How do I get a cable to this point?

peter2704

Member
Ok so want to fit a temp gauge to keep an eye on things my question is how to I route the cable from the obd port to this point on the dash so it’s hidden and neat don’t mind it coming out of the side of the speaker grill
IMG_9645.jpeg
 
Up through the trim that has the lightswitch..removed..then through the central trim..removed.. then behind heater controls removed, then remove oddments tray and you are there..by your mounting point you'll still have a pigtail showing
 
As you'll see in the attached photo, under the top speaker grill (disclaimer - Not all Z4's are built the same!! :rofl: ) you'll see on the right that there is a decent size hole :thumbsup:
 

Attachments

  • e2cab3af-0acf-4d8b-ae10-d20b56d6562c.jpg
    e2cab3af-0acf-4d8b-ae10-d20b56d6562c.jpg
    123.6 KB · Views: 421
Why bother going through all that hassle, why not just put it on the right hand side where you can easily snake the cable down the door jamb / trim to the OBD port. More discreet too:

IMG_8351.jpeg
 
Toyed with that idea but thought the small demist vent could make unit hot in winter with heater on full
Have a day light shot of yours
 
I don't have the answer, but it seems like a lot of work.

Alternately, you can run a bluetooth or wireless OBDii dongle and some software on your phone to display dials, no mess no fuss.

I use a Veepeak BTE+ adaptor and Bimmerlink and I can display a miriad of gages.

I'll attach a screenshot of mine (it's not displaying anything at the moment though as I'm not connected.
 

Attachments

  • Screenshot_20240907_095704_BimmerLink.jpg
    Screenshot_20240907_095704_BimmerLink.jpg
    34.3 KB · Views: 352
How to dismantle the dash is shown in this video.....
https://youtu.be/VC9VFJBDFQM?si=4aYXd-D2_c6665m1
 
peter2704 said:
Ok so want to fit a temp gauge to keep an eye on things my question is how to I route the cable from the obd port to this point on the dash so it’s hidden and neat don’t mind it coming out of the side of the speaker grill
IMG_9645.jpeg

Why do you want to look at ‘temperature’?..oil temp shown in the display ?
 
peter2704 said:
Water temps like to keep an eye on them

Interesting..the coolant is controlled by the DME so there’s little correlation between water temp and most other things..
 
Yep I knew about that but the obd gauge is nice and easy to see for the wife , so if it rises very quickly she can pull over before too much damage done
 
peter2704 said:
Yep I knew about that but the obd gauge is nice and easy to see for the wife , so if it rises very quickly she can pull over before too much damage done

The yellow coolant light will come on with a bong then the red coolant light with a bong..I'd humbly suggest that will get her attention more clearly than a cooland gauge that will wander up and down, apparently at random..but its your car :thumbsup:

Montoring oil temp is far more feasible and relevant..IMHO FWIW
 
peter2704 said:
Toyed with that idea but thought the small demist vent could make unit hot in winter with heater on full
Have a day light shot of yours

Tomorrow I’ll take a pic and post it here.
 
B21 said:
peter2704 said:
Ok so want to fit a temp gauge to keep an eye on things my question is how to I route the cable from the obd port to this point on the dash so it’s hidden and neat don’t mind it coming out of the side of the speaker grill
IMG_9645.jpeg

Why do you want to look at ‘temperature’?..oil temp shown in the display ?
Boasting about 40 miles to the gallon is hard work. You need all the help you can get.
 
Back
Top Bottom