4:

Let the sunroof module hang down still attached to all the wire bundles.

Step 5:

Using your ground wire (black wire on V1 Hardwire kit with metal clip at the end), attach this to 1of the 2 silver hex bolts inside the now open area. Sorry I don't have a picture of this but its the only 2 silver hex bolts up there, to the left, and right of all the motor.

Step 6:

You will find a small bundle of about 6 wires in front of the sunroof motor leading DOWN towards the rear view mirror.

You want to splice into the green & brown wire which is within this bundle. Picture below. This picture is from an F10 install but the wire bundle is exactly the same, the layout of the motor etc may look slightly different however.

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Step 7:

Lead the power cable through the headliner and out the left of the rear view mirror. Reconnect Battery to get power back to the car.

Hook up the radar and check it works.

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Step 8:

Hook up the radar and you are done.

Last edited by alexc93; 06-18-2015 at 11:03 AM..
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      06-18-2015, 12:25 PM   #2
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Nice write-up! I personally did it from the mirror housing instead of the sunroof control housing. It seems a lot easier than this
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      06-18-2015, 12:27 PM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kd0t View Post
Nice write-up! I personally did it from the mirror housing instead of the sunroof control housing. It seems a lot easier than this
Thanks! And it probably is easier to just remove the mirror housing to be honest!

I just went this route as I found it easier to ground using the bolt up there, and I have always tapped a wire in the sunroof housing in previous cars.
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      11-12-2015, 12:39 PM   #4
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Hey sorry does anyone know which wire we slice into on a 2015? I know it should/ would probably be the same, but I could not find the green & brown wire within that bundle pictured.
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      11-19-2015, 09:52 AM   #5
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Yes, not bad. Using a Blendmount and cable to plug into the rear-view mirror power is much easier. Use my referral link to get 12.5% off too... excellent products, and they now have a mount for a Go Pro camera:

http://blendmount.refr.cc/CFCVLCV

Last edited by MikeDee; 11-20-2015 at 02:29 PM..
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      11-19-2015, 10:22 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rus.K View Post
Hey sorry does anyone know which wire we slice into on a 2015? I know it should/ would probably be the same, but I could not find the green & brown wire within that bundle pictured.
Not sure, I assume it is the same on a 2015...It isn't an obvious shade of brown/green but you'll find it after examining each wire in the bundle.
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      11-30-2015, 05:33 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by alexc93 View Post
Not sure, I assume it is the same on a 2015...It isn't an obvious shade of brown/green but you'll find it after examining each wire in the bundle.
Yeah I spent a good amount of time looking through each wire, will have to give it another look over. I appreciate your response though!
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      12-03-2015, 01:22 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kd0t
Nice write-up! I personally did it from the mirror housing instead of the sunroof control housing. It seems a lot easier than this
Just an FYI for those deciding which route to go, mirror tap can be done easily in under 5 minutes. It's truly plug and play.
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      12-03-2015, 01:24 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BEM-S4 View Post
Just an FYI for those deciding which route to go, mirror tap can be done easily in under 5 minutes. It's truly plug and play.
Mirror tap works also. I just took this route because I had done it so many times on other BMW's.
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      12-03-2015, 01:31 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by alexc93
Quote:
Originally Posted by BEM-S4 View Post
Just an FYI for those deciding which route to go, mirror tap can be done easily in under 5 minutes. It's truly plug and play.
Mirror tap works also. I just took this route because I had done it so many times on other BMW's.
Yep, both are good options. Thanks for sharing the write up. May be especially helpful for folks looking to run a radar detector and go pro camera for instance, not sure it would be a great idea to double tap the mirror or your method.
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      12-04-2015, 11:58 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BEM-S4 View Post
Just an FYI for those deciding which route to go, mirror tap can be done easily in under 5 minutes. It's truly plug and play.
Would have loved to go the mirror tap route, unfortunately I do not have the powered mirror setup.
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      12-04-2015, 01:39 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rus.K View Post
Would have loved to go the mirror tap route, unfortunately I do not have the powered mirror setup.
You still have a powered mirror! Works great with MirrorTap, see here. Wired my V1 with a MirrorTap on a non-auto dimming mirror. Took about 3 mins.
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      12-18-2015, 07:23 PM   #13
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alexc93, thanks for the writeup! I tried step 3 with the screwdriver on the tabs, but couldn't get the console out. Any tips or tricks?
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      12-21-2015, 03:30 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Big McLargeHuge View Post
alexc93, thanks for the writeup! I tried step 3 with the screwdriver on the tabs, but couldn't get the console out. Any tips or tricks?
Pull hard on it. It's tough, don't be afraid to break it you wont. Be more aware that you aren't stretching the headliner than anything.
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      12-22-2015, 10:00 PM   #15
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Thanks!
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      08-04-2016, 11:40 AM   #16
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this has always been how I've done my BMW hardwires...it's always worked great...question is...my 230i will not have a sunroof...will this still work?
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      12-22-2016, 11:31 AM   #17
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Any update on this working without a sunroof?
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      12-22-2016, 04:30 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by E46M54325Ci View Post
Any update on this working without a sunroof?
Sorry just saw this. I'm not entirely sure that you'll be able to tap into the same wires without a sunroof, BUT there will still be a power wire leading power to the rear view mirror. I'm fairly certain you can tap into that wire.
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      12-22-2016, 07:44 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by alexc93 View Post
Sorry just saw this. I'm not entirely sure that you'll be able to tap into the same wires without a sunroof, BUT there will still be a power wire leading power to the rear view mirror. I'm fairly certain you can tap into that wire.
Okay thanks...I'll have to look...does the standard mirror have any power to it?
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      12-23-2016, 07:40 AM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by E46M54325Ci View Post
Okay thanks...I'll have to look...does the standard mirror have any power to it?
I'm not sure. I know if it is auto-dimming or has a built in compass it will definitely have power.
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      12-23-2016, 08:47 AM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by alexc93 View Post
I'm not sure. I know if it is auto-dimming or has a built in compass it will definitely have power.
Yea my car is base base base, haha. I got track, lights and heated bits. We'll see today or tomorrow when I get it back from detailer and get it open. Another question, that sunroof panel cover...does it just pop off using your hands? I remember that thing was a TOTAL PITA to remove in the e8x/39x cars. (The green wire in those cars worked great...but I had sunroofs in them!)
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      12-23-2016, 09:14 AM   #22
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great post!
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